Prebble Cove

Prebble Cove
Oil on Wood
6"X8"
I spent the morning looking at gorgeous gardens on the Mill Valley Garden Tour. The hand of man or more likely woman, or even more likely, many hands of many minions very much in evidence. Beautiful. But it made my head swirl. All that work. To plan, plant and maintain. Here on Prebble Cove the tide comes in and the tide goes out. The rocks, the sand, the trees perfectly placed with no help from man. Or woman. A respite from it all.

Beach Dog

Beach Dog
Oil on Canvas
12"X16"
This took forever and it isn't even my dog. The idea was to move some big time paint around. Not to care about the end result. Painting over an old doomed seascape was a good way to start. Next time I'm going to do without blue no matter what. It's been taking over too much lately. Tried minimizing it here, but it crept back in. As for dogs, I could see painting them from here on out. Happily.

Weather on the Water

Weather on the Water
Oil on Canvas
12"X16"

Single Flower in the Meadow

Single Flower in the Meadow
Oil on Wood
6"X6"
I woke up Saturday to the unlikely brilliance of this single flower blooming in the meadow. Defying the deer (how do they know to resist?), rabbits, birds, gophers, not to mention wind and rainfall. So far. So much life coming and going lately it feels like emotional whiplash. The only option is to celebrate everyday, weep with abandon, and spread the love.

Emerging from the Marsh

Emerging from the Marsh
Oil on Canvas
6"X8"
I am going to emerge from the marsh that is me and go to where the sun in shining. Fog is creeping over the headlands. It must be summer. Heading for the hills.

Man Admires Superman

Man Admires Superman
Oil on Wood Panel
8"X6"
I just love this Mel Ramos painting. (Superman, 1961-62) I visit it every time I go to the De Young. And almost always, if I am patient, a wonderful man ambles over for a long, loving look.
I don't know much about Ramos. But I wonder if he questioned himself and his art. I wonder if it was enough to just do it. I wonder if he has any idea how much pleasure this image spreads around to random people. I wonder if it would mean a lot to him to know.

Fog Bank

Fog Bank
Oil on Wood Panel
11"X14"
I don't know about this. I just might paint over it later today.
On another subject entirely:
I am not brand. You are not a brand. People are not brands. Products. Entities. Ideas maybe. But human beings? No. Don't put me in a container and call me done. The first thing that will happen is I will clamor to escape, do something that doesn't fit the "image" and everyone will be scandalized. That goes for athletes, actors, artists, politicians and all the rest. We are human. We will change over time. We will become who we are through engaging with life. One long adventure of success and failure that no one can predict least of all ourselves.
My father was one of the founding architects of branding products and businesses. I learned much of what I know from him and from having worked by his side for 10 years. He reinvented himself over and over and over again. I intend to do the same. Because I'm a human being, not a thing.

Celebrating Spring

This morning started in the usual way with a walk with Rosie. We got caught in a downpour followed by a double rainbow. I darted over to the DeYoung Museum to catch the Bouquets To Art
which is one week when flower designers create bouquets that get placed near the artworks that inspired their floral extravaganza. The museum fills to the brim with people glad to be in the midst of such unabashed creativity and the fragrance of Spring.
I walked out of the museum to find brilliant sunshine. I mean, blinding bright, like a veil had lifted.
Ah. Spring. Breathtaking. Surely good paintings will come from this.

Gallery View

Gallery View
Oil on Canvas
24"X18"
Communed with cows on the Bodega Road this morning. Calming. Like being on the water. A lot of them were lying down. What's up with that? Do they know something's coming? Volcanos in Iceland. Earthquakes in China. Mega meteors showers in the midwest. Trips canceled. Anger and mayhem exploding in all corners of the world. And still. The waters are calm. The cows are contented. And small miracles happen each and every day.

Another Passing Storm

Another Passing Storm
Oil on Canvas
6"X12"

Fast Moving Storm

Fast Moving Storm
Oil on Wood Panel
8"X6"
Weather. We love it. Drama outside, cozy inside. Time out. Build a fire. Read a book. Nothing punctuates a summer afternoon like a fast moving storm.

Home Before Dark

Home Before Dark
Oil on Wood Panel
8"X8"
SOLD

Got It

This week I ordered a pair of earrings from Barb Fernald. She lives on an island and I love her blog. The earrings arrived packaged in a sweet little box carefully wrapped in Tiffany blue tissue. A handwritten card was enclosed. Composed while riding the ferry there were even water marks from the spray. I put the earrings on and wore them around all day and into the night. It felt a lot like a gift. As beautiful as they are (and they exceeded my expectations), their real value is in the human touch that came with them and that will be remembered with each wearing. No more whining from me about the discomfort of selling art to friends.
I get it. Connecting with the artist enhances the whole experience of owning and in this case wearing the art.

After Lunch

After Lunch
Oil on Wood
9"X12"
Lunch with a fabulous friend on a warm Spring day. Egrets in abundance outside our window, elegant, eager, and utterly amazing. Food, laughter, friendship, beauty all around. Sustenance of the highest order.

Mag's Great Goose

Mag's Great Goose
Oil on Canvas
6"X8"

Last Ray of Light

Last Ray of Light
Oil on Canvas
8"X6"
I've been immersed in Leonard Cohen music since watching the documentary, "I'm Your Man."
Dark. Deep. Rich. There's light there, but only a remnant now and then. This painting took all afternoon. Doesn't look it. But it did. Cleansing my palette with a little Imelda May. She's all about Life and Light. Can't have one without the other.

Taking Care of Business

Walked the dog. Exercised. Paid bills. Tax Returns. Made appointments. Called repair people. Cleaned up.
And now I'm dancing around to Imelda May, "Love Tattoo" (highly recommended when you need a lift) and putting some paint
on canvas.
With luck, I'll have something to post tomorrow.

Summer Window Sill

Summer Window Sill
Oil on Wood
8"X6"
On this rainy, gray, cold Good Friday I am imagining the warmth of summer. The sea, sun, and sweet smell of flowers freshly planted in boxes just outside my window.