Hello Evert, and greetings from a fellow aritist.

I think you have a great idea for a new thread and I have a few ideas about GE, art, and how they have intersected in my life. I have been using GE and the Community for about 14 months and in that time my awareness of "out there," in all its beauty and chaos, has certainly deepened. A funny thing I found was that, maybe because I'm more right-brained than some, looking at things down there on Earth, ruminating over them and interpreting them has been loads of fun. Patterns, juxtapositions, colors, forms and ambiguities interest me - so I found that this transferred well to the use of Google Earth. Of course, this also fit perfectly with my lifelong interest in cultures of the world and the emotions involved in Place.

All of this GE obsession was concurrent with an unpleasant transition period for me, wherein I have had no space to paint (soon to change - and no, I haven't been in prison!). I often feel that GE has satisfied my need to "find and interpret" in a way that has not required paint, easel, canvas-stretching, big walls...in fact I have mentioned this to several friends who might be a little worried for my sanity, knowing I've gone 14 months without painting.

So, GE has really become my temporary substitute for making art. This was a completely unexpected outcome! Next, how will it influence my painting when I start again? This "time of GE" has most definitely changed my brain, my attitude about place as not just a selfish, possessive concept, but as a kind of lifeboat... oh, I don't know, this is where I become inarticulate!!! I'll need to think more about it...

When I'm painting again, will I have the same fascination with looking, interpreting and posting on the GEC? I hope so, because I've become awfully fond of lots of people here, not to mention impressed and amused - and way more emotionally invested in the horrors and glories of Earth. My challenge will be to make a place for my new-found obsession without neglecting the rest.

Best regards,
Diane
P.S. Your paintings are gorgeous!