Charles Wilson Peale. George Washington. ca. 1779-81. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The original commission for this portrait of George Washington was made in January 1779 by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania when they passed a resolution to engage Charles Wilson Peale as the artist. It was intended to honor Washington and be displayed in their Council Chamber. Peale traveled to the battlefields of Princeton and Trenton to do research for the...

Elizabeth Catlett. Sharecropper . 1970. Color linocut on cream Japanese paper. The Art Institute of Chicago. As a child, Catlett saw her own grandparents who were sharecroppers living and working in extreme poverty. Under the South’s racist farming system, they continued to be exploited long after slavery’s end. Catlett was interested in restoring dignity and humanity to her subjects. Here, the viewer looks up at the subject as someone to be respected and venerated. Catlett was a graduate...

Every January, I make personal reflection a priority. This is the time I set aside for asking, "What do I want to bring into my life this year?" If you have never asked yourself this question, let 2026 be your year to inaugurate this valuable life venture into conscious living and manifestation. What is important to you? What goals do you have for the coming year? Which goals no longer serve you? I begin by writing a brief summary on an 8.5" x 8.5" sheet of bright white paper. I usually write...