THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP

"Not anybody and everybody can be your friend. It must be someone as close to you as your skin, someone who imparts color, drama, meaning to your life." - Henry Miller

WHAT IS A FRIEND? I like Henry Miller description of a friend - "Someone who imparts color, drama and meaning to your life." Someone said that the ideal friendship is between people who share the same interests like art and writing. For me, one of the greatest joys of blogging is gaining friends who are also artists and writers. They constantly impart color to my life. They also impart drama. I choose my friends because I believe it is better to cultivate a few close friendships than to maintain many superficial acquaintances. One of the artistic friends I met through blogging is Lloyd Bradbury. I am sure he's no stranger to you because I often promoted his art blog. Since the beginning I know he's going to be a good friend. What a coincidence that our blogs have the same format! When I read about his life story, I was deeply touched. He is blind but overcame his depressing disability through painting. His life story inspired me so much, because like him I struggled with a difficult disability (hearing loss). We have different obstacles but share the same goal in life -"to be creative and artistic, no matter what." I am grateful to have him as a friend, one who helps me to realize how beautiful our imperfect world is. Lloyd encourages me by dropping on my blog at least twice a week. He shares lots of nice words and stories. His vibrant abstract paintings make my world alive too. He's a friend who adds meaning to my life. Although the color of our skins are not the same, yet amazingly we clicked and became friends.

A FRIENDLY GIFT Last week-end, my husband and I arrived home at midnight from our long trip to San Francisco and Pacifica. I was exhausted but I couldn't help myself from opening a huge envelope lying among my mails waiting for my arrival. I smiled! It was from Lloyd. He sent me a print of his painting. I was...... speechless. I didn't expect he was serious when he asked for my mailing address. I am an artist but I deeply appreciated a gift of art from fellow artist. I gazed at it thrice before I dashed to bed and fall sound asleep.

A PAINTING BY LLOYD IRVING BRADBURY- This painting is untitled by I named it "BLUE CACTUS." Lloyd sent me this painting. He told me...."This print I sent you is one of a kind. The sketch was larger and torn up as it was on a scrap paper as a doodle for another background. It was not complexed but was created for YOU. I thought of cactus plants that your inspiration gave me. "

A MILLION THANKS TO YOU LLOYD!...... "I will always treasure this print and art you created specially for me. What a splendid imagination you have! How great to have an artistic friend like you. I am happy that you've been inspired by one of my cactus paintings."

http://lloydsart.blogspot.com/

If you are interested to know more about Lloyd Bradbury and his paintings please check his art blog at the above URL. He's a wonderful self-taught artist and works with mixed media. You might become friends too.