Oakmont Rainbow Women Pride Banner

Recently I had the incredible honor of stepping into the studio to design a brand-new pride banner with Jean M. for the Oakmont Rainbow Women. If you aren’t familiar with them, this dynamic organization is made up of more than 150 inspiring women. They dedicate their time, energy and resources to supporting and fundraising for a massive variety of vital causes right here in our community. When Jean M. asked me to help design their look for the upcoming Pride Parade, I jumped at the chance to do another project with Jean and for ORW.

The goal for this banner was to be loud , proud, and truly reflect the joyful, welcoming and giving spirit of this group of women.

Sonoma Pride Exhibit at Vintage House

I recently stepped into the studio to paint a piece on vinyl for the Pride Exhibit in Sonoma, and I decided to feature Miki, my sister’s amazing dog. I am so grateful to Nancy D. for inviting me to be part of this show alongside such a talented group of local LGBTQ+ artists. It has been truly inspiring to see everyone’s work, especially a standout piece by Lee K. The Vintage House has done a wonderful job hosting us, and the space is beautifully decorated to celebrate Pride Month.

The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of June.

The Book - Adventures In Gratitude

I recently spent some time in the studio wrapping up the first two drafts of my children‘s book. I was incredibly lucky to have Lin D. edit it for me; she was absolutely wonderful, taking the time to leave detailed comments that truly taught me how to be a better writer. I’m so grateful that a writer of her caliber was willing to work on my project. After her initial edit, I spent about six months working on the rewrite, and since then, I’ve been busy sketching and digitally painting the illustrations. Learning to use digital brushes has been a fascinating—and steep—learning curve, but the brushes are amazing. The story itself is whimsical, silly, and hopefully a bit funny. I’m currently buried in the studio trying to get these illustrations finished within my lifetime! They take so long to complete that I’ve actually decided to work from the back of the book toward the front. That way, even if I don't manage to finish it all, at least readers will get to see how it ends.

Introducing some of the main characters. Elizabeth, Maggie the space Captain and Kit with the blueberries of course the carrot shaped spaceship “Gratitude”.

Be Water My Friend, Make Waves

“Be Water, My Friend: Make Waves” is painted on a piece of art hanging in my studio and seeing these words this morning inspired me to make this little animation.

Bruce Lee’s iconic advice from the 1971 series *Longstreet* offers a timeless perspective on how to navigate life:

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless—like water. Now, you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

There is profound strength in gentleness. I added the “Make Waves” to the quote because I thought that by choosing to make waves of kindness rather than destruction, we can create lasting good in the world.

Posters for The Awesome Women Marching

I headed into the studio today with a protestor’s mindset, determined to make signs for the friends who are out on the front lines fighting to save this country from ruin. These brave women are in the thick of it every single day, standing up for our fundamental rights, and the best way I know how to show my support is by crafting posters for them to carry. These women absolutely rock.

Art Box Small Art Big Joy

"Have you seen that Art Box in the neighborhood? It's great—filled with these tiny pieces that really brighten your day. The whole idea is simple: you leave a little something you've made, and if you see something you like, you can take it. Or you just leave it as a gift for whoever finds it next. It's like having a miniature gallery right on the street."

I’ve just finished a couple of pieces for it and am handing them off shortly.

ORW Itty Bitty Bake Contest Scepter

The Oakmont Rainbow Women host an annual Itty Bitty Baking contest, so I headed into the studio to craft a whimsical prize for the overall winner. I started with a two-foot-long metal whisk, then piled on every silly, playful, baking-themed trinket I could find to assemble the final "Scepter." It was such a fun project. Nancy S. ended up taking it home, and it was a treat to see it displayed so creatively in her house. The Itty Bitty treats themselves were absolutely delicious, and my wife, Barbara S., also contributed some wonderful prizes. Kathy S. and Olga Y. do such an incredible job making this event special for everyone involved—they are truly amazing.

Love of Tug Boats

As a child in San Francisco, I spent countless afternoons wandering the shoreline with my grandmother. We watched the tugboats maneuver through the harbor, dutifully escorting massive barges and ships into the sanctuary of the San Francisco Bay. These vessels have always tugged at my heartstrings.

Returning to the city ignited a longing to see the water, feel the salt-mist breeze, walk through the rolling fog, and admire the stout tugs—the faithful ushers of the bay.

Stepping into the studio, I felt an irresistible impulse to playfully capture these vessels on canvas. This triptych offers a whimsical perspective of a tugboat patiently awaiting the return of the ship it released weeks before.

