Pencil Sketch Afternoon

I escaped work while the sun was still pounding the earth with heat. As I drove home, I passed an art supply store when a feeling caused me to turn my car around and go in. I went in not sure of what I would come out with, as the act of creating art has always brought on anxiety. I thought of getting a blank canvas to hang on my wall as I am constantly inundated with visual art, and how serene it might be to have a blank white canvas on my white wall. No, I would never get around to buying paints to put on that canvas. It would be a long time. I opted for a sketch pad and artist tape. Maybe I could move past my art anxieties and scribble something down and tape it on my wall. Temporary. No pressure and I could rummage through my art books for ideas. Taking a moment for self preservation was like a small exhale.

Taste of Summer

Summer is here and what better way to show off its bounty than with overly ripe melon wrapped in prosciutto (sprinkled with a lil salt n pepper), drunk with a one of Portugal's best Vinho Verde. A perfect lunch for a day like today.

Larchmont Afternoon

Wandering the Larchmont Farmer's Market, I found an artist's booth with charming porcelain pottery made by an even more charming man, Ron Burke. I picked up two little cups, whose glaze is inspired by the way a white bowl looks after eating chocolate chip ice cream. I will use them for tea. I also acquired some pink roses from the market.

New Beginnings

Yesterday, I awoke at 5:30 am and started my morning with a sunrise hike through Runyon Canyon as the dew was still evaporating off the soon to be sun-drenched pavement of Los Angeles. Much of the city was still in bed, giving me the rare pleasure of having the hiking trail to myself and a few other early risers. Two things are different when you are hiking at 6am: everyone acknowledges each other with a smile and a "morning," and the silence. The silence of nature was an exquisite way to wake up, only hearing the crunch of sandy dirt under foot and the rustling of leaves as the quail scurried into hiding. I finished my hike, came home, ate some summer fruit, drank some tea and headed over to the Bodhi Tree on Melrose to bring home the newest addition to my apartment, a 17th Century Tibetan singing bowl. Simple beauty.