Friday miscellany...

So I have to admit that I didn't just look at portraits the other day when Myrna and I went to the exhibit at the Old Mint in San Francisco. The Mint, which dates to 1874, is no longer operational and the building is in some disrepair, but they occasionally host very short-term exhibits there. As we wandered through the high-ceilinged, very formal rooms, I saw a number of cool things, but nothing captured my attention quite like the item pictured above. This, my friends, is the INSIDE of a door hinge -- the part nobody can see when the door is closed!! That someone would have embellished these humble items with such an elegant design just astonished me. It was definitely a different era!! The Mint is now slated for "renovation" as a history museum. Sadly, from what I can make out of the architect's renderings, the inside of the building will be either covered over or updated in a way that essentially destroys its original character. I hope I'm wrong.

And on another topic, I am delighted to share the good news that my work will be featured in the August issue of Watercolor Artist magazine. I've been like a kid with a secret for several months -- just squirming to share it -- but I wanted to wait until the schedule was confirmed. Look for copies on the newstand after June 23.