One Love Saver At A Time

I headed into the studio this morning, and while I was working on this animation, I found myself dreaming up ideas for a whimsical children’s book. I truly enjoyed illustrating the little story Alan wrote for his granddaughter, and it’s inspired me to start my own. It’s going to be a journey filled with gratitude, love, patience, and compassion—and since I’m obsessed with space, it’ll be set among the stars. The story follows a young girl who shares her smile with beings on distant, incredible planets, ultimately saving the world with nothing but love.

Gratitude

Stepping into the studio today I felt so much gratitude welling up inside me. I looked up at the bright sky and murmured a quiet thank you for the glorious flowers that are in full bloom.

Endless Chain Reaction

It’s fascinating how one creative spark can trigger an endless chain reaction. Today, I headed into the studio intending to make a single greeting card for my niece—just a little something to remind her how amazing she is. I had such a blast that, the moment I finished, I found myself starting a "thank you" card instead. To make sure they looked good when they were printed, I invested in a Canon Pro-300 imagePROGRAF and some beautiful stock from Red River Paper. There is such a rush that comes from printing on high-quality paper with a super cool printer. I have to credit Barbara S. for always sourcing the most remarkable paper for my projects. I briefly considered turning this into a business called "Small Talk Arts," but I ultimately decided “nah”. I’ve realized I much prefer the simple joy of creating custom cards for the people I care about—or for anyone who might appreciate a little extra whimsy showing up in their mailbox.

Learning about Illustrating

I’ve stepped into my studio and been hunkered down a while now, totally wrapped up in a project that’s a bit of a departure for me. I’m illustrating a children’s book written in rhyme for the authors' five-year-old granddaughter. Sh’s the star of the story, and I’ve been portraying her as this incredibly bright, precocious child- which I understand she most definitely is. It’s been an all-consuming process, but I finally just finished. The best part? The author gave me complete creative freedom to be as whimsical and quirky as the rhymes allowed.

The title quickly changed to the “Sara and The Accidental Spelling Bee”

Alan Sloan is a great writer.

Sonoma Zucchini Boat Race Rainbow Entry

Every year, the Sonoma community gathers on the square for the annual zucchini boat races. My wife has always wanted to enter. The idea is simple: you decorate a zucchini, slap some wheels on it, and race it down a steep ramp against the competition. The real trick, though, is building it solid enough to survive the drop without falling apart before the finish line.

So, this year, I happily headed into the studio with Erin C., Jane F., Carolyn B., and my wife, Barbara, to collaborate and build a rainbow-themed racer for the big day.

I am happy to say that our boat raced with grace and conviction and stayed together until the very end.

The TV Broadcasting Love

Returning to the studio to keep working on the staging project, I realized the house was missing something—a television to warm up the room. Instead of searching for the real thing, I decided to build a retro version out of cardboard, featuring a large red heart right in the center of the screen. I hoped it would serve as a small, cheerful reminder of connection during these quiet, isolating days.

Fixated on the Cardboard Wine Rack

As I stepped into the studio today, my mind was entirely occupied by a wine rack project I’m working on. I’ve become fixated on a specific shape I saw in a picture, and I’m determined to recreate it. Since I don't have a large band saw, the process will be labor-intensive: I’ll need to glue four or five pieces together, repeat that about ten times, and then cut each individual section. I’ll be relying on my small jigsaw—which, truth be told, I’m grateful to have. Tools are funny things; they have a way of anchoring us to our beginnings. I still remember the first serious tool I ever owned—a router gifted to me by my mother. It was equal parts amazing and intimidating, and it remained my absolute favorite for years. The wine rack is slowly coming together; here’s a glimpse of the progress.

Completing the Chairs

I’m currently in the studio testing these chairs to make sure they’ll hold my weight, and now I’m trying to figure out how to paint them once I’ve finished framing. I shouldn't dwell on it for too long, though—I still have plenty more pieces to create, and I really need to get moving on the cardboard wine rack and the TV.

Okay chairs complete

Tackling the Cardboard Chairs

I’m finally ready to tackle the chairs. I had to step away from the studio for a couple of days to regroup after getting a bit too overexcited and slicing my thumb with a utility knife, but I’m back at it and moving full speed ahead. The framing is quite elaborate since the chairs need to be sturdy enough to support a person's weight, making this both a fun and challenging project.

Cardboard Staging Project Begins

My wife is a realtor, and she currently has a listing during a time when things are anything but normal. With the pandemic still lingering, we decided to take the staging into our own hands. The plan is for me to build functional cardboard furniture—light enough for us to move easily, yet sturdy enough to actually sit on.

We put out a call for cardboard, and thanks to everyone’s recent reliance on home deliveries, we were flooded with supplies. I’ve ended up with a mountain of mattress, barbecue, and TV boxes, which are perfect because they provide such large, clean pieces to work with.

Stepping into the studio, I think I’ll start by building a coffee table. It seems like the perfect way to get a feel for the material before tackling the rest of the furniture.