Suzanne

Suzanne, 5 x 7, oil on Ampersand Gessobord

My daughter noticed her first.  Suzanne wearing a bright green sundress, holding tight to her shopping cart, standing alone on the Snyder Avenue median.  I introduced myself and asked if I could photograph her.  Suzanne told me her favorite color is green.  She loves the summer green of the trees along the avenue.  She was waiting on the northbound bus, which was running late, her ride to a Sunday visit with her son.

Sketch Book

                                  

   

I’ve been very much enjoying traveling light to my Tuesday plein air group, tucking only a small sketch book, a few pencils and cell phone for reference photos into my bag.   

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Fairmount Afternoon

"Fairmount Afternoon" 5 x 7", oil

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Helicopters whirred high above my house, circling over good people marching for Black Lives Matter because two more black men were killed by police.   Far below the copters, in my studio I delighted in painting two folks walking in front of the restaurant Fare, with its red umbrellas and endless display of beautiful plants, on Fairmount Ave on a summer’s afternoon. But my heart was with the marchers, grieving for black families who are not safe in this world.  That every soul should be free to enjoy the simple pleasure of a sunny afternoon without falling victim to bigotry or hatred seems obvious.

Last night, after participating in a loving, positive and hopeful Black Lives Matter vigil at my church it was pretty depressing to hear about the Dallas tragedy. 

“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou