Bill was the real deal. An authentic artist. For this type of person it doesn't matter what the medium is --it could be clay or paint or a tuba-- because he or she can get art out of it. Out of anything, just about, because the good stuff comes from inside them, from their impish thinking, curiosity and imagination. The medium (clay, paint, a tuba) is secondary. Most folks, unless they're grumpy, have wonderful imaginations, but some have absolutely stunning imaginations and they can pull amazing things, unseen before, out of nowhere seemingly at their whim. Bill could do that. He could command color and forms and sounds and music to do his bidding like a wizard.