Mag's Cat Cigar Box

Mag's Cat Cigar Box
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6.5"X4.5"X4.5"
American Bach Soloists' "Messiah" at Grace Cathedral with my childhood friend, Mag tonight. We grew up knowing each other's cats and dogs. She owns a painting my mother made of our cat, Alexander. And now she is going to own a painting I have made of her current cat. Old friends, cats and dogs remembered, Handel's "Messiah." It's feeling a lot like Christmas around here.

Family Blend Cigar Box

Family Blend When the Cows Come Home Cigar Box
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6"X6"X3"
"Cows are notoriously languid creatures and make their way home at their own unhurried pace." (Thank you "The Phrase Finder") Family Blend starts around here next week and I, for one, can't wait. The days will start getting longer on the same day they arrive.

Love Story Cigar Box

Love Story Cigar Box
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6"X6"X4"

I do like the idea of a "Love Story." My all time favorite books and movies involve finding love in one way or another. I mean, nothing holds a candle to finding and holding on to love.
Speaking of love, I stopped by my local See's Candies store this morning to stock up on chocolates. I know Mary See is long gone but they still manage to hire the sweetest people who act like they mean it and never fail to give you a candy to sample. A simple gesture that makes my day every time. We all could be nicer to one another if we tried.

Race Day Cigar Box 2

Race Day Cigar Box 2
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
4"X8"4"

Race Day Cigar Box

Race Day Cigar Box
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6.5"X6.5"X2.5"
Imagining a summer morning in Maine. Soft, warm, still. Downright dreamy.

San Francisco Bay Cigar Box

San Francisco Bay Cigar Box
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6"X8"
Dark and stormy. Even the dog is reluctant to leave the warmth and comforting clutter of the studio where painted cigar boxes are proliferating.

Jackson and Harry

Jackson and Harry
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
7"X5"
A little levity goes a long way in December. Glorifying my neighborhood pets in paint does wonders for my frame of mind. Out with the highfalutin analysis of art. In with the simple celebration of Life.

Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time
Oil on Wood
12"X12"

Any thought of weeding out old books is over. Leave stacks of anything around long enough and they are bound to become an art object.
In yesterday's New York Times travel section, "A Book Lover's San Francisco" sealed the deal. Makes me proud to be a San Franciscan.
And who remembers back to 2004 when the Adobe Book Shop in the Mission arranged its books by color? (Hear and see the story on NPR.) I went to see it and still have photos clogging up my photo library, a potential inspiration for a painting some day?

Jackie's Orchids

Jackie's Orchids
Oil on Wood Cigar Box
6"X4"X4"