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When I first started blogging back in October of 2005, I looked at a number of blogs including the ones on the Blogger’s Top Ten List. It was at that time I first encountered Google Video and became excited about the videos that were uploaded. Soon I was creating blogs to highlight videos I found. For these blogs I used a design called “Moto” which came in three versions: “Son of Moto,” “Mr. Moto” and “Ms. Moto” – green, gray and pink respectively


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

This painting has to do with my enthusiasm for video online when I started blogging. While working with my own design, I combined the colors from the “Moto” designs. In making this painting I am highlighting a shift that occurred in my online experiences.

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One of the last days I spent in Chicago, I made a day trip to the Ukrainian Village. One of the places I visited was the Ukrainian National Museum. A woman took me on a tour of the museum and explained some of the history of the Ukrainians who settled in Chicago. At the conclusion of the tour, I bought some wooden Easter eggs that were decorated with roosters.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

The stylized brush strokes used on the eggs provoked me to do an interpretation using dots. I simplified the plumage on my rooster image and came up with my own background color. This one ended up being one of my favorites of this group of dot paintings.

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One place I spent a lot of time as young person was the New Orleans Country Club. My siblings and I enjoyed swimming there in the summer and playing tag with the other kids. We knew the place well. Some years ago there were some renovations that involved changing the hallways from pastel green to a red-orange. The damage from Katrina involved repainting. The interior halls are again green pastel and the furnishings are coordinated to go with them. I wish this color wasn’t so commonly used, however. Yes, I miss the red-orange.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

For this painting I used the greens I saw, but I didn’t worry about picking up any specific design. This is kind of a sequel to the red and yellow rug piece, which I consider of breakthrough work. There are certain pieces that surprise in good way.

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In July of 2006, I attended an art guild banquet at Smilie’s Restaurant. After the meal and the officer installation, names were pulled for the vases with flowers. The bouquets of flowers were tied together with ribbons. I won one of the vases.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

The ribbons became a souvenir of that night. The ribbons inspired me to make this painting. I took the colors of the striped ribbon and created my own striped pattern.

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After playing cards, I met my sister, my two aunts and my uncle for dinner at Dick and Jenny’s. We went early since the place doesn’t take reservations. The restaurant is located at 4501 Tchoupitoulas (chop-i-two-lass) near Napoleon Avenue in Uptown New Orleans. Dick and Jenny Benz based their restaurant on ones they like from this area and abroad. The building is a mid-nineteenth century barge-board-cottage that was formerly a grocery store and later on a poboy shop. The walls inside are covered with dinner plates bearing the names of the founding customers of the restaurant.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

As you might have guessed from my painting, the walls are orange. As for the design, it is a decorated dinner plate made of dots. This is not based any specific plate, but a general symbol for all the plates.

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Several times during 2006 a cousin of mine had several trips to the hospital. During one of her stays, I happened to visit when my mother’s two sisters were visiting. My cousin asked that I join them in a game of “Crazy Eights.” It’s been a while since I played. So, had to re-learn the game. It’s not often I’ve had a chance to play cards lately.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

For this painting I decided to use the four suits that appear on a set of cards: clubs, diamond, hearts and spaces. I also managed to squeeze some crazy eights in there. For this painting I kept to mostly red and black. The trick was trying to make them contrast one another without getting too dark.

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My family enjoys trying out new restaurants in the New Orleans area. For my birthday in 2006, we went to Fulton on 7, which is located in the Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans Hotel. The place had recently undergone a renovation. Anyway we enjoyed dining there.


acrylic on canvas, 5" x 5"

When I walked around a bit, I noticed variances in grays in the lobby, restaurant and restroom. The artworks in the restaurant served as accents of color. In the painting I had several nuances of gray. Then for my image I put a still life in front of a window. I used bright colors to depict the fruit. Again, I was after the feel of the place.