I like it.

The interesting thing about facebook (actually just the web in general, but in this context, specifically facebook) is how much you discover and learn through total strangers. 

I have this friend who has a friend who either has a public profile or shares his timeline with friends of friends. I sometimes see posts by this guy (the friend of friend, that is) via my friend-friend and I’ve thought, wow, I’d like to be friends with this guy. In real life. I’m not going to try to friend him or anything, but I get such a friendly feeling when I see one of his reflections. Like today, he wrote, “Note to self: Love and kindness are never wasted.” (I feel like I should credit him, but I won’t, I suppose to protect his privacy. Although…)

Anyway, isn’t that wonderful? I really like this guy!

Another recent finding, borrowed from someone else's stash of interesting-ness, is an artist named Paul Richard. He is not new to the scene, but news to me, and I am really taken specifically by his works on paper. 

Found on paulrichard.net.

I’ve seen a few translated into street art, which, for whatever reason, I like even better.

Found on blog.vandalog.com.

What is it about this particular style that so attracts me? (That question was for me, by the way. Because I have such a difficult time expressing why I like anything—particularly visual and aural art. I want to try to push myself to put some words behind the reactions I feel.)

In this case, I think I find it fascinating that a simple, continuous line—an imprecise, not so careful drizzle—can still convey not only a facial form, but also personality and even emotion. Within the tilt of the eyes, or the curve of the lips, or the jut of the chin the humanity is there, the same way it is in a masterpiece that took years to compose. Basic and raw, but there. I suppose, to some degree, I just like that it’s possible. 

It’s also a little bit, but not entirely, like seeing a man in the seas of the moon, or a giraffe in an elongated cluster of clouds, or the face of Jesus in the bruises of a banana. Our imaginations create the associations and fill in the blanks. So maybe I like it because I get to be part of it.