I keep letting not having the right words stop me from putting something forward, so I’ll try to just get to the point. Gaza Matters. How we respond to this matters. Their lives matter.
#Letgazalive #freepalestine

I have seen so much carnage over the past year and a half+, it has been heartbreaking to witness. But I still have seemingly unreasonable hopes that humanity can unite, and remember that we are all one. My heart will lead with that. But it also grieves for what we have been part of.
Continued…

That was amazing! Over the weekend, Friends of Standing Together groups in 15 cities across the world, in partnership with other "It's Time" coalition members, held events in solidarity with the “It’s Time” People’s Peace Summit happening this Thursday & Friday in Jerusalem (1/3)

Painted at a Crawfish Boil yesterday at Cervantes before Toadstool/Nether Hour🦐🎶🎺🎹Really had fun with it, I miss the animated animals/skeletons I used to paint. Need to get more of that going!
#crawfish #crawfishboil #cervantes #cervantesotherside #laurikeener #laurikeenerartist

This sweet one is Darby 🐾❤️🐾
#watercolor #watercolorpetportrait #custompainting #laurikeener #bestfriend

#italwaysseemsimpossibleuntilitsdone a good thing to remember

a man is holding a cabbage in his hands and smiling ALT: a man is holding a cabbage in his hands and smiling

@alexkrugcombo.bsky.social

Bernie Sanders/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally 3-21-25
This was the largest crowd I’ve ever seen at the Capitol/Civic Center Park, i’m hearing 30,000!! It felt really good to be there amongst people that want to create change✨None of this is going to be easy, but we are not alone. ✊🏼

Getting some good Don time in. He was in the hospital for a handful of days. It was a bit rough but he’s doing better and very glad to be home. Love ya Don Callarman! ✨💓✨and I know that goes for many others!

Stroobs 🍓#botanicalillustration

@studiosatgrace #christmascactus #Schlumbergeraxbuckleyi #studiosatgrace #globevilleriverfrontartscenter

Handed this sweet babe over to her mom yesterday 🐾❤️🐾 #ruby #petportrait #watercolorpetportrait #watercolor #laurikeener #laurikeenerart

Spent some time walking around the studios this morning, appreciating the mixture and flow of these creative spirits✨ #globevilleriverfrontartscenter

Jane/Eyre is a queer, rock, gothic, romance put on by Grapefruit Lab with music by Teacup Gorilla and Dameon Merkl✨It haunts the senses and I highly recommend going if you can catch any of the remaining shows! They always put on incredibly thought provoking works. Do catch one soon even if not this!

And this sweet little babe is Izzy
❤️🐶❤️
#petportrait #customportrait #laurikeener #Watercolor

I CRIED SEEING THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES RETURNED TO THEIR MOTHERS, I CAN'T IMAGINE THEIR RELIEF AND I AM HAPPY FOR THEIR REUNIONS. BUT MY SOUL MOURNS FOR WHAT ISRAELI LEADERSHIP. WITH OUR COOPERATION, HAS DONE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND TO GAZA. IT IS HEART WRENCHING SEEING SUCH DESTRUCTION. I HAVE HOPES FOR THE CEASEFIRE TO BRING MORE THAN JUST MOMENTARY RELIEF. BUT IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT PALESTINIANS ARE NOT TREATED WITH ANYWHERE NEAR THE SAME LEVEL OF HUMANITY. EVEN HOW HOSTAGES ARE TALKED ABOUT- "ISRAELI HOSTAGES" / "PALESTINIAN PRISONERS". ISRAEL HAS HELD PALESTINIAN "PRISONERS" OR HOSTAGES SINCE WELL BEFORE OCT 7. MANY OF THEM CHILDREN AND MANY WITHOUT A CHARGE, FOR AS LONG AS THEY CHOOSE. NOW THEY HOLD MANY, MANY MORE (OTHER THAN JUST HAMAS) INCLUDING MORE CHILDREN, DOCTORS, AID WORKERS, JOURNALISTS, ETC. BUT THEY ARE ALL STILL REFERRED TO AS "PRISONERS". THERE IS THE DESIRE TO PAINT ALL PALESTINIANS AS EVIL AND TIED TO HAMAS. BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE THE REFUSAL TO EVEN BOTHER WITH THE PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP THAT NETANYAHU AND HIS GOVERNMENTS HELD WITH HAMAS, IN THE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP A 2 STATE SOLUTION AT BAY. THIS CARRIED HUGE INFLUENCE AND WAS DETRIMENTAL NOT JUST TO ISRAELI SOCIETY BUT TO PALESTINIAN SOCIETY AS WELL. BUT... BACK TO HOPE.... DESPITE THE REALITY OF WHAT IS THERE TO BE SEEN, I WILL LEAVE ROOM FOR THE HOPE THAT THIS CEASEFIRE WILL BE THE START OF A NEW DAY.

And this was from a couple of days ago. But I figured for my first day posting on Bluesky that it was worth a repost

Sweet black dog with white paws lying down in the park and looking at the viewer with big brown eyes.

A holiday commission I hadn’t yet posted. This sweet babe is Abbey
❤️🐶❤️
#watercolorpetportrait #custompainting #dawg #laurikeener

.....maybe at this point it's not such a bad thing...