"Autumn Morning along the Potomac" (oil on stretched canvas; 8" x 10")

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On a beautiful Saturday morning last September, we took a drive to East Potomac Park, which is a small peninsula jutting into the Potomac River on the south side of the Tidal Basin.  The park is a popular place for biking, running, fishing, and picnicking.  There are also a public golf course, a swimming pool, and a miniature golf course.  Unless you know it's there, it is a place easy to miss, but once you are there, you are glad.

While my daughter's school golf team was practicing, my husband and I took a walk about. Many crew teams rowing on the river probably didn't pay any attention to the excellent view of the Washington Monument, but what a view it was!

"Jefferson Memorial Sunset" (oil on stretched canvas; 8" x 10") sold

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During the Martin Luther King Day weekend, my daughter, an accomplished flutist, took a flute workshop in Washington, DC.  On the way home, we were on a road right next to the Tidal Basin.  I looked out the car window and saw the above scene.  It was not a spectacular sunset. It was a mellow, exquisite sunset that we were glad to see on a cold winter day. 

"US Capitol from Pennsylvania Ave" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8")

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This is a famous view of the US Capitol from Pennsylvania Ave.  It always looks grand, doesn't it?  The Capitol dome is probably one of the hardest things to draw and paint.  I have painted it several times.  I hope that I am getting better each time!

"Sasha" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

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To say that Sasha, originally from Russia, is a junior at my daughter's high school would be a correct, but gross understatement.  As a sophomore, she was already the concertmaster of the top orchestra in the school.  I have heard about her from my daughter, but never saw her until last December when I went to a fundraiser concert at a local bookstore.  The main program of the performance was by the jazz band, something I always look forward to for its relaxed atmosphere and excellent music.

Before the jazz music, however, I was happily surprised to be treated to Sasha's solo performance.  Oh, my!  She was poised and beautiful as you can see in her portrait.  Her performance was even more dazzling.  Years of practice must have gotten into her level of musicianship.  Talented?  Yes.  But I always put more stock to single-minded dedication.  As a parent of a young musician myself, I was proud of Sasha as if she were my own daughter. Thank you, Sasha, for your great performance!

"Lady in Pink" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

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The happy lady in pink is a good friend of mine, Vivian.  We took an art class together for a couple of years some time ago.  Several women in the class hit it off and became good art buddies.  We regularly went to art museums and occasionally had parties at one another's houses.  One beautiful summer day, a member of our group who had a pool threw a pool party. Vivian showed up in all pink.  How pretty she was!  I hope you feel her kind spirit, because she is one of the kindest people I know.

Alas, our fellowship came to an end.  One friend moved away; I stopped taking the class; Vivian is too busy as an art teacher to take the class either.  I miss my friends.  I painted "Lady in Pink" in nostalgia and happiness.  To friendship!

"Crocuses in Snow" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

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A Facebook fan of mine suggested that I should paint crocuses poking through snow.  As we've had snowless winters for the past two years, I thought it could not be done.  Guess what.  I found an old picture of crocuses half buried in a thin layer of snow.

Crocuses will start blooming in a month.  If we are lucky, we will get some snow to coincide with these hardy early spring flowers.  I have them all over my garden and yards. Crocuses are good naturalizers, that is, they multiply on their own.  Deer don't eat them either!

"Sprinkled" (oil on linen; 4" x 5") sold

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Speaking of donuts, the chocolate-glazed donut with sprinkles is my daughter's favorite.  I consider it the most festive donut in the world.  Just put it on an any happy-colored plate.  It's a party time!