Pickles by Brian Crane for May 01, 2023

That’s good advice Earl. Need to remember that.

Yeah, words to live by…

…and stop beating him.

So, Earl, are you telling Opal it’s time to get off your back?

Opal has some cowgirl wisdom for you, Earl: when the horse is stubborn, tie it to a stake. Meaning, you’re going to be sleeping on the sofa.

Especially if it is a paint.

I didn’t know Earl was a cowboy…

Cowboy, to a woman pointing a rifle, “Yes Ma’am, he’s your deer. Just let me get my saddle off him please.”

If you enjoy painting (and don’t need to make money)… keep painting!

That’s a good one

Can’t picture Earl on a horse or any four-legged animal which is 3 feet high.

It’s inherited cowboy wisdom.

That is a much better way of saying “Quit beating a dead horse”.

As long as he resists the urge to call her an “Old Paint” —

Johnny Cash sings:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qUFbDqp28so

Never heard that one before! HAHAHA! Now if only I can remember it.

“Old Paint needs a paint job”!

wisdom

great!

now, any advice for an old cow?

Um, she said that in panel one. Pay attention or it’s a trip to the fabric store!

Earl is having a death-wish moment. It just might come true.

If you’re painting for the approval of others, then quit. If you’re painting for your own pleasure/need/interest, then get going!

Thank you Earl…… That was VERY insightful.!!!!

A person is an artist because they HAVE to be, not because of external validation. Keep painting!

she needs to travel somewhere that will inspire her creative muse… send her to a foreign land for six months, or a year

I recommend Sudan

Oooo Earl! Neigh-ver give Opal advice about anything…

when I was young I wanted to be a “rock star” = but no matter how hard I tried no rock ever asked me to be a star for them. so after 70 years of trying I quit.

May the horse be with you…

His horse named Sofa.

Show me your paintings, Opal, I might buy a few for some of my walls.

Why can’t Opal just paint for the joy of it?

Painting, like photography, is a money making business. Money making for the people that sell supplies. Artists don’t make the money, the supplier of products is the money maker.

Opal, There’s no place ’round the campfire for a quitter’s blanket.

And send him to Texas to make more Jerky.

If painting makes her happy and feel creative, then by all means she should do it. Everyone needs a hobby. You don’t necessarily have to make money from it.

Look under californiamonty for a continuation of yesterday’s discussion of lead time with respect to the strip that mentioned Harry Belafonte.

It’s not about SELLING, dear Opal! It’s about ENJOYING YOURSELF!

Makes perfect sense to me.

Still…. someone, somewhere has a hole in a wall which one of her paintings will cover perfectly.

But do you enjoy it Opal? If so, keep doing it. In hobbies the only thing that matters is if you like it. My pots will never win awards but they are fun to make.

If Opal wants to share her creations with the world, she could take a painting class, which could improve her skills and eventually help her to make connections with the local art community.

No point in flogging a dead horse. Don’t know where that quote originated but it’s a good one.

Art is not for others. It is not for shows. It is not for selling. It is for you. And you first.

Makes sense to me