Yes, self-taught. When I had my accident, I spent some time in the hospital. My blood was contaminated—burnt, essentially—so I had to get it all replaced. Then I was home bound for a time. I got bored and one of the nurses gave me a DIY magazine. […] And it’s not for a mean reason. Spiders are not well understood but are necessary for […] comfortable living. There is also a particular elegance to them. […] And I suppose I wanted you to be impressed. I acted on a bad impulse.

I led us down two dead ends. Necessarily I must bear a good portion of the blame, if not all of it.