This is a large (for me) painting I did in 1998. It’s a fanciful depiction of San Francisco that commemorates one of Sandra’s and my first trips together. It’s unapologetically romantic but, frankly,  I’ve never felt it was quite finished. It’s always been a work in progress. But, for whatever reasons, I lost interest; stopped working on it. It’s sentimental value saved it and it’s ungainly size kept it from being put in a closet. It’s been hung on this or that wall of our various houses over the years.

San Francisco, 1998,  acrylic on canvas, 56″x48″

So, I’ve had to look at it for a long, long time. For better or for worse, I developed a relationship with it.

It occurred to me that if I’m going to have to live with this thing for another (at least) 17 years, maybe I should take a more interested look at it. Maybe update it. Relationships change and hopefully grow over time. Maybe I should re-work the painting to reflect how I see it now. Renew our relationship. I mean, that long-ago trip to San Francisco was, well, long ago. A nice memory. The painting’s right here, right now. What has it done for me lately? Why does it still feel unfinished? What does it need? I didn’t want to make an all new version. I wanted to grow the existing one. So, for the past few months, I’ve been painting over the old one to make a renewed one. It’s the same painting. But I think it’s richer and more interesting. I’m gonna keep it on my wall.

At least for now.

San Francisco, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 56″x48″