I had to go all the way to Italy to find out that there exists a cousin with the same wonderful kind of personality as my grandfather but with one big difference. He likes to talk! Every time we go to Sersale, visiting HIS house is one of the highlights of our trip. He tells…

There are many admonitions to people seeking to visit Napoli; the dangers, the thieves, the squalor, the traffic. But what they don’t tell you about is how hard it can be to just find a bus stop at the main train station in town. During my first visit to Naples, we decided to visit friends…

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of some of my favorite places in Italy. I had the opportunity, once again to visit some of my best friends there, and some members of my family. I also had the good fortune to be given guided tours of the oldest neighborhoods in two towns, Atena Lucana…

Washington Pass, in the North Cascades Range of Eastern Washington is 5477 feet high. It is dramatic and gorgeous. It was very inspirational, and once again I tried to paint a landscape. Happily, it looks like I succeeded. A certain set of determined cyclists like to ride up that ramp (followed by switch backs) to…

A very important event in a mother’s life is when their son gets married. A very important event in an artist’s life is when a close relative asks for a portrait of themselves and their new wife and the artist is not intimidated by the idea, but instead feels a wonderful challenge. I present to…