There is no “completion” of a painting for me. By making smaller and smaller incremental changes, I begin to realize that I’m experiencing an asymptote. If a person walks halfway across a room each day, when will he reach the other side? They won’t. Just because the increments are smaller, it doesn’t mean they can reach the other side if they can only go halfway. Instead of saying I’ve finished it, I call this abandoning a painting. There are times I go back sometime later, and that might include years later, to work on the piece again. But right now, I’m spending many hours and making little gain so I’m ready to think about signing this magnolia and beginning my next one.

In my garden I plant very few plants with prickly edges. I want soft, friendly plants instead. But this Mahonia japonica ‘Bealei’ was a gift from my professor, Dr. Richard Iverson when I was studying horticulture for my degree decades ago. This plant blooms with yellow flowers in late winter and once fertilized they turn into these luscious berries. Once day this summer, the birds will all agree that the berries have ripened with there will be a cacophony of birds singing and enjoying their feast. One year I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon sitting on the bench in the garden in the midst of the celebration. It was an unforgettable memory!

I began this daily journal in February, 2026 as I prepared for my solo exhibition at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, NY, from June 5 – September 15, 2026, my work for the group show at the Ceres Gallery in June 2026, and my upcoming November 2026, solo exhibition in Chelsea, New York City