All Comments on 'Mentoring'

The story is beautifully written. You're very confident as a writer.

Content wise, I don't think the story was "hot", and I'm not entirely sure if that's even what you were going for. It mostly made me sad, actually, and a little repulsed. I think it hit a little close to home for me. Of course it wouldn't have had an impact on me if it wasn't so well written, so I guess it's a compliment in a way.

Just a couple of details:

- Having studied at two art academies, I can tell you, painting on someone else's painting - even from a teacher - is a *huge* transgression. But maybe that's what you were going for here? It may also have been different in the past.

- Philip has his own opening at the National Gallery in London "some years later", which seems incredibly fast. I would think it takes longer to get there, even with talent and connections.

Yes, thanks, it's meant to be a sad deja-vu-all-over-again cautionary tale. And jealousies and transgressions are intended.

I love old, old movies. Your story reminds me of several starring Clifton Webb. Yours, XXX rating of course. This is very W. Somerset Maugham in style.

with chesthairslave. I've said it before, your stories carry through the careful and proper construction of the classic short story but there is nothing cliche in them or trite. I feel that your attention to form and development is wonderfully exacting without being staid. Your education is obvious and I'm not speaking of mere academics but of eloquence and descriptiveness that comes of observation and a master's conservation for ultimate impact. Sorry if it seems gushing but as an avid omnivorous reader it is refreshing to see such devotion to an art that I love and respect carried through into a modern parlance.