Earning The Right

I was talking to a guy visiting my studio during one of the open studio events. He saw an abstract painting that I had done. He brought up the idea that I had earned the right to do what ever I want, knowing my realist work. I think the guy was telling me his feelings about abstract art. He doesn't like, understand, or have interest in abstract art. But I have heard this said of abstract artists before. The idea is that in order to do abstract work you must be proficient in naturalistic rendering. Of course most artists and critics would think this is idea is absurd.