It's "Blog time" -- On Father's Day, it hit me. I was taken to Lake Forest Hospital Emergency by my wife, Bobby, as I couldn't stand and walk a straight line. The same thing happened the day before and I was sent home after a few tests. This time, I was hopistalized for five days taking a jillion tests and reaching the conclusion that I had had three slight strokes. Lucky me, no noticable damage. So I was released. Great!

Early in the morning, July 4th, I was again at the emergency room and again admitted into the hospital where it was found that I had two more slight strokes. This time my vision was impaired. My right field of vision is gone. I now have a "blind spot" in both eyes which has considerably slowed up my painting, reading and writing. Otherwise, I am fine. The hospital Physical Therapist fired me after two weeks. She felt I was doing fine - I am at a slower pace. No one seems to know when or if my vision will come back. Have any of you out there had any experience with vision problems? If you have, some feedback would be much appreciated. In the mean time, I am quite confident that my original vision will return to their original normalcy within time. "Nuff" said on this subject.

I have had lots of time to think in the last two months. I have increased my 30 musicians in action to 35 sketches with a blurb for each one. I feel there is enough material now to publish a book, maybe.

My other thought is on promotion and launching "This is your Life" - no not a readio or TV show. It would be creating highlights of one life on canvas and oils. It would show by use of symbols your enjoyable times, happenings in past years, your hobbies, love of certain activities. They would be achieved by use of color, a bit of architecture, boats, shoes, mountains, what ever influenced your love of life, all tied together to make one great painting that will proudly viewed on your wall. What do you think? Contact me, if you are interested in giving it a try.

I have already proven that it can be done as a result of two commissions completed in the past. One was for a young couple from New Jersey who wanted a painting for over the mantel of their massive fireplace on the center wall of their family room. They wanted something different, something that would stand out, but also blend in with the room decor. It was decided that story would start with their engagement by illustrating green emerald on top of rock pile, then something showing collected item purchased on their various travels, a golf ball symbolizing love of golfing, a sail boat for her love of sailing, both their love of skiing. It was all tied together with use of color and pattern of the room window drapery. The 30"×24" horizontal canvas came out as a real attractive, restful piece that became a center piece for the room.

The second painting was commissioned by a group of Chicago Policemen that wanted something different and original to present to the widow of one of their fellow officers killed on duty.This was a tough challanging job, but I came up with the officers life. The painting depicted his love of Chicago showing a bit of Navy Pier and a silhouette of the Chicago loop, his love of his job showing the blue whirly light of a police car and his police badge with his love of the Cubs showing the sign of Wrigley Field entrance, his love for golf and playing in Florida by showing golf background with flags plus palm trees and last, but most important his wife and three children sillouetted on a rock looking out at al the above from the lower left of the painting. There you have it.

Anyone out there who wants something different personalizing and appealing, contact me. I am sure I can fulfill your expectations in a new, powerful way. Tell me what you want to spend and I'll tell you what I can produce. Send an email or phone 847-372-0639.

Here we are again. June 2009. My oil titled "November" has been juried into the June Highland Park Art Walk sponsored by Anatomically Correct http://www.anatomicallycorrect.org It is featured in a window at the Jolie Maison store at 643 Central Avenue in Highland Park, IL. Pick up a catalog and get a prize for viewing all the art and getting the program stamped at the various shops.

"Magic Finale" has been accepted for inclusion in the 2009-2010 edition of East on Central Publication. The opening party will be held June 24th at 7:00 pm at the Art Center of Highland Park. The painting will be on view that night. You can see last years submission at http://eastoncentral.org/east_on_central/Living_Still_Life.html .

If any of you out there live in or around Kenosha, WI you can view some of my art work gracing the walls of Dunn Brothers Coffee House on Greenbay Road north of route 50 this month. In addition to ten paintings at Dunns Coffee there are hand signed limited edition reproductions of musical sketches that sell for $40 each with 25% of each sale originating at Dunns to be contributed to the local Food Pantry. http://www.dunnbros.com/locate_results.asp?location_id=64

Some of my work is also appearing at Lake County Fine Arts Gallery at 383 Center Street in Grayslake, IL. http://www.lcfinearts.com/index.php Gallery on Genesee Street in Waukegan, IL also is featuring some of my works.

June 14th through August 30, 2009 my oil, "Visioning Emily Oaks" will be on exhibit at Emily Oaks Nature Center 4650 Brummel, Skokie, IL. There will be a reception on June 19th 7-9 pm plus a Paint Out (plein aire) day July 12th 10-noon. I will pull out my watercolors for this one.

October found me juried into the Evanston Art Walk sponsored by Anatomically Correct. For November through December 15, I have been honored by being juried into InchWorks sponsored by the North Shore Art League. http://www.northshoreartleague.org/flash.html Paintings could not exceed 12"×12" which is quite a challenge for me as I prefer to paint much larger. My entry was called Autumn Flowers. In January I will have a painting on exhibit at the Wright Gallery at College of Lake County.

My 30 limited repro sketches of "music makers" seem to be selling A-OK. I have them selling at the following in Illinois: Family Piano Company http://familypianoco.com/ in Waukegan
Music Center of Deerfield www.deerfieldmusic.com in Deerfield
Pieces Gallery http://www.piecesgallery.net/ Highland Park
As You Like It Gallery 2558 Green Bay Road Winnetka and
Kurt Saphire Pianos http://www.kurtsaphirpianos.com/ Wilmette.
Wright Community Gallery http://gallery.clcillinois.edu/index.cfm

Great happenings this summer! While attending Ragtime at the Starlight Theatre in Wilmette, which starred some friends from Kol Hadash, I discovered that "Footlights" program cover for June/July 2008 was one of my watercolors called "Stage Show." I felt quite flattered.

Three other happenings this summer: include two of my oils were published in "East on Central", a journal of arts and letters from Highland Park, IL. Volume 7; my being juried into "Caught in the Act", the sixth international show being held at the Northbrook Public Library in Northbrook, Illinois, opening reception October 3rd and running through October 31st. My oil is called "Magic Finale". This is the second year I have been so honored in "East on Central" and the Northbrook show.; the third great happening is my acceptance into "The Evanston Art Walk" which runs during October sponsored by Anatomically Correct Gallery http://anatomicallycorrect.org/ . You can view my oil "Family Sunset" seen above in the window of Dancing Bear Gallery at 1922 Central Street, Evanston, Illinois.

My 30 limited repro sketches of "music makers" seem to be selling A-OK. I have them selling at the following in Illinois: Family Piano Company http://familypianoco.com/ in Waukegan
Music Center of Deerfield www.deerfieldmusic.com in Deerfield
Pieces Gallery http://www.piecesgallery.net/ Highland Park
As You Like It Gallery 2558 Green Bay Road Winnetka and
Kurt Saphire Pianos http://www.kurtsaphirpianos.com/ Wilmette.

Now if I could sell a few oils and water colors, I could say the year will end with even greater happenings.

Here in Illinois, one person runs most of the art shows. I have had better luck entering shows that are not run by this person. Last fall my art was in an International show at the Northbrook Public Library. My entry didn't seem to go with the theme of the show. I presently have two paintings on exhibit in the Barnsite Gallery in Kewaunee, WI. It is a national show and I feel quite pleased to be in it. Both paintings were done specifically for this show. I have one oil in the Art Walk in Highland Park. You can see about it at http://anatomicallcorrect.org. I have also done the cover for the booklet for the show. It runs all thru June.