Tags
Andes, Cuenca Tourist Police, Ecuador, Guaranda, i can do this painting workshops, memyblog, Portrait of an Artist, WordPress Daily Post INSPIRATION

Happily Immersed in the Andean city of Guaranda Ecuador, Lisa Brunetti critiques just-shot images of red-caped Indians. (Photo by Marie Groff)
WordPress hurled a curve ball today! Thankfully the challenge works well with my life as an artist, naturalist and blogger. Finding images for this challenge was an easy task!
“We want to know what inspires you. For this special mid-week photo challenge, we want to see portraits of you doing something that inspires you to blog … Show us photos of yourself doing things that inspire you to blog. Have a cooking blog? Let’s see you in the kitchen. Run a fitness blog? We want to see you in action. ”
The above instructions used the words “portraits, photos’ and “doing THINGS,” so I jumped in with both feet and retrieved images that reflect those requests!
What inspires me? What doesn’t inspire me?! The byline on my main blog states, “An Artist’s Eyes Never Rest.” On a quick trek to town this morning, I asked permission to photograph the always-smiling push-cart lady who cleans the streets of Jama Ecuador. She posed for several photos, and as we admired her likeness on the tiny screen, I explained to her that I painted. I told her, “Los ojos de artista nunca basta.” I am not sure if that’s the proper way to say that phrase in Spanish, but she seemed to understand!
Usually within reach, my camera often records special memories and allows me to share those memories via WordPress. The camera is not only my main assistant for writing blogs, but it also records details for my future paintings. Luckily others have snapped and shared images when I was focused on subject matter!
The olive ridley sea turtles own a large slice of my image library and have been featured in many of my posts. The ‘fluffy’ olive ridley posts can be perused here: https://playamart.wordpress.com//?s=olive+ridley&search=Go while more serious stories about their decline are featured here: https://playamart.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/weekly-image-of-life-breathtaking/
and on my other site here: http://zeebradesigns.wordpress.com//?s=olive+ridley&search=Go
Sometimes my friends catch me in unguarded moments, like when I waded across a cool stream to inspect the gnarled roots of an old tree. I wasn’t expecting the little ‘sardines’ to start nibbling my legs!
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.How great it was to enter the first-ever ‘barrel’ speed event competition in my little community of Pueblo Nuevo de Bejuco in Costa Rica! They had no idea that their resident artist/naturalist was once a barrel-racing champion! By placing second, I won short-term respect from the neighborhood!
Hank and Marie Groff recently visited Ecuador, and many times Marie captured fun moments while I inspected the landscape with childlike curiosity. Escape to the Andes shows a slightly-different view than Marie’s images!
See the story about the snow-capped highest peak in Ecuador in Mystical Andes!

Tipping closer for a better photo of Volcano Chimborazo, I spooked some cows from the ditch! For a peek at lovely Chimborazo, see the post, Mystical Andes.
The community of Jama Ecuador embraces my history as an artist and oftentimes asks for my help in community matters. Little did Luchy Cevallos and I realize that this post-painting project would spark an even-greater one that continues to receive international attention! Read It Started With One LIght Pole and witness how one light pole ignited a post-painting frenzy. See also Paul Caridad’s story on Visual News. (Thanks again, Paul!)
I have written several posts about the “I Can Do This Workshops.” Scroll through the posts and see if you don’t agree: “I CAN DO THIS!”
https://playamart.wordpress.com/category/painting-workshops-i-can-do-this/
Because I prefer to be behind the camera instead of the subject of interest, I sometimes try to blend in with the locals. How do you think I am doing?!!
See more great entries here on the Daily Post.
Thanks, everyone, for your tireless support of my work, whether I am painting or chattering about my latest adventure in Latin America! Thanks, WordPress, for a great challenge!
Z
Love to see you in the pictures Lisa, what a wonderful life you have, I am thankful for finding you!
Doris! Thank you so much! You are equally wonderful, always full of kindness and goodness.
You should join us on this challenge!
Z
I would love too, it looks like a lot of fun, happy thanksgiving!
Great post Z!
Muchas Gracias! I hope that you both enter, as you’d have some great images and stories for this one!
z
Loved your post, so inspiring!
Thank you so much! Z
Wonderful to see Your beautiful smile in the photos..great blog !!
Happy Thanksgiving..
thank you amigos! happy thanksgiving to you as well! z
All your posts are so inspiring!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
thank you! are you cooking/creating something wonderfuL? no need to reply, as it’s a busy day for you!
z
Your passion for life and adventure inspires me. I hope to one day embrace the world in person like you do. Travel, meet fascinating people, immerse under the sun, getting enrich with culture and living the life we all were meant to live.
Oh, but I think you are already living that life! You certainly embrace your life and share your rich stories with all of us! Thank you, my friend, and I hope that the community where you live embraces you into their lives!
z
I love your sense of humor. That last picture depicts Lisa…a visiting dignitary inspecting the troops. Finding inspiration is easy for you and it shows in the photos.Have a great Thanksgiving!
the greatest part of that moment was that hank and marie were inside the cathedral. i told them that i would be somewhere in that area, and they couldn’t find me. til they rounded the corner and there i was posing with the guys! marie burst out laughing!
I don’t know what to say Lisa, other than you are simply amazing…what a talent and a zest for life. 🙂
thank you, LuAnn! your genuine praise means the world to me! i hope that your travels bring you two to ecuador soon! z
We would love that. Perhaps in the upcoming year.
Love reading your adventures.. The red capes is beautiful! Wish I had more time to read all your stories.. You have a very interesting life… Carol 🙂
thanks, carol! the most important part is to squeeze the best from each day, no matter where we live!
z
You are an inspiration Lisa! And this is guaranteed front page material 🙂
I can almost see the ‘red capes’ hanging on my wall!
you are too kind, amiga! thanks, i am glad you enjoyed it! yes, there’s something about those red capes! z
nice to follow you to so many different actions!
thank you for taking the tour through the zeebra’s life! z
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Thank you so much for existing, Lisa ! You own an incredible treasure in your heart and mind, and hand and fingers… And you share this treasure with us, lunck and happy people that have been able to meet you (Lise and I are so often thinking of you). THANK YOU !
thank YOU, dear helen! i can bounce this beautiful comment back to france and apply all of the above to you as well! i am so glad that our paths crossed, and our lives will always be richer because of that! i look forward to future meetings!
love,
z
I love your selection of photos; colorful and inviting… That shot of the red capes and last shot are so beautiful. 🙂
thank you so much! i am lucky to have such a rich life, immersed in this ecuadorian culture.
z
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You are such an incredibly inspiring person!