The danger of trickle down economics

http://ny.curbed.com/tags/perks-of-being-one-percenter

Family Portraits

These two paintings were a really fun commission, thanks Geena for giving me artistic license to interpret your cute family!  Oil on canvas...order a custom one of a kind portrait now for the holidays!

Debate Sketches

The Debates

VP Debate
Paul Ryan and his glass of water...

The first Presidential Debate 2012

Creating life on the blacktop

Here are some fun pictures of the transformation of a small abandoned area on campus at Carpenter Community Charter Elementary.  This "lovely" area was locked up and deserted.  Our beautification team with some help from parents cleaned this area up and we painted and planted and now the kids are making it their own.  Butterflies and Hummingbirds kinda like it too. :) 

before...

Can you find the Hummingbird?

Watering

Butterfly

Planting

Painting

mural in progress 

Inviting!

Recognizing Those Affected with Alzheimer’s Disease and Celebrating a Call To Action | The White House

Recognizing Those Affected with Alzheimer’s Disease and Celebrating a Call To Action | The White House

Peggy and her granddaughters...10 years after her diagnosis.

There are many issues this election, creating serious rifts between parties, friends and even family.  You can argue, send me links, rants, or opposing views but hands down this is the number one reason I am voting for Obama.  Too much government?  Not when it comes to research and a cure.

Cardboard Farm

Sometime in LA it gets so hot, it actually reminds me of a snow day.  Instead of being too cold to go outside, it's too darn hot. So we stay inside and... make stuff.  When Gidget woke up today she wanted to draw a cow, and so one thing led to another.

Cardboard barn ala Herman Miller!

Figuring out how to hang up the sun, moon and rain

Goat cave?

This Shape is Killing me!

Bunny Hutch

Daisy Deer Heads

gouache, and colored pencil

Blue Cats

Illustration Friday- IDENTICAL

My mom and her twin sister in the 1930's, acrylic on canvas.

Lois and Margaret (Peggy) high school

Daily Sketch- Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill made it up the hill.

Ever since our trip and being on Central time, I've been waking up early, NOT CHECKING E-MAIL and working in my sketch book.  The best thing, is that anything can happen there, if I let it.

Illustration Friday- TALL

My tall cousin LennyIllustration Friday- TALL loved to feed the Giraffes.

Illustration Friday-Teacher

A little girl I taught in preschool is starting Kindergarten and she called me on the phone, this was part of our conversation.

Very Quick Mural Design...

Very inspired.

My new favorite- Evelyn Ackerman

I went to the Autry museum California's Designing Women today and am so inspired.  I loved all the work and the stories behind them.

Actually I'm freaking out I love Evelyn Ackerman's work so much!  And she also made art that was inspired by her daughter's and her school....yeah art mom!

P.s. If you go, take the time to listen to the women's stories.  They are inspiring and thoughtful.

Wakey Wakey

Waking them up for school....when it's still August.

First Day Musings

The new 4th grader bounced off to all her friends
The little sister bounced her backpack and liked the noise it made
Parents tried to remember the other parents names
And the sun starts to heat up the black top

Let go of one hand and take a picture
Now she's with all the kids that go upstairs
We leave her there, confident and smiling
And cross the sunny playground all the way to the other side.

Nervous as we pass familiar faces
Hey who's your teacher, she's nice, nice to see you too
Hand is held tighter in anticipation
Introductions are made as reality sets in

The bell dings, a familiar sound that the parents remember
and one that the kids hear for the very first time.
The door opens to a smiling teacher wearing an alphabet skirt
She finds herself letting go of the hand that holds hers tightly

and walks in

Sits on the rug checking back to see if we are still there
looking back again each time with more worry and holding back tears.
Be brave, I mouth.
A little girl pats her on the back and she bites her lip.

Time to go, I whisper to her Daddy
We are too big for these chairs.
The first day of Kindergarten
and we walk home to an empty house.

I can't wait to go get her.