Hi Diane,
Thanks for your enthousiasm and your openness. I suppose you could say that my personal discovery of Google Earth, and the inspiration for a new direction in my painting was also a positive result of an 'unpleasant transition period'. I was burnt out from my job (I do environmental work for the Dutch government) and I was wondering if I should give it up, or at least go for a part time job so I have more time to paint. A bit of a crisis, but nothing new: I 've been asking myself that question as long as I've held jobs and if I don't do something soon I might as well wait till I retire (I'm 51 now). But waiting just doesn't seem to be an option any longer. Get painting, as Jennifer says in her reply! I wonder what your GE-art will look like.
keep us posted!
Evert