brilliant image and such a friendliy dedi.

The first panel makes me think of those oceans and continents of which you speak ... of the large distances between places in our world. Then the world starts to dissolve and a pattern begins to appear. Like ley lines, perhaps, love and relationship stretching across the planet, glowing, becoming something more. And THEN! My word. It's like a little joke. Those lines start to look like a flower, which IS Helle's sense of humor right there. Oh! You thought it was this other thing? Nope! It's a flower (or a tree or a house or a pot or whatever she was wanting you to see), and it was there all along. Ha Ha! Then the big smile, the giggle, the light of the world, and finally ... the world, transformed. What you thought was there really IS there after all, but you see it in a different way. And Helle says, "Well, it's nothing, this thing I did, and I don't know if you'll like it or not," and shit ... it's the freakin' WORLD she's shown you, and it's not only what you thought it was, but it's something more, a happier and friendlier place. And it happens over and over again, doesn't it? Those little artistic revelations she makes, the "why didn't I think of that" moments, the small reveal with a glance that wonders if you got it. I feel like I've watched a movie of Helle telling a story, looking at these panels. What a glorious piece of art you have made for her birthday! This is filled with such love and knowing ... it's wonderful!

Tara really says it all! Although I see quite a few comic birds too. What you have to say in your tribute is perfect for the wonderful artist and friend, Mark, and the images are a joy!

marvellous image and dedication

these is wonderful works here. you do wonders with the camera AND paint and what ever you do with art. cool stuff here. keep it up

SUPERLATIVE WORK

I'm trying to draw an analogy with this wild and wooly maelstrom of colors, textures and general overall ambience and effects run amok, Mark, but I guess I lack the necessary experience of the abstract genre world to make a dilettante's judgement. The top frame suggests a few years after the Big Bang, which created our cosmos, but the following four variations are beyond my ken in re comparison to the masters of this style of art. That said, a glittering and imaginative birthday dedication to your friend, Helle, who I don't know, and I can't wait until December 30th for you know what. I'm already waiting in deep anticipation for that.

Beautiful,

I love it Marc its like a magical mystery tour genies dragons punch n judies ,masks of various sorts jazz musicians,turtles and incredible little scenes within scenes a great hallucinagenic feel to it a trippy kind presentation that seems to be endless the more you look the more you see emerging in all shapes and forms like a living breathing entity well done marc its inspirational I'm sure your friend will love it!! I has such a happpy and bubbly joyful feel to it!! well done!!

What a perfect dedi for Helle! A riot of colour and style, intricate and personal and globally lovely at the same time...I'd love to see those four sulking panels in the closet! Having just read the book "Cloud Atlas" I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the concept, and this to me seems to have that same sort of concept, worlds and lives overlapping and tangenting (is that a word? It is now!) and all being connected. I'll bet those four panels would agree. Happiest of birthdays, Helle, and all my best to you!

Mark, let me say first of all that you are such a treasure to the community. I purposely held off visiting your gallery until last tonight so as to be able to take it all in, knowing I'd go to bed with a smile. You're thoughts on Helle were so moving and it's easy to see what a special friend she has been to you over the years. Please allow me to also say that I'm sorry to hear you have the flu, and please do take care of yourself. Being sick obviously doesn't affect the gift you have for making everyone around you smile, as I got a huge chuckle out of reading your thoughts in the opening paragraph. Finally let me say that this may be one of my favorite dedi's you've ever created. Each image is a true work of art, as each panel seems to almost draw one in. The progression from darker tones to lighter one's almost reminds me of the journey we all take through life.

Oh, Mark...having read your dedi to Helle, every comment above and of course spent a great pause reviewing your art panel by panel...what else can I say that hasn't already been said? I see darkness in the beginning transforming to the bright whiteness of sunny snow-clad days. Bit by bit color begins to creep into the whiteness/grayness of winter until everything blossoms forth into the fullness of the "healing spring". Magnificent. And a big Happy Birthday to you Helle. See,...your friends know you very well and appreciate you for who you are.

