Bird's Eye View

 Bird's Eye View

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

This is painted over a 2020 painting of trees burned in the 2017 fire. Looking ahead, like the birds who frequent the top of this survivor fir tree. Strength, perseverance, focus on now.

I keep thinking of Margaret Renkl's observation,

"The natural world's perfect indifference has always been the best cure for my own anxieties...The dramas and worries and pain that are the warp of my life, woven tightly through the light and love and joy that are its weft, don't register on the blue jay at all."

Crows Dec 5

 Crows December 5

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Crows like to hang out at the top of my neighbor's birch trees in the morning. Today the sky turned dark, and a shower blew by followed by a bright rainbow stretching in an arch across the whole sky.

Then came an earthquake out to sea followed by a tsunami warning that sent everyone into a tizzy. We became experts on weather, watching Daniel Swain explain it all on his YouTube channel,

"Weather and Climate Office Hours by Weather West."

Once the weather event was over, I spent the afternoon in the studio with Jon Batiste's 
"Beethoven Blues" followed by Beethoven piano concertos and now Sonatas 1 and 2 for cello and piano.

Finding solace in the unexpected served up by Nature and the beauty of human creative endeavor.

I will end the day reading a chapter of Margaret Renkl's, "The Comfort of Crows: A backyard Year."

Full circle.

Oregon Junco

 Oregon Junco

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Morning entertainment. Juncos on the deck. Small and sweet and finding a little something to eat. Life goes on.

Evening Walk

 Evening Walk

Oil on Wood

16"X20"

It's been 7 years since fire ravaged this place. Nature is resilient. We can be too.

HOPE.

Seeing "American Sublime" with Lee

 Seeing "American Sublime" with Lee

Oil on Wood

8"X10"

Amy Sherald's, "American Sublime" at S.F. MOMA is stunning. 

Sharing it with my good friend made it even sweeter.

Watch Amy Sherald's story.

It makes you think anything is possible. Inspiration, intention, perseverance, goodness and beauty. For one afternoon Art replaced the rage, greed, and ugliness that fills the air. Hanging on to that.

Bird Business as Usual

 Bird Business as Usual

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Birds are everywhere attending to bird business as usual. Soothing, to say the least.

November Rose

 November Rose

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

In the company of old friends.

J.S.Bach Morimur. The human voice. Solo Violin. 

Against Panic: A survival Kit by Margaret Renkl.

"There is no cure for profound grief, but beauty and love and tenderness can walk alongside it and ease the solitude, at least."

Roses blooming their farewell Fall swan song.

Soul Food.

Princess Flower

 Princess Flower

Oil on Wood

8"X10"

This magnificent natural beauty Princess Flower is blooming on Sycamore Street in Mill Valley.

Today it rained.

Schubert's String Quintet in C major, D956 fills the studio.

Three little miracles to celebrate today.

November 6

 November 6

Oil on Wood

16"X20"

I turned off the news, pundits, and social media.

I took myself outside.

Met a friend for a walk and lunch.

We were wowed by this tree.

I refuse to let anyone ruin what is left of my life.

Connecting with friends and loved ones and doing the things that bring meaning and JOY to Life.

Heart to Heart

 

Heart to Heart

Oil on Wood

24"X24"

There's nothing like one on one, human connection. Especially in trying times. We are all in this together. Wishing everyone well.

September Rose

 September Rose

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

For my dear friend, whose light shines deep in my heart.

Island Altar

 Island Altar

Oil on Wood

8"X6"

Loving tribute to friendship. 

Everlasting.

Forever Friendship

 Forever Friendship

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

For my friend.

Friendship

is

Forever.

August Afternoon

 August Afternoon

Oil on Wood

24"X24"

Sonoma in August. Breezy and beautiful.

Sailing Day

 Sailing Day

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Tower of Power

 Tower of Power

Oil on Wood

20"X24"

Sweet Peas

 Sweet Peas

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

Friends gathered around my table at noon, another belated birthday celebration. Carol brought sweet peas from her garden. Their beauty and aroma fills my house still, a reminder of the goodness of friendships that light up our lives in the midst of darkness.

We are the lucky ones to have each other.

Library of Light

 Library of Light

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

I am still celebrating my birthday a week after the actual day. Lunch dates, family visits, reading Sy Montgomery's, "How to be a Good Creature" sent by my dear friend, a reminder that we are all just mammals trying to survive. Painting, and filling the studio with Handel's "Alexanders Feast."

Creature comforts.

Pleasure Reading

 Pleasure Reading

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Summertime = Long afternoons with a good book. 

First Bloom, May 2024

 First Bloom, May 2024

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

The first blooms are exuberant, and hopeful especially as darkness envelops the world. 

Staying buoyant. 

To love, and be loved.

That's it.

One of a Kind

One of a Kind

Oil on Wood

6"X 8"

In memory of Steve Albini.

As my daughter wrote today:

"He was loved deeply for both the music he made and the person he was.

We have all benefited from the 61 years he spent on this planet making this place a little bit weirder and cooler and more beautiful."

I weep for the loss of his independent spirit, dedication to his art, his goodness, and I weep for my cousin whose son he was.

Entering Stella's Space

 

Entering Stella's Space, 2017

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

Frank Stella - May 12, 1936 -May 4, 2024

Inspiration lives on.

This is what I wrote when I made this painting:

To escape the real world, I took myself to see "Frank Stella: A Retrospective," at the de Young Museum last week. I remembered exactly where I was in my college library thumbing through "ArtForum" magazine when I first saw Stella's paintings which were catching everyone's eye at the time. Knocked my socks off. New rules. No rules. It was the 60s. Anything was possible. It was inspiring then. And it is inspiring now. It was just the blast of light I needed to give this dark time a little perspective. Never give up Hope.

Pacific Avenue

 Pacific Avenue

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Inspiration is in the air.

I delivered my painting, "Scott Street" to Studio Gallery for their "City Streets" show this week.  It is Spring in San Francisco, my home town, green and gorgeous, and all lit up. 

In these dark times, light is everything.

I watched "Falling for Figaro" and have been listening to Mozart's "Figaro" and "Cosi fan Tutte" non stop ever since. 

I highly recommend it as palette cleanser from the news.

Spring Green 2024

 Spring Green

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Union and Scott

 Union and Scott

Oil on Wood

10"X8"

Scott Street

 Scott Street

Oil on Wood

10"X8"

Giraffe 1

 Giraffe 1

Oil on Wood

8"X10"

Giraffes. They took my breath away. Dancers, slipping in and out of view as we explored the South African bush. I couldn't get enough of them. And I may just paint them every day from now on.

Summer Light

 Summer Light

Oil on Wood

24"X20"

Thinking Ahead.

Charlie Crow

 Charlie Crow

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

For my sister whose garden is home to this crow whom she named Charlie and whose mate she named Rosie for the couple in The African Queen.

Happy Birthday dear sister.

Spring Dream

 Spring Dream

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

Making Light Through the Storm

 Making Light Through the Storm

Oil on Wood

14"X11"

We are waterlogged and I am not complaining.

Making Light

 Rose Bouquet

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

Making light on another rainy grey day.

For Ann

 For Ann

OIl on Wood

8"X10"

Outlook

 Outlook

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

The reservoirs are full.

New Day

 New Day

Oil on Wood

8"X6"

New Year. New Day. Old crystal. 

Matchmaking at Madrona Bakery.