Friday, May 04, 2007

IF: Friends and Neighbors


It baffles me that some people never get to know their neighbors. Some folks just don't want to bother. There are some neighbors of mine who act that way. I wonder what they're afraid of. I don't think we need to become best friends with them, but just be there to watch out for one another. Say"Hello, how's it going?" Some people just never will though. That's okay, their loss in the long run.

I think this bird and this cat have the right mind set. They've weathered the storm together and are happy to be here to talk about it. Nobody feels threatened. Nobody feels they have to impress the other one. They're just hanging back, enjoying life, enjoying being good neighbors.



Not my best illo, but I can't miss a post. Tough week, but this too shall pass.

Acrylic on canvas, very hurried!!

36 comments:

  1. Hello from Italy!
    Thank you indeed for your comment in my blog!
    Your illo make me reflect!
    Cata.

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  2. Beautiful colours. They look so content and happy, at peace with the world and each other. I really like the idea behind your painting.

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  3. This is really wonderful. It just feels so calm and serene. The limited palette is really nice. Great job!

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  4. I love this atmosphere!!! Great work!!

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  5. Oh, I like this one. it is very different. Nice!

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  6. It's the air--bizarre week. I still like this. Love the animals. Love the peaceful feeling.

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  7. I love the mood this has.

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  8. The clouds have a great feeling and I like the idea behind it. I've wondered about the same phenomenon among neighbors.

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  9. We have a neighbor like that. We call her Boo Radley from "To Kill a Mockingbird". :)

    Lovely story and the illustration goes along quite well.

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  10. nice equilibrum to this illustration - both in composition and colour, i think. And unfortunatelly kinda all my neighbours are the way you described them. They are not very happy people and that's sad.

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  11. Hmmm... did the cat invite the bird up for lunch? :D (An un-neighborly thought, I know...)

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  12. lol yep some weeks its easier then others to post something and i like urs for this week nice thoughts and pic to go with it

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  13. Ack! I feel guilty for this post
    :))

    Yeah. I am snobbish. I guess it's more of the whole I'mtoohappyonmycomputersodon'tbugme thing. :)

    Nice illu too. Collab? :P

    Hope to see you next week. And thanks for dropping by. :)

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  14. Some neighbours can be really a pain in the a... I have some of them (they are really very noisy etc.) That's why I don't like them;-)
    But your illo is nice.

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  15. I know what you're saying- so true- and high fences make not so good neighbors- unless everyone sits on top of them to say hello.
    Love the painting - great design, and colors!

    Hope your week gets easier.

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  16. "love thy neighbour as thyself" seems to be the best policy! :o)

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  17. I like it. It seems very iconic - like Egyptian ebony carved gods atop mystical Tibetan peaks. :)

    I hope your week gets better. Hugs!

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  18. Love the concept and the surreal quality in the painting style!!

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  19. Not bad at all for a hurried work! I like the spontaneous aspect of quickly rendered work. As for neighbors, yes, it woud be nice if more people adopted your way of thinking. Truly a shame. Anyhow, hope the tough week gets better for you!!

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  20. i like the mood here and the thoughts behind it. bravo!

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  21. Great post. Very true comments about neighbors... People tend to insulate (and isolate) themselves so much.

    Looking down your previous posts, I really like the 'polar' submission.

    Thanks for your comment on my blog. I followed up with a comment that explains my extended absence. Peace to you.

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  22. Sometimes with art the execution is large but the ideas are small. For you this week, the painting may be small but the idea is huge.

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  23. Sorry you've had such a bad week ~ it can only get better, love the thoughts behind your illo and if it makes just a couple of us think twice about saying hi well you've done an awesome job, hugs Judy xx

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  24. Hey, this is really, really nice Laurel- it looks like a timeless fable

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  25. great art you got here. very sensual, indeed

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  26. I beg to differ! I think this is one of your best illos! I love how free it is, and fresh. The figures are wonderful, sort of 3-D silhouettes. And I love that they are the same in so many ways, yet completely different and opposed creatures. Nice nice.

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  27. Laurel, this is beautiful! I adore the connection between these two. They seem equal and content. Yes, it is so important to take a little time getting to know your neighbors. I am lucky living in a condo; I see my neighbors and have gotten to know some. However, the ones I've befriended are the elderly. That generation is more open to such a practice, coming from a time when people relied on one another more and took time to help each other. I hope this doesn't fade with them...

    Enjoy your week!

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  28. I like the mountains, rhe sharp and snowy peaks. The two ne!ighbors are content and happy to have each others company I think. Very unique post and beautiful

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  29. The distance between them helps though, doesn't it? :) I'm someone who generally avoids contact with neighbours, but there have been exceptions, even friendships at times. Most of them can be pretty selfish and annoying though. I love your picture - just exquisite and it captures a mood beautifully!

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  30. profound thoughts seem to come from this blog and well illustrated as well...

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  31. I love the wisdom this image exudes, Laurel! Hope your week was better then mine..

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  32. beautiful work. i kind of miss knowing my neighbors too that i had growing up in a small town. but now that i'm in nyc, i can't say i miss the gossip that sometimes go along with "knowing your neighbors!"

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  33. Love the blue tone in this work!

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  34. I like the dramatic sky and the general idea :)
    Thank you for your nice comment - this time my husband was just urging me to finish - I started drawing on Sunday, but finished only yesterday.

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