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Lin Gregory's avatar

What a wonderful experience for you and your group - and a beautiful piece of art too Anne, it's so delicate. I am a music lover but silence does fall on our home when we're both working at our creative projects...and sometimes I just stop and sit in that stillness, enjoying it before the 'noise' of the world invades once again.

Anne Silver Mondinot's avatar

Thank you so much, Lin. So glad you appreciate the post and the painting. The beauty of watercolor is that it allows one to put such delicate color on the paper and then layer over it, sometimes again and again— kind of like multiple exposures. :)

Sitting in the stillness once silence has fallen is a lovely way of describing it.

Lee Anne White's avatar

This post and your watercolor are both beautiful, Anne. I crave silence and try to find it each day—though it is often in the wee hours when I should probably be sleeping. I used to love music playing when I worked; now I prefer the quiet. I turn the sound off on my phone and often leave it in another room. But I cannot stop the cars and trucks going up and down the street at all hours, the mow-and-blow crews, the barking dogs (most notably, my own), the sirens, the constant ringing in my ears….

Anne Silver Mondinot's avatar

thank you so much, dear Lee Anne. yes, life is noisy. silence is a quest! we have to search for it and create it where and when we can.

Beth Gibson's avatar

Oh Anne I love this so much! Yes! I too am a lover of silence, stillness. As the world gets louder and louder I find myself retreating more into the void for the peace my soul needs. Thank you for your words and sharing your voice. I find such resonance and comfort in your posts and art 🩷✨🩷

Ineska Klauber's avatar

Love this article! I’ve been saying, there is more and more noise pollution surrounding our days! Very few places to retreat!

Anne Silver Mondinot's avatar

Thank you so much, Beth! I’m delighted that this resonated with you. Here’s to moments of genuine, restorative silence. 🩵🩵🩵

Erica A. Wheadon's avatar

Anne, that painting took my breath away. I need silence too - I have leaky sensory gating - I am beyond distracted if there is music, particularly with lyrics. I can tolerate classical music, but it can sometimes be too emotionally overwhelming. I definitely do my best writing with white noise. Art, is a little different - but I still need to be discerning about what I'm listening to. That said - I adore Melody Gardot! There would have been something so energetic and magnetic about a group of people working in comfortable silence though. I wish I could join your group. ♡

Karen Olson's avatar

Anne, beautiful post. I especially appreciate the questions at the end. I will take each one as a writing prompt during my upcoming artist residency. Thank you!