In some ways, the world has gotten very small thanks to social media. I have friends all over the world, including one in Syria. It’s easy for us Americans to pretend that places like Syria don’t exist, that is, until you actually KNOW someone there. And this is my friend Mohammed Alaa Aljaleel. He was…

I recently posted about the cat man of Aleppo, Mohammed Alaa Aljaleel, Il Gattaro di Aleppo. This is one of his pets. Ernesto seems to be a very easy going lovable little cat who clearly appreciates his human. Recently Alaa, as he is called, went to Turkey where he received all sorts of cat toys,…

One of the wonders of the internet includes the possibility for me to have friends just about anywhere. I had heard about a man in Aleppo, in Syria, in that horrible dangerous place, that was taking care of all the cats that fleeing people had to leave behind. What kind of man does that? He…

I recently read a post being circulated by Americans trying to justify the changes in visa laws for people in Syria and several other countries. It demonized the people who live in those countries. This woman is caring for the pet cat that belonged to someone evacuated from Aleppo. She looks like someone who could…

One of my favorite things about Florida was the palmettos. They were everywhere, just like dandelions here. I had a little fun with transparent watercolor and opaque gouache on this one. It was fun going from background to foreground while maintaining the feel of the forest.