I have not exhibited my art since Tod died last June. Oh, there was a month long exhibit in January in Plant City that Shelley arranged, but I even did that show half-heartedly. I did not even bother sending out invitations or arranging a reception. I just hung my art and left.

I will always miss Tod, but it is about time that I started exhibiting again. One of my biggest draw backs has been my variety. Galleries want a body of works, not stuff that is all over the place and I am moving in that direction with this year's pieces. I think I never focused on developing my natural style because I thought it was amateurish. As one person told me, I should focus on how 'expressive' these paintings are and continue to incorporate humor in my art. Jerri suggested that I do more portraits. That leads back to the expressiveness of the people that I paint. I don't like dead stares and I painted more than a few while learning to paint. If Tod's death taught me anything, it is how to breathe life into faces. I have not painted a single 'dead stare' since he passed away.