This is for Andrea (durleybeachbum) Okay, I started to draw Andrea's gorgeous Water lily (here), but then I realized I'd never asked permission. Since theft is generally frowned upon, I figured, not a good thing to do. Besides, the drawing had nothing on Tara's and Helle's beautiful renditions, so I had even more of a reason to stop... BUT! As I have no class, I took the pilfered drawing, postworked it, and stuck a flower shot OVER it---in honor of Andrea's constantly beautiful flower shots---and VOILA! A crazy little image. Then I made a montage. The result's below... Next: What to say. Ok, so I had this composition teacher who hadn't played serious piano in years. One day, he played a Chopin Waltz. When he finished, he shook his head and muttered, "I shouldn't have played---it's been too long!" But what WE heard was years of absorbing and making magic, and a performance that blew us away: He illuminated details we didn't know were there and presented that waltz to us on a golden platter with a "garnish" of sprinkled diamonds. Fact was, he'd made magic for so long, he couldn't avoid doing it if he tried. Now Andrea hasn't been away from art: But in every other way she's that teacher. She moves her fingers and magic comes out. Andrea's gallery is magic to me. Does she know how much we talk about her? Examples: "Did you see Andrea's doodle last night? I loved it!" "I hope Andrea sees my latest---it's the kind of pic she does so well!" "She has so much knowledge and background, and she puts it all into her art!" And, "You did it! Andrea loved your piece!" (Am I exaggerating? Tell me I'm wrong...) I worked with photographers in the ad business, and watched them photograph perfume: Those people were paid huuuuuge amounts for shots that weren't a tenth as classy or creative as Andrea's perfume series. Or her nursing home series (w/ her dogs): Humanity and touching love. Or her "random man" shots (and women): "I just point and shoot," she says; but we all know how intuitive and utterly fresh those shots are. (She makes magic even when she doesn't intend to.) Or her incredible dog shots---one of the best dog series ever: I send links to my animal-lover friends, and they love them. And her "Flowers in the House," where she shows her uncanny ease for setting up and lighting shots. Or her wonderful explorations into "edge" work---I did a tad, here. Or her insect macros, or flower macros, or studies of tire marks and roadways, or her ongoing love affair with the infinite beauty of her surroundings: She's chronicled her landscape like a journalist, but given it to us like a magician. Can any of you disagree that her gallery's a big Party? A Street Fest for Artists? She grabs everything around her and does a gavotte, jitterbug and free-form dance, everyday---her gallery's about JOY. And when she paints and draws? Insight mixed with lifelong knowledge mixed with beauty, class and play. That, ladies and gentlemen, is special. You are one loved artist, Andrea. You inspire us, dance, fly, explore and laugh; and people here love you, as do I. With enormous gratitude, I ask that the muses of eternal childhood remain blazing forever inside you! Have a wonderful day, o resident Muse, and Happy Birthday and many, many more! It's been a pleasure walking in your world...Mark (Please zoom---it's big!)