Happy to celebrate an important milestone–drawing #100, inspired by the current revival of the three-piece suit and the Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. Only 901 pictures to go.

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After Christmas shopping is one of those American traditions that has always felt a little uncomfortable to me. It seems a little perverse to go out and hit the stores after receiving a bunch of stuff from family and friends. And yet I was out there with the rest of the throng, wielding a gift certificate and looking for the cool stuff that I didn’t get in my stocking. Here’s one of the faces in the crowd at Best Buy in San Carlos. Just before closing, this employee seemed to be lost in his thoughts, at least for a moment. I think it had been a really long day.

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Just a little tribute to Oakland’s long history as a host to America’s Jazz greats. In the middle of the century there was Sweet’s Ballroom, where musicians of all ethnicities played to largely segregated crowds. Sweet’s is still around today, but the “it” destination for today’s jazz lovers is Yoshi’s, in Oakland’s historic Jack London Square. Yoshi’s serves up jazz, sushi, and drinks to an enthusiastic crowd that reflects the full diversity of Bay Area music lovers, and it’s a favorite destination of out-of-town fans, as well.

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Spotted standing outside the Webster St. parking structure, Oakland, CA, December 22, 2010.

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Seen at World Ground Cafe, MacArthur Blvd, December 21, 2010.

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I enjoy playing with the layout and imagery of the U.S. Flag. Its wonderfully distinctive and highly recognizable design is practically irresistible to painters and others who enjoy creating images. Indeed, there is a long tradition of American artists reworking/re-mixing the Stars and Stripes, and I am pleased to be following in the traditional of Faith Ringgold, Jasper Johns, Anton Kandinsky, Louis Cameron (not that Kandinsky), and so many others.

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