Artist Reply: Dear Regina, This is an attempt to rewrite my lost first go at it. I told you that I appreciated your comments because of the length of our acquaintance working for the health and freedom of humans and animals and the earth with the care2 organization. Further because I so admire your multi-talents and earnest work developing and employing them, adding beauty and knowledge to all of us. Thank you, Regina! Peace, etc., Bruce A wicked little fairy showed naive old me how to fool the machine and get in an addition to my comment! BUT she didn’t tell me that it would, or maybe klutzy I would, delete my initial comment. So, Regina, here’s what I wanted to add to my initial comment which I tried to remember and write again above! It is that I think many of us have a favorite thing that we have painted, perhaps for some personal reason, or the amount of work we put into it, whatever, and which may be completely unfathomable to anybody else why. Well, mine is this boat. I like the reflection, BUT the boat itself, the weather-beaten inside has always been a favorite accomplishment of mine. Thanks for your ear again, Regina. Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Thanks so much, deal old (whoops! I mean, "long-time"!) friend Mildred. Do you live near the sea? Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: I appreciate your comment, Sharon. I'm afraid that I squandered all I have to say below in reswponse to Anneke Hut. One thing was how interesting the water and its reflections are during different times of day, different weather and especially wind, which there often is especially since the canal goes almost straight down to the North Sea, about a kilometer away. Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Thanks so much Barry! Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Thanks very much for your comment Barry. Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Dear Anneke! Please, I ask you and everybody who looks, to forgive me for rambling away here, but nostalgia overcame me, as often. I wanted to describe because someone asked me elsewhere about this painting’s inspiration and where if anyplace that was. There was but one "row house" between where I lived and that view. There was nice grass to sit on a slope down to the canal, IF you looked carefully first to see where the dogs found their relief. I spent a lot of time sitting there, sometimes reading, sometimes meditating, sometimes just watching, thinking or not. Men, usually old-timers would sometimes fish there -- never caught anything but tiny ones they gave a reiger (blue heron) or two who would wait patiently nearby. I loved those birds so much! They are The Hague’s symbol/Avatar/mascot, whatever you would say. I took so many photos of them, so similar, and back when I used film, but I just could not stop! I think the only lie I painted into “THE RED BOAT” was that house boats pretty well lined the other side of the canal. But that was okay, in real life verses an ideal painting. I became familiar with quite a few people just in that neighborhood, especially after about 2002 when my son got to be 2. Then I had to be pretty active to keep him from going rolly-polly into the canal. I rehearsed many times in my mind just where and how I would jump in after him, where set him on the bank and climb out myself, but that never was needed. These were some of the nicest times in my life! -- being a retired house and shopper and child keeper, with some time for my new hobby of painting, in a wonderful neighborhood of friendly people and shops, a kilometer from the sea. In case anybody is in The Hague (Den Haag) this spot is on the Suez Kada right off the Groot Hertoginnelaan. Backing up here, in that one house between us and the canal, lived Yvonne Smeets and her partner Menno. Yvonne is multi-talented and I think likely to become one of the best female jazz singers ever. Her first CD has just recently been issued. I wrote a review of it on Amazon and on CD Baby. Google her site if you like Jazz Peace, etc. Bruce