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Before COVID vaccinations became available, people continued to socialize with precautions. At Oak Hammock (the community in which I live), the weekly mahjong players enjoyed their games while wearing masks. I observed several games during August-October 2020, sketched and took many photographs. A photography session was arranged after I decided on a composition based upon behaviors observed during their games. Then, the five ladies who volunteered to be the models posed around the table to display some of those behaviors. Four were seated and a fifth who wore a Chinese outfit that fit within my theme stood at the focal point.

I began with multiple drawings and color sketches, then transferred the final drawing sketch onto the canvas. My painting process begins with an under painting on a toned canvas. It was necessary to tweak the drawing during the multi-layer painting process that took several months to complete. And here is the block-in stage and the completed painting of The Mahjong Game which won the Margaret Zircher award during this fall's Gainesville Fine Art Association show at Oak Hammock. The award is for an artwork that best depicts human emotions.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing The Firebird ballet by the professional Dance Alive International Ballet group here in Gainesville about 3 years ago. The main character is typically danced by a female ballerina, but in this production, the role was performed by a male dancer, who was superb. My friend, Colleen Rand, who is one of the official photographers for Dance Alive (in addition to being a terrific fine artist), offered me some of her photographs of this ballet while the troupe was in rehearsal. I selected one as a reference for a painting which had the main character leaning over a sword and being tempted to pick it up before he eventually does. I added two fuzzy images of the Firebird on either side of the principal one to represent internal temptations regarding the sword. Several months after I thought it was finished, I went back and reworked some areas. Here is the final painting:

During Spring 2021, I entered two paintings in a judged show entitled "Inspired by Poem, Song or Words of Wisdom." Participating artists were required to briefly describe what inspired them in creating each artwork. One piece I submitted was "The Old Man" which won an award. The name of his boat is "Joi de Vivre" and my inspiration was: "The journey through life is the reward" - a moral lesson from the Old Man and the Sea as interpreted by Peter Burn. The other painting was of beautiful peonies Michael got me for my birthday with the inspiration being a haiku by Buson:

"About to Bloom,

And exhale a rainbow,

The Peony!"

And now we are still cautious but venture socially carefully, having had our 3 doses of COVID vaccine. And I am contemplating a few more stories for my next paintings.