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.

Breakthrough

Uncharted Waters

Oil on Canvas

24"X30"
SOLD

Finally. I made progress this afternoon. With Mozart filling the room. The sun shining a little too bright. After yet another trusted artist friend suggested more paint, as others have said how many times before. With art books (Diebenkorn, Porter, Thiebaud, Raimonds Staprans) open on the floor. After watching wonderful, creative, song-a-day Jonathan Mann's Kickstarter video. In the throws of a migrane. Finally. I just mixed up a big batch of paint and without hesitation, applied it in a big way. This painting was started in Maine in September. It's come a long way. If you had seen it this morning, you wouldn't recognize it now. I'm not saying it's finished. But something snapped. I let go. And let's hope I will remember how in the morning.

More Ant and Bee

More Ant and Bee

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

It isn't that I haven't been painting lately. I have. On large canvases. It will be awhile before any of them turn up here, but whatever happens, I think it has pushed me to try new things which trickle down to small paintings so all isn't lost. I certainly have missed doing daily little paintings and posting them and the immediacy of that discipline, not to mention hearing from people who see them.

It's been a dark time. It rained most of the month and gray was the color that dominated my palate. The world is embroiled in staggering death and destruction making my struggle with putting paint on canvas seem mighty insignificant. Now that the sun is shining, I see glimmers of light and am hoping to get back to my more positive self.

At the Museum with Mary

At the Museum with Mary

Oil on Wood

8"X8"

SOLD

Friday morning in yet another rain storm my neighbor, Mary, and I fled to the Legion of Honor to see the fabulous paper art of Isabelle de Borchgrave. Amazing and fun and beautiful and anything but gray, it was a good antidote to everything going on in and around my studio. I am still struggling with painting large. After taking a few days off from that endeavor, and then relishing the process of painting this little moment with my friend at the museum, I wonder why I don't just stick with what I love.

City Shore March, 2011

City Shore March, 2011

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Weather Moving Through

Weather Moving Through

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

Seeing so many wonderful people in one place at one time at Tuesday night's "Out of Print" show at the Mill Valley Library filled me up to over flowing. I am still recovering.

In the meantime, the weather has been putting on quite a show. Fast moving clouds and a vast array of grays have caught my attention. I just might concentrate on this for awhile. But you never know.