Cool Young Crowd

The Thrill is Not Gone

The Thrill is Not Gone

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Obama Embraces the Crowd

Obama Embraces the Crowd

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

I'm not over it yet. The goodness the joy. Lovely Lillian Litzsey in electric blue sitting next to us. With the Hayward South County Chapter of Black Women Organized for Political Action, she had a word with the President. The more I paint it, the more I get to have the experience again.

Obama Comes to Town

Obama Comes to Town

Oil on Wood

6"X6"
SOLD

As our friend, Eric Van Dusen put it, "He was so great, so human, so real. He even made fun of himself. For all the doubters out there, just go see him live and he'll lift you up." Not only that, but he brought all of us together for a moment, in pursuit of the positive, the anything is possible, the we can rise above the petty, the angry, and the ugly. I left there with my better self back in charge.

Downtown

Downtown

Oil on Wood

10"X8"

SOLD

I spent the morning with painting friends, Kristen and Ellis. We went to see Raimonds Strapans' paintings at Hackett/Mill Gallery in downtown San Francisco. Big, bold, beautiful. We all got excited about his use of color, especially orange, and as usual, I felt like a beginner. Opposite the elevator was this office that looked like a stage set. Not sure what they do there, but it thrilled me every bit as much as the art.

The White House Lawn

The White House Lawn

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

Maybe I'll go on making paintings of The White House forever. The experience of being there is still with me and I don't want to give it up. Connected to the past, part of the present, and hopeful for the future.

The White House

The White House

Oil on Wood

8"X6"

Awesome.

Saturday at the Shorey's

Saturday at the Shorey's

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

White House West Wing

West Wing

Oil on Wood

6"X6"
SOLD

Yes the White House Garden was wonderful. Stunning. Spacious and Beautiful. Magnolias and cherry blossoms spraying pink petals everywhere. Tulips planted with restraint. And history alive and well, thriving along side the Obama's inspired vegetable garden and cool basketball court. It felt mighty good to be there yesterday with friends and family and people from all over soaking up Spring and a moment of American optimism. Thanks, Pikes and Nelsons. We owe you big time.

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

This is and isn't Sand Beach. Started last year sometime it has crossed the country twice and had quite a makeover in recent weeks. More than anything, it's a memory of summer in Maine. The kind we dream about. Without rain and mosquitoes. Warm and enveloping and a step away from the worries of the real world.

Speaking of the real world, last night I watched "Pressure Cooker," a documentary about a Philadelphia high school course in culinary arts. What it's really about is committed, caring, teaching and motivated, resilient young people. It makes you just want to go out and do some good in the world.