"Helle, you've dissolved the oceans of the world, and made inches out of miles:" Such lovely and endearing words for your friend, Mark. And so true, as friendship has no boundaries or limits and touches our hearts, instantly, intimately, and forever. The first panel feels like a world to me, familiar and yet somewhat distant and vast, and the other panels feel like pure and explosive emotion, intermingling, evolving, crossing continents and universes, expressing the joy, excitement, connection, and inspiration we get from loving and being loved by a true friend. A big Happy Birthday hug for Helle, and another big get better hug for you.

How delightful. I think the last panel reminds me of Helle's garden images. Happy birthday dear Helle!

Mark, I hope you feel better soon. {{{hugs}}}

Yes:))))))))) Helle is like SPRING:))))))) I AGREE !! and seeing your image and reading you, Mark:)) i only can say , that your words together with your 4 panels, speak to us about the most wonderful journey, through the time and through your heart and soul, for ‘our’ dearest Helle. In reality there are no boundaries for real friendship or distances that love cannot jump :) and you put all this in your words and in your image in a whole!!.. even in the 1st panel, more dark, with the strong red colour in the background makes us ‘feel’ winter as a 'warm' season:) and the others panels, one after the other, are the evolution of a great dance, of joyful shapes and colours with lots of light and sun shinning, even more along each one of them, allowing us SEE and FEEL an heartfelt ‘ballet’ and 2 worlds joining. Nobody like you, to express so well what friendship is and how it can remain forever! Helle deserve all this very, very much and each one of your words show the Pearl that she is and the Jewell for all of us:) OHhh and I had the biggest smile reading Tara:) and I almost could ‘heard’ it all:) and i felt the wondrous humor of Helle, and Tara also, lol…is really like that!! Well, all was already said above ..but I couldn’t avoid my heart doing a 'bla-bla':)))... I don’t have 'ebbots' since yesterday, I don’t know why…so, Happy Birthday is already 'yesterday’, but I want to wish to Helle a GREAT YEAR AHEAD and that all her dreams can be true with much health and love around! I am sure it will be:)

What a great effort, dedication and words, Mark. I really see here the map of the world, depicted in the first drawing, which is also the most colorful one. And the whole it looks, as a meeting of your world, Mark, and Helle's world. It can be seen depicted as butterflies which fly across oceans, the sun shone on the road, going through everyone's weather, to finally come together, to speak words of appreciation and love. I hope that Per will not be a little bit jealous, when he sees that your world is as it were merged with the world of Helle ;-). Although, as Helle represented spring, and Per by always live in that "Helle-season", and bearing in mind the fact, spring anyway does eventuate everything in nature, the love between 'those two' will always be guaranteed, right? (p.s. thank you very much for your lovely comment, and for making it a fave, Mark. Best wishes for your health from The Netherlands :))

OH my goodness, Mark. I cannot find words, but I thank you ever so much. Both for your wonderful words in this stunning dedication and for our warm friendship. You know I dont have enough words in me, but I am deeply touched by what you have written. And you made the most awesome piece of art, I could wish for. When I look at it, I find myself hovering in space in the middle of fogs and meteorites and beautiful dustclouds, and the destination is the bright star, but first we to go through a wonderful outer world full of soft flowers and beautiful creatures and wonderful growths of green, blue white, just to come to another world of snow-flowers and red, changing into yellow happiness, for to end up in a wonderful field of healthy vegetation, flowers, birds and butterflies in stunning, healing spring colors. Thank you So much Mark for all this. I dont deserve it, but I will pretent I do :)))))))))))))) Also Per found your words and your art very beautiful and he smiled appreciative. He feels he knows you too :))))))))))))))) He sends you warm greetings :) Mark I hope you will feel better very soon. I am really sorry your cold ended up with a flu. Please take care. Warming and healing HUGZ and Love from Denmark, Helle :)

Awesome work.

5 fantastic pieces, Mark. Each of them bathing in the abstract sea of beauty. A fine birthday gift for Helle. Hope the flu will leave you in peace soon.