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An Artist is in the business of constantly questioning old decisions, which is why we often paint a composition multiple times. That was the case with the painting above and the larger version below. The smaller version just got in the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Show in Santa Fe this summer and the larger version sold. I ran across a quote from Matisse that perfectly explains this dilemma. "Each picture, as I finish it, seems like the best thing I have ever done...and yet, after a while, I am not so sure. It's like taking a train to Marseille. One knows where one wants to go. Each painting, completed is like a station, just so much nearer the goal. The time comes when the painter feels he has at last arrived. Then, if he is honest, he realizes one of two things. Either he has not arrived after all, or Marseille is not where he wanted to go anyway and he must push farther on."

"Artists Boat" is a treasured environmental education and conservation organization servicing our Gulf Coast and based in Galveston, Texas. The organization will celebrate 20 years of success but not without contributions of time and money. This year in October, they will run an online art auction to raise funds for these worthwhile programs and I am contributing this 9"x 12" oil painting for the auction. There will be 3 sunset dinner series on October 19, October 25, and October 26. Artists Boat has raised $24.2M dollars to date for land conservation and providing programs for 190,000 participants including taking underprivileged children on kayak nature trips to the wilds of Galveston Bay. If you want to contribute or participate, please contact Brenda Lee at [email protected].

On the way back from Yosemite last weekend we stopped at a farm where you can pick your cherries. After getting instructions on how to pick Cherries, ( pull up and try to include stems) the 4 of us picked a mountain of cherries in 10 minutes. The next morning my daughter made a Cherry Clafoutis for breakfast and my grandson and I made a cherry pie for dinner. The day after that, the dog and I went out to the back patio and I painted this bowl of Cherries in the sunlight. I love how the tree shadows played over the red cherries and the white tablecloth. It was warm and sunny, the perfect San Francisco day, and I decided "Life really is a Bowl of Cherries"! This little painting is my way to stop and savor the gifts of every day. Gratitude is also as sweet as a Bowl of Cherries.