Welcome to this new section of the SmartGirl site! The idea for this space came from a woman named Anna who's from California and has been a SmartGirl user for a long time. She really wanted to see a place where users could respond to images that we present to them. Each month, we will post two new images and ask you to respond to them. We'll provide some background information and some questions which you may or may not want to address in your response. Check back here next month to view our favorite submissions. Hope you enjoy this section!

Submit your writing for next month's artistic reflection.

Last month's artistic reflections looked at:

Maud Earl (1864 - 1943) Ch. Christopher of Notts and Ch. Cackler of Notts, ca. 1900	Maud Earl (1864 - 1943) Black Retriever, 1904

Maud Earl was born in London, Enagland in 1864. Her father, George Earl, was also a well-known animal painter and her first teacher. She later attended the Royal Female School of Art and became quite well known in her own right despite living in an era where women were not often successful in the art world. She even had the chance to paint animal portraits for Queen Elizabeth and Queen Alexandra! She emigrated to America after World War I and died in New York in 1943.

Both of these pictures are of hunting dogs but they look very different. What similarities do you see? Wht differences do you see? Which one do you like better? Why? Do you think the painting of the Black Retriever looks unfinished, or do you like the blank canvas? How would you describe the expressions of the two dogs in the other painting? What do you think has happened to make them look that way?

Here's what some very reflective SmartGirls had to say:

• I think they are both really detailed and beautiful in a different way. Not as a flower or butterfly, but as a live creature. I love I can see the individual blades of grass in each painting. ~ Manda, 15
  
  
• I think that the one with the two dogs looks a lot more realistic. They are both spectacular though. I personally prefer the more realistic vibe between these two. I think the black retriever one is too blank and not as colorful and fun. ~ Sarina, 11
  
  
• Both paintings are beautiful. These painters did a nice job of expressing the mood of such beautiful creatures. The black retriever is my fave. You can't help but notice his beautiful eyes just gazing at you. You can tell that he is probably thankful. The other painting by Maud Earl shows a more relaxed mood. The dogs get some time to themselves and enjoy beautiful nature. ~ Jen, 16
  
  
• The retriever looks proud that it has caught something, while the dogs in the other picture look upset. It may have been because their owner was pressuring them to hunt and they didn't like it. Animals have feelings and different personalities too, just like people. I think this was what the artist was trying to show. ~ Chaz, 15

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