Finally, the heron, titled Persephone, is finished. I see her as one of my breakthrough pieces since she is much bigger than usual and the hot greenish yellow background is shockingly new for me. In fact it was that background that slowed me down, she had copper as a backdrop until I changed it on a whim. Then I had to sit with her for a while and decide what to do next. I’m very happy with the results, I particularly like the beak, and the shadow under her eye sings to me. In other news, as I debate how to budget the grant money, I’m in discussion about a Pop Up show in July at a gallery here in Provincetown. I planned to use Persephone as the centerpiece, but I just had an inquiry from Europe about her as well as three other recent pieces, so I’d best get cracking on something new. Perhaps a turaco. Are you familiar with them? The first of my birds to get into a juried show was a green turaco I took artistic liberties with titled LeRoi. He’s also the only one of my juried show paintings that I still own. I’ve been toying with the idea of reworking him a bit, maybe give him some shading, but I know from experience that could ruin him and that I should start something fresh. Anyway, away from the studio I’m trying to ignore the news whenever possible but I did watch the last six hours of Cory Booker’s speech. He made me cry. Can’t say why. Onward.