Artist Reply: And where I live in Virginia, not everybody cares for art they don't see anything in, but here somebody found the rattle snake skin (do you?). They don't lack humor entirely, though. One feller asked another how he thought I got a rattle snake to stand still [sic] long enough to paint it. Coming in then, I said, no problem. I just held it by the tail, dunked the whole creature in the old can of paint, and then rolled it across that area. It wasn't too happy then, but I assured it of becoming a famous painter now and he could brag to all his sneaky friends. At that, they all shook their rattles in snake applause (they can't clap for want of hands, you know). I could hear them through the fence, and one warned a lady rattler to watch for that guy because he'll just hiss and tell! So that's what's been going on around here, friend Nira. I've gotta be looking around for some animal for my next painting. Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Hi, Ruth, And thank you for the nifty words of encouragement. Recently I used the word, "nifty," in replying to something about something. I received by return click a message something like this: "Oh, WOW! I haven't heard the word "nifty," since CHARLOTTE'S WEB!" Hmm. I was tempted to write back saying: "Well twenty-three skid doo to you!" But of course you surely know that I am more cultured and couth than to say something rude as a jay bird to a worm-eating robin. So I'm glad that "cool" has been "in" so long -- even chill couldn't displace it. And so I'm writing this to you to thank you for carrying on this long standing tradition, rather than something whatever, such as "hot," or "groovy," or "whatever!" And so, since this word, "cool," still is "in," I'm going to move my easel over by the refrigerator, open the door and begin painting some really cool art. I'll have to use oil because acrylic will dry too quickly in the draft. I'll just take out this prepared salad and other food stuff here, and stick in the tubes of paint and the brushes. I'll start out painting ICE CUBES STILL IN TRAYS (what's a more perfect place and setting for "dead nature" than in a fridge?). Next I may dump some of the cubes out, maybe put them in various glasses. You know there really is no end to what I might paint there as well as IN there! Perhaps someone with ingenuity will coin the term "Refrigerator Art." And I'll be on my way to fame and riches! So, Ruth, I want to thank you, and Emily, for both inspiring me to a new style of art, and thus my fame and fortune! And I want to say to both of you about your own skills and talents, that I welcome you to get in on the ground floor, so to speak. You can just open your refrigerator doors and paint cool! The three of us can be the first of the new movement. Nifty, huh? I wonder what Charlotte would have said. And let me throw in to both of you another Thank You for the encouragement not to hang up the easel yet! Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Hi, Emily! Thank you, indeed, Emily, for the encouraging words. Say, you guys really get up early to cheer people with your kind words -- myself, I've tried that getting up early and all I found were robins eating worms! I mean, I love robins: they are beautiful birds, but I'm sure the reason they are out back eating those equally early worms (I guess that the worms' mothers just can't make them believe, as I do, that staying in bed late is safer and healthier and I might dream up something cheerful to paint.) Anyway, I'm sure the main reason the robins are out eating worms on my lawn before the school bus is that, being to pretty they are quite vain, you know, and so of course they don't want to be seen with worms hanging out of their mouths! Their beauty competitor blue jays would be squawkng it all over the neighborhood and then all the other veggie birds would join the taunting and the whole neighborhood will become a terrible ruckus with the cats all upset and making the noises they do which will upset all the neighborhood dogs who are supposed to be resting after their breakfast till the post person has passed. Oh, my! And who can help but try to chill out and do kool paintings! So, I hope you have a nice cup of hot tea (green, of course), and then contemplate another master work! Peace, etc., Bruce

Artist Reply: Oh, No. Seems that anything I do makes what I've written disappear. Twice, now I've written most of a large comment, comparable to the others here, only to have it disappear. I don't think I can do it again -- not right now, anyway. But Metin, I like your work very much. The variety of styles and subject matter is really impressive. I look forward to coming back to see more of it, and to look more carefully and thoroughly. Thank you again for your wonderful encouragement, Metin. Peace, etc., Bruce