[Garth Herrick]

Dear Linda, Sergio, and Tom:

Thank you so much for all your positive comments. I think you know how encouraging and rewarding your feedback can be. This painting seems to convey more of a message than I intended. I don't mind this. It is interesting to learn from other's perspectives.

Linda said: "I also wanted to tell you, for what it's worth, that I had a strong emotional reaction to this painting. To lie in the sun, totally relaxed, completely protected by Moms who will die to protect you... wow! When will this level of trust and safety happen again, other than in childhood; who will ever guard us again this way?" To me, there were no such profound thoughts as I painted this. I just was happy with the energy of the composition and loved the play of the sunlight.

I think one reason my personal response is lower key than Linda's is that I have had this composition stewing in my mind for over twenty years, while Linda is getting a "gut" reaction from seeing it for the first time. Sergio, I appreciate your critique about the blue shoe. I personally like it as a compositional device. And Tom, thanks for your kind words about my responses, but I think I have a tendancy to over-explain.

You are all such talented artists whose works I really respect and can learn from. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Garth