Que La Lumiere Soit!

Yes indeed, let there be light! That’s possibly the only example I recall of an obscure tense learned in high school French, but it was sure working for me the other day. Sunshine, a long walk, plus the promise of being able to travel again with the election of someone who believes in science. (And […]

Any Brown People?

It was a simple question, asked out of curiosity. It came from someone who has been a close friend since we served on a nonprofit board together 30 years ago. And it brought me up short. She asked “are there any brown people in your paintings?” Just like that, I was seeing yet another example […]

Slightly Unacceptable

Discussing Kentucky Derby parties we planned to attend, an old friend told me about her outfit and, in particular, the bling she intended to add to it. A very creative person, she anticipated the party might be on the traditional side, so her stated goal was to be slightly unacceptable. The phrase instantly grabbed me. […]

The F Word

Nope, not that F word. This F word is flexible, from a running gag with a friend who shared a Balinese adventure with me years ago. The erstwhile leader of our trip was not a strong manager, to put it mildly, and kept telling the group to “be flexible” whenever she didn’t keep to the […]

Getting Emotional

Contrary to popular belief, getting emotional is not a bad thing. Which emotion, and, more importantly, what label you put on it when your brain decides what you are feeling, is what matters.  The ability to identify, harness and express those feelings at the appropriate time, in the appropriate amount, to the appropriate person, constitutes […]

Calmer Energy

My paintings are normally quite vivid, in keeping with my preference for a high energy, colorful life and my desire to share that with others. Sometimes, however, a place to rest the eye, and a sense of wonder about life's smaller gems, is needed. That's perhaps particularly true in these turbulent, stressful times. So I found myself […]

A Painting’s Evolution

Every once in a while I really struggle with painting and am reminded that it a) requires intense concentration, b) is hard work, and c) makes me very hungry! That was true of a recent painting in my Havana series, when I was under a deadline for my current exhibit, so I decided to share its evolution. […]

Expressionistic Colorscapes

People often ask what style my paintings are and I sometimes stumble to explain. Expressionistic colorscapes is the phrase I've coined, but it usually requires clarification. In a nutshell, I try to show how a particular experience or place felt, versus simply showing what my camera saw. Expressionism ls a style of art, like Impressionism or Realism. Impressionism uses […]

Exhibit Adrenalin

Preparing for the opening reception of an art exhibit requires basic project management skills. You have to consider lead times for production (postcard invitations, flyers and ads, the actual paintings), logistics (photographing, framing and schlepping the art) and supplies (labels, picture hooks or putty, brochures, cocktail napkins.)  You have to address human resources (help with hors d'oeuvres, bar-tending, […]

Who’s a TV Babe?

Irony is a wonderful thing, and for those who know me well, the following announcement fits the bill. I'm someone who loves to quote "so many books, so little time" in response to whether I've watched a particular TV show. Therefore, the fact that I was interviewed on TV about my art is beyond ironic. […]