Commissions
2019 Commission 12″x 24″ Acrylic On Canvas
In Pursuit of Beauty…
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a seeker of beauty.
In kindergarten, I spent many recesses in overgrown fields marveling at the lines, shapes, colors, and textures of the plant world. I remember running out of the classroom and seeing how the whole field moved as one with the winds. As I pierced the edge of the field – entering the grasses that were as tall as me in late spring – I could no longer see the whole, so I dropped down on all fours to focus on what was right in front of my face. I quickly became fascinated with the details of the individual reeds that contributed to making the whole. It was at this early age that I began to understand how the whole of something is made up of smaller and smaller parts and how different perspectives can completely change one’s experience.
My strongest memories come from moments in which I have been an observer and an artist simultaneously. I deepened my appreciation for geometry, color, balance and natural proportions in third grade by creating detailed illustrations of dissected plants that I discovered in the world around me. My appreciation of beauty has been nurtured throughout my life by many forms of artistic expression. No matter what I’m doing, I seek out visual beauty in the world around me as inspiration for my work.
As an artist and photographer I strive to share my perception of beauty, color, and composition with my audience.
As an architect I draw upon my understanding of natural beauty and proportion to create balanced, luminous, and uplifting spaces.
As a hair stylist I bring a renewed sense of beauty, joy, and confidence to my clients with haircuts that enhance their natural beauty.
Daily Joy
Last Thursday, on my way to Rainbow Toastmasters I crossed paths with a homeless man. He was wearing a long flowing skirt, and had hair and a beard to match. He looked like a modern day Jesus – or my hippy father walking the streets of San Francisco 50 years ago.
He gave me a genuine heart-felt smile as our paths crossed. I smiled back and felt my heart open to him and the beauty of that moment. He didn’t ask me for anything, just smiled and kept walking. As I crossed Market street I became acutely aware of the pure joy I was experiencing.
After I had crossed the street, I turned around to face the opposite side of the road and the afternoon sun. As noisy rush hour traffic swarmed the intersection, I closed my eyes to the sun, felt the ocean breeze blowing across my face, and reveled in a few moments of doing absolutely nothing.
I’m so grateful to the nameless man who gave me a reason to pause and enjoy a few glorious moments of my life.
Pride 2013
In the wake of yesterday’s news, I’m beginning to acknowledge the tremendous power of public opinion and legal structures in my life. As someone who has always wanted to fit in and be accepted, I have always tried to do what’s right, be honest, and follow the rules.
Although my family and close friends accepted the fact that I chose to love a woman and commit my life to building a loving relationship with her, this lifestyle went against the mainstream rules and legal structures of my State and Country. For this reason legal professionals encouraged us to create legal safeguards above and beyond becoming domestic partners to protect our relationship and family – which we did. Having to put legal safeguards in place so that we could visit one another in the hospital and inherit the other’s estate (should one of us pass before the other) was a reminder that the US government didn’t recognize our relationship.
After living together in a committed relationship for 7 years, my partner and I decided to get married in Canada last year. Upon our return to the US, the US government continued to ignore our international marriage and status as a family. We were forced into separate immigration lines at the airport, instructed to file separate tax returns, penalized for family health insurance and repeatedly disrespected by public and private institutions as well as the mainstream media.
The fact that my love for a woman essentially forfeited my equal rights as an American citizen caused me unspeakable shame. I have rarely spoken of this – choosing instead to bolster my heart by defining myself through my career and personal accomplishments. My inhibitions about sharing my authentic self have been fueled by undercurrents of bigotry and homophobia that have plagued this nation.
Until now, our annual PRIDE festivities have felt more like risk, rebellion, and a time to get intoxicated (enough to freely express our true feelings), rather than a time to truly celebrate our love.
Today I am making room for tears of joy and real self-love as I start to dismantle the armor that has protected my heart and my pride for the last 15 years.
I hope that each one of my gay brothers and sisters finds a renewed sense of pride this year as we collectively take to the streets to celebrate our loving relationships.
Full Moon Rising
Moon Rising Over San Francisco Bay
Moon Rising Over San Francisco Bay
Moon Rising Over San Francisco Bay
The Art of Asking
This great Ted Talk by Amanda Palmer explores the notion of giving and receiving fearlessly and without shame.
On Vulnerability and Authenticity
Berné Brown, spent years studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame.
She shares her research and insights in this amazing Ted Talk where she discusses how we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness.
