When I was in college, I painted a work I called “The Cadaverous Mona Lisa.” She was quite pale and ashen—lots of people in my dorm liked it. It disappeared one day, but luckily I took pictures of my dorm room, and it was in one of the pictures.
Not exactly a charming, enigmatic smile, but Bernice looks really good dressed like that. I wonder if Nil wants to do like Francis Bacon, starting by being inspired by a portrait famous for its tranquility and rational composition and then transforming it into one of the most distressing images of torment, fear and despair that painting ever had. If that’s the case, I’d be curious to see Bernice’s reaction. I’m afraid she wouldn’t understand and would be angry. This might push her to go to meet Piro!?
You’d think as intelligent as Bernice is supposed to be, she’d know the difference from whatever you’d call that smile she’s displaying, to a true “mona Lisa” smile.
Wow! Was I wrong! Ivan and J Puzzle got it right. Mona indeed! There’s always a story behind the smile, what’s Bernice’s? Artistic frustration ahead? ;-)
I am quite frustrated with LuAnn. Greg Evans insists on keeping both Bernice and LuAnn shallow and limited. He won’t let them grow, although occasionally there will be moments of maturity and wisdom that come from nowhere …… and disappear just as quickly. The most interesting character today is Tara, and storylines involving her tend to evaporate for some reason. While I am at it, what happened to the letter from Piro to Bernice? ……. I mention these things because I recognize that LuAnn has the potential to be great, but I guess its just too risky - and inexpedient.
This is often overlooked, but upon covering one or the other side of Mona Lisa’a face, the two halves are quite asymmetrical and show very different moods of expression. Methinks Leo Vincent deliberately did this.
why oh WHY is she insufferably ignorant of her own obnoxiousness? She never really listens unless there is an opp to snipe Luann or make a 3rd party observation. She does fine when around Luann’s mom……but around her own age group? Not so much….
All around nope. Bernice being insufferable – be quiet, muse, and let the artist work. It’s impossible to see how he gets inspiration from her. And Nil using the Mona Lisa as subject matter? Truly lacks imagination. This arrangement just seems like contrived yuckiness to me.
Okay, so it was a “Mona Lisa” costume and wig, as someone had foreknowledge of yesterday! But Nil’s problem is not just Bernie’s glasses, easily enough removed, but rather her corny broad smile! Maybe she doesn’t comprehend “enigmatic” smile. Perhaps a hand-mirror will help….
And now, an unknown fact of art history. I think that Vincent van Gogh tried to cut off his ear because he had a distracting chatterbox model like Bernice.
lvlax about 1 year ago
Woot! I was right… Mona Lisa!! lol
I don’t think Nil’s idea is going to work out. He doesn’t have the right model.
I will say this.. The new Mona outfit looks better than her Muse look. lol
.
So will he paint Bernice or give up on using her?
Namrepus about 1 year ago
That pose is more like “Why so serious?”
sallymargret about 1 year ago
Just as Max/Ivlax predicted yesterday.
J. Scarbrough about 1 year ago
Well, the future has been predicted correctly!
Tyge Premium Member about 1 year ago
No way this sequence can be saved! (how’s that for a challenge?)
J.J. O'Malley about 1 year ago
“No, it’s the spinach caught between your teeth!”
beb01 about 1 year ago
Bernice is hopeless. What does he see in her?
Pointspread about 1 year ago
The only thing enigmatic about that smile is why Bernice would think anyone would want to paint it.
ronaldspence about 1 year ago
Bernice…let the artist be the artist please…thank you
Panufo about 1 year ago
You made me laugh, Evans.
Argythree about 1 year ago
I was wrong; I really thought that Piro would somehow show up as part of the art project. Too bad; that would have been fun…
Alabama Al about 1 year ago
C’mon Nil … didn’t you watch “Titanic”?
kenhense about 1 year ago
“Is it the glasses?” No – it’s the gasses…
Joe1962 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Bernice loosen up your smile.
sallymargret about 1 year ago
When I was in college, I painted a work I called “The Cadaverous Mona Lisa.” She was quite pale and ashen—lots of people in my dorm liked it. It disappeared one day, but luckily I took pictures of my dorm room, and it was in one of the pictures.
