Bouquets to Henri's Lady in Black with Spanish Scarf

Bouquets to Henri's Lady in Black with Spanish Scarf

Oil on Wood

4"X4"

Who wouldn't make a beeline for Robert Henri's "Lady in Black with Spanish Scarf" at the De Young Museum during its 30th "Bouquets to Art" celebration of Spring? I do every time I visit the museum. She enchants with her stance, her glance, great beauty, and she has appeared in my paintings more than once. This won't be the last.

Old Sonoma Vines

Old Sonoma Vines

Oil on Wood

16"X12"
SOLD
Available from Serena and Lily.com

 Ridge Vineyard's 115 year old vines at Lytton Springs, Dry Creek are just now budding out again. They've seen drought before and have weathered many a storm. Age can be a good thing. The vines are fruitful,  beautiful, strong and gnarly. And they have proven themselves over the years.
Today I listened to author, Penelope Lively talk about  her memoir, "Dancing Fish and Ammonites,"  in which she shares "the view from old age." Turns out the view is not bad. Fruitful, strong, gnarly, and beautiful in its way.

Flowers for George

Flowers for George

Oil on Wood

8"X8"

The De Young Museum is decked out with flowers celebrating the Vernal Equinox this week. Celebrating 30 years of "Bouquets to Art," they have gone all out with some dramatic arrangements. Get there this weekend. 

Spring is a good time to remember our roots, so I was glad to hang around  Rembrandt Peale's "George Washington" watching people admire the bouquet while George looked on. The notes state: "Peale's many replicas of this portrait helped to promote democracy as American's true religion - and Washington as its patron saint. Thank goodness for George, Peale, and Art in all its forms.

Beyond Words

Beyond Words - Diptych

Oil on Wood

20"X10"

Sonoma Spring

Sonoma Spring 

Oil on Wood

24"X18"
SOLD
Available from Serena and Lily.com

And just like that, Spring is in the air. Positively intoxicating.

Sonoma After the Rain - Yellow Light

Sonoma after the Rain - Yellow Light

Oil on Wood

12"X12"
SOLD

A theme has emerged. This really belongs next to yesterday's post, "Sonoma in the Rain - Red Light" and last week's "Sonoma in the Rain - Green Light." Seeing the light between bouts of rain. This is the corner of Warm Springs Road and Highway 12 where our weekends end and we head for home. Kenwood Vineyards has claimed this corner since it belonged to the Pagani Brothers who began growing grapes in 1906.

Sonoma in the Rain - Red Light

Sonoma in the Rain - Red Light

Oil on Wood

12"X12"
SOLD

Wet and soggy is what we are. Happily. Stop. Look. Listen.