16 Comments
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Ruth Ann Harnisch's avatar

Very relaxing with the white noise. I found it meditative and a pleasant little break in the day.

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Liza Donnelly's avatar

I’m so glad. Didn’t see a need to talk. Just an AC for white noise:)

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Pace Walker Bolling's avatar

Agreed!

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Helen Palmer's avatar

love the brush strokes-a new way of seeing things!

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Judith Stone's avatar

oh, yeah - details can wait...

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Kat's avatar

Always fascinating to watch creators create. Thank you for letting us see your 'brain' work.

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Sharon Herrick's avatar

What fun! Somehow I felt Thurber's spirit in all this, I wonder if you did, too. I'm also a fan of George Booth---"Think good thoughts about a pussycat" is one of my mantras. And Walt Kelly---we could use some Pogo to get us out of the horrors of Alligator Alcatraz. I also wonder what's with the alligators anyway? I mean, what are the Trumpians afraid of ---that the inmates might break out and go on a rampage---cleaning toilets, picking strawberries, frying burgers and planting gardens? Or just speaking their minds?

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KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

I love the deftness. No way to erase. Black paint on white paper. Watching each visage appear in such simple form, but just the first marks with maybe the eyes, you could already guess maybe who the person is or was going to be. This is lovely. Certainly relaxing. Calm. Thank you!

You remarked that you felt like painting big… I remember in high school, still quite timid about a lot of things, which probably to this day is still true… Most things I created were somewhat small and the art teacher remarked that someday he was going to give me a brush 1 inch wide and nothing smaller, to see what I would do or could do.

I never really learned to paint and a few times when I gave it a try, the results were OK, but I remember one summer class for teachers… I painted a scene and the instructor kept roaming past but never spoke… She finally said to me, “I wish you’d stopped five minutes ago.”

I’m laughing as I dictate this in the comment, because… Like… I could undo what I had painted in the last five minutes? I don’t think so…

Oh well. I do wrestle with how to know when one is done. I’ve purchased gorgeous, gorgeous pastel art done by my dear friend, Ellen Gust, and yesterday, in the gallery in Los Gatos, buying a fourth scene of the beach… The artist present in the gallery for the day shared pleasant conversation with me, and I meant to ask her that question, how she wrestles with or addresses the issue of when to know you’re done.

I know friend Ellen re-works things after parking them for a long while. Maybe you just “know.” That’s true with a lot. Poetry maybe… Thank you again, Liza. Lovely and uplifting. Smiles.

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Charles G Haacker's avatar

I could stand over your shoulder all day watching your mind create. Good people manage to stay happy regardless. I'm in a this-too-shall-pass mood today. 🙂

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Michael's avatar

Liza, when I studied art years ago standing at a drawing board, the instructor said great Art doesn't come from the hand, or the wrist, it comes from the shoulder with large sweeping motions. I could add that great art also comes from the eyes and imagination and heart. You are a true artist.

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Dan Beach's avatar

Amazing to see you just come up with these, a lot of human in each drawing. And it seems so simple.

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Alfred  Mancini's avatar

I also felt relaxed watching you paint. I decided to tune into your workings because you're an intelligent lady who is patient and understanding--I'll bet that you're a good friend, Liza!!

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Winnie Ganshaw's avatar

Thank you, Liz. Just came from wine and cheese with 4 dear friends and continued to enjoy even more smiles with your smiley faces! Definitely a lovely Sunday afternoon.

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KittyLiterate's avatar

Ha. Ha. Ha. Yes, I am laughing and smiling with you. Tis grand. xo

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Irma Villarreal's avatar

Thanks Liza…smiling and grateful.

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Elizabeth MacQueen's avatar

Wonderful calligraphic brushstrokes revealing grace and humor.

em in Paris

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