Brdshtt Premium Member about 1 year ago
Raw meat would run from that ‘smile’.
BayReader about 1 year ago
Oh Bernice! Just listen to Nil and do as he asks, instead of assuming how he wants you to pose.
Busrayne about 1 year ago
Why does he need Bernice? Why not a picture of the real Mona Lisa?
live2read about 1 year ago
In the last panel, she kind of looks like “Weird” Al Yankovic.
Rhetorical_Question about 1 year ago
Wrong Smile
Jacob Mattingly about 1 year ago
No its the constant layer of smug
Walter Kocker Premium Member about 1 year ago
She’d need to shave her eyebrows to be Lisa del Giocondo, as it was the style of the time.
Bernice could use a Sharpie™ between her ’brows and be Frida Kahlo . . .
Grandma Lea about 1 year ago
Or ask her to remove her classes and shave her eyebrows
Enter.Name.Here about 1 year ago
Scary grin.
Mordock999 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Does Bernice know that by the time Nil is done, all that will be seen is her right nostril?
The Reader Premium Member about 1 year ago
Give her time to get bored.
OneTime59 about 1 year ago
Keen foresight for whoever called the Mona Lisa role for B yesterday.
luann1212 about 1 year ago
Now here is hilarity ensueth.
Aladar30 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Not exactly a charming, enigmatic smile, but Bernice looks really good dressed like that. I wonder if Nil wants to do like Francis Bacon, starting by being inspired by a portrait famous for its tranquility and rational composition and then transforming it into one of the most distressing images of torment, fear and despair that painting ever had. If that’s the case, I’d be curious to see Bernice’s reaction. I’m afraid she wouldn’t understand and would be angry. This might push her to go to meet Piro!?
tremaine53 about 1 year ago
“On second thought, let’s do Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, Bernice.”
Johnnyrico about 1 year ago
Another painful series of strips…
Count Olaf Premium Member about 1 year ago
Darling Ann ❤️ Eiffel has a fantastic “come hither” smile. Eat your ❤️s out. You ain’t worthy. Envious, but not worthy.
DaveG1960 about 1 year ago
Creepy!
Judy Hendrickson [Unnamed Reader - 852856] about 1 year ago
Never never never have I ever seen sooo much drama in a comic strip
oakie817 about 1 year ago
i like it
Wizard of Ahz-no relation about 1 year ago
this would be completely different form the art we’ve already seen where it was just small pieces, suddnely he’s going full portrait?
[Traveler] Premium Member about 1 year ago
Perhaps she’ll do the Sharon Stone move from Basic Instinct
brick10 about 1 year ago
Bernice, closed lips, no teeth, no sounds.
nubianaries81 about 1 year ago
I just think he wanted that ugly@$$ outfit off lol, maybe he’ll convince her to go back to her regular clothes
Wesley Premium Member about 1 year ago
Draw a mustache on her, Nil
Ignatz Premium Member about 1 year ago
Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues. You can tell by the way she smiles.
WilliamVollmer about 1 year ago
You’d think as intelligent as Bernice is supposed to be, she’d know the difference from whatever you’d call that smile she’s displaying, to a true “mona Lisa” smile.
Ignatz Premium Member about 1 year ago
I’ll bet Nil’s “portrait” will look more like Mondrian than DaVinci.
nancywilson51 about 1 year ago
Question: why does Nils hair color and style change when he is with Bernice?
prrdh about 1 year ago
Enigmatic smile, self-satisfied smirk…what’s the difference?
ctolson about 1 year ago
Do your signature smirk Bernice.
RonMcCalip about 1 year ago
The Muse is a Mess!
Tyge Premium Member about 1 year ago
From the looks of it, Nil will wind up painting the “Moanin’ Louisa!”
tomcervo about 1 year ago
New Yorker cartoon of Leonardo painting Mona: “And now a little smile.”
Ellis97 about 1 year ago
I think it’s the suggestive grin.
scottartist creator about 1 year ago
Those who said the outfit looked like Mona Lisa were on the money. Some said a flapper, which I couldn’t see at all.
