Earlier this month, I sent an email to everyone on my list, and offered to give the tryptich pictured below to whoever agreed to donate the highest amount of money to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Rick and Wendy Tigner generously agreed to donate $5000 to the cause, in effect, providing 10,000 meals. A heartfelt thank you to Rick and Wendy for your continued support of our community! 

The rose painting hung in the office of Tom Schwedhelm for almost two years during his tenure as the Mayor of the City of Santa Rosa. It is an oil painting on three canvases, measuring a total width of 54" and a height of 36." 

On Saturday, December 12, I sent an email announcing I was giving away the above tryptich to the person who offered to donate the most money to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. The painting hung in the office of my good friend, Tom Schwedhelm, after being elected Mayor of the City of Santa Rosa. Each of the panels is 18"x36", for a total width of 54". Results will be posted after December 15th, the due date for bids. 

Peggy and I are taking a "MOOC," which is a Massive Open Online Course. The course title is "The Science of Happiness," and it is through the University of California, Berkeley. We've learned much in the last month, and one lesson is that money CAN buy happiness. But above about $70,000 a year, it really only buys happiness if you give it away. I love color and I love to paint, and science shows that selling my art for money isn't going to make me any happier. So, I will continue to paint, and give my art to others to bring joy into their lives. I hope that means you who are reading this! 

In March of 2019, I was diagnosed with Age Related Dry Macular Degeneration (AMD). I have a dark spot, kind of like a fingerprint, in the middle of my right eye. In this area of my vision, straight lines appear crooked when looking through the spot. However, my left eye and my brain (yes, I have one, so it seems) compensate and I usually don't notice it.

Once diagnosed, nothing can be done to undo the damage. All I can do is try to prevent further damage, and the science behind that isn't really clear either: avoid UV light, eat anti-oxidants.... I am doing all I can to be healthy.

No one can tell me if or when the AMD will progress. I know people who have lost their vision, and people who have had little change, even into their 90's. Because of the uncertainly, for the last 18 months, I've focused on the model railroad. 

I'm still painting, and will continue to paint, but not for profit. I closed my business. I love painting, but now I paint gifts and donations.

​Below is a painting I recently completed at the request of Sergeant Brenda Harrington of the Santa Rosa Police Department's Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Team, in honor of Marylou Armer, who tragically passed away from COVID-19 on March 31, 2020. I worked with Marylou before I retired in 2007, and her face is stuck in my memory, a huge smile spending across her face. She was a kind soul who is dearly missed.

Below is a "commission" that our friends, Ian and Kelly Gordon, asked me to paint. In exchange for the art, Ian and Kelly made a very generous donation to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. 

Below is a painting I completed for good friends Mike and Charlotte, who lost my art in the Tubbs Fire.​ 

Soon, I will be offering my first "tryptich," or one painting completed on three panels. My good friend, Tom Schwedhelm, borrowed the art to hang in his office after he was elected as Mayor of the City of Santa Rosa. His term is ending, and I am going to give this tryptich to someone on my list, in exchange for their donation to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. 

A good friend was not able to respond quickly enough to buy the rose I posted on July 19, so he bought this one that I had just finished. Thank you Ian!!! 

This piece sold for $300 as soon as I posted it. My intent is to use art to make the world just a little bit better by spreading around some beauty. I have reduced my costs as much as possible to be able to sell my art as inexpensively as possible. As I complete the last few fire replacement paintings, more and more originals similar to this one will be offered for sale. Please spread the word so that others can benefit from owning original fine art without breaking their bank.

Below are four pieces I've completed this month. Two are gifts and replacement paintings that were lost in the fire. The two roses were just for my enjoyment, and then hopefully for someone else to enjoy, and were put up for sale. Yes, I still enjoy painting roses!

"Santa Rosa 2" 12"x9" oil on canvas

"Santa Rosa 1" 12"x9" oil on canvas

"Eric and Christy": 20"x30" oil on canvas

"​Eric's Ice Wine" 12"x9" oil on panel

"42 McIntosh Circle"

"Wembley Court"

"Peace Rose"