What fun. I wish I were more focused–I like the idea of doing twenty paintings on a theme, which makes for a cool show. I could easily do twenty paintings on Costa Rica, and I might, but meanwhile other ideas pop into my head–a full-length portrait of a beautiful friend whose radiance I find irresistible; or families on a traditional Bay City sledding hill after a pristine, Saturday snow. The colors don’t really go together, nor do the subjects.

But as usual, I do what I love. In the end it will be fine, just like my home, where I do not decorate but simply surround myself with loved paintings, textiles and objects both d’art and practical. They seem to enjoy each other, celebrate diversity, and welcome visitors to make themselves at home.

So here is a painting I’ve been working on since September. I don’t think it’s such a great one and it took me a long time because I got tangled up in all the leaves, but I love looking at it–it’s the view framed by the kitchen window in my Costa Rica studio. There were many more exotic views than this one from larger windows in the same studio, but this one, featuring the side of the next-door studio and a row of flowering shrubs, kept changing color and shape with the moving sun.

“Costa Rica Kitchen Window” is acrylic on paper, 16 x 20. Click on the image to enlarge it.