YorkGirl Premium Member about 1 year ago
Wow! Was I wrong! Ivan and J Puzzle got it right. Mona indeed! There’s always a story behind the smile, what’s Bernice’s? Artistic frustration ahead? ;-)
hoffquotes2 about 1 year ago
Afterwards, take the muse to the fuze
nightflight about 1 year ago
Nil’s Mona Lisa could cause Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” to scream again.
FassEddie about 1 year ago
“Put your hands thus…” Who raised this boy?
fuzzbucket Premium Member about 1 year ago
It’s the "I’m so cool’ attitude.
mysethfriend about 1 year ago
I am quite frustrated with LuAnn. Greg Evans insists on keeping both Bernice and LuAnn shallow and limited. He won’t let them grow, although occasionally there will be moments of maturity and wisdom that come from nowhere …… and disappear just as quickly. The most interesting character today is Tara, and storylines involving her tend to evaporate for some reason. While I am at it, what happened to the letter from Piro to Bernice? ……. I mention these things because I recognize that LuAnn has the potential to be great, but I guess its just too risky - and inexpedient.
KEA about 1 year ago
if you ever wondered why the Mona Lisa is so great see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9JvUDrrXmY&t=31s
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault about 1 year ago
It has to be a sorta smile.
handq about 1 year ago
I haven’t seen little Shannon in a while now.
mindjob about 1 year ago
Yeah, the smirk isn’t as classy
artjohn42 about 1 year ago
Not really “enigmatic”; more “snake oil salesman”.
The Quiet One about 1 year ago
What’s wrong with it?
198.23.5.11 about 1 year ago
Tuck in those teeth,Bernice.
Mona Lisa does NOT look like she’s about to sell you a flooded basement
Caldonia about 1 year ago
A college art project based on the thoroughly overanalyzed dusty old cliche, Mona Lisa! Good job!
Templo S.U.D. about 1 year ago
Nil capturing his inner Leonardo, eh?
DG about 1 year ago
This is Nil … the guy who goes outside the box with his art ….
Why does Mona smile ….
What if he drew just her hands with an engagement ring on it.
DorothyGlenn Premium Member about 1 year ago
Let Piro spark her interest, so she can be a Piro-maniac and set fire to her love life. Then she can really Bern.
Drbarb71 Premium Member about 1 year ago
His muse is Wierd Al Yankovich?
Willow Mt Lyon about 1 year ago
It’s the glasses and the showing of her teeth
ironman01 about 1 year ago
Her smile looks like she’s sitting on a feather.
AndrewSihler about 1 year ago
Nice try.
sallymargret about 1 year ago
Not glasses. Smirk and eyebrows.
spaced man spliff about 1 year ago
This is often overlooked, but upon covering one or the other side of Mona Lisa’a face, the two halves are quite asymmetrical and show very different moods of expression. Methinks Leo Vincent deliberately did this.
TIMH about 1 year ago
I’ve long suspected that the Mona Lisa smiles because she just farted.
finnygirl Premium Member about 1 year ago
Rather than “enigmatic”, I’d say Bernice’s smile is “asininic”. (I know that’s not a real word, but I like the sound of it anyway, lol).
waerdawg about 1 year ago
why oh WHY is she insufferably ignorant of her own obnoxiousness? She never really listens unless there is an opp to snipe Luann or make a 3rd party observation. She does fine when around Luann’s mom……but around her own age group? Not so much….
kittysquared Premium Member about 1 year ago
All around nope. Bernice being insufferable – be quiet, muse, and let the artist work. It’s impossible to see how he gets inspiration from her. And Nil using the Mona Lisa as subject matter? Truly lacks imagination. This arrangement just seems like contrived yuckiness to me.
Sisyphos about 1 year ago
Okay, so it was a “Mona Lisa” costume and wig, as someone had foreknowledge of yesterday! But Nil’s problem is not just Bernie’s glasses, easily enough removed, but rather her corny broad smile! Maybe she doesn’t comprehend “enigmatic” smile. Perhaps a hand-mirror will help….
nightflight about 1 year ago
And now, an unknown fact of art history. I think that Vincent van Gogh tried to cut off his ear because he had a distracting chatterbox model like Bernice.
scalap Premium Member about 1 year ago
What’s wrong is that Bern looks like Weird Al! LOL