The era we are living in offers too many illustrations of greed, narcissism, and hatefulness. But I still believe we can recommit ourselves to serving the common good of all Americans. [Artwork by Jennifer Bloomer]

Powerful.

They’re all just looting the treasury now

A new piece, called the Expansion of Joy. Using sacred geometry and Ayurvedic color principles to create an art antidote to the malignant growth of institutional cruelty.

October 18, 2025

We're taking to the streets this Saturday at hundreds of protests nationwide to reject the Trump administration's attacks on our rights. Find a No Kings protest near you at nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=a...

Work in progress - my new painting.

Exhibit A at The Hague just dropped

(🚨) BREAKING NEWS: The Trump Regime Is Now Disappearing Hundreds or Even Thousands of People in Its Custody, Pinochet-Style

Commission artwork for a client in LA.

Remarkable conversation between Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani about what it means to be a mayor and how cities can lead in the struggle for economic and social and racial justice. Full video here:

How did Dr. Monarez go from being “a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials” who had the “full confidence” of Secretary Kennedy into being a “liar” and “untrustworthy” in less than a month? She refused to rubber stamp his anti-vaccine recommendations.

Please join me this Sat in Emeryville for an art opening. I have a collaborative piece featured in Jennifer Mazzucco‘s solo show. It’s interactive! When you pull on the tassel, it rings a gong at the center of the sculpture. More information in the final photograph - of the announcement flyer.

A #ballpointpenart doodle made while listening to live music @ybgfestival in San Francisco. 🔺 Finished it up at home. It’s fun to see how different it appears in different lighting situations. 🔻 This is freehand: no ruler, compass, pencil, or erasing. Using ballpoint, gel, and highlighter pens.

Remarkable open letter from Bill Burns. "If intelligence analysts at the CIA saw our rivals engage in this kind of great-power suicide, we would break out the bourbon. Instead, the sound we hear is of champagne glasses clinking in the Kremlin and Zhongnanhai." theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Hot tip: need an inexpensive fixative for pencil and/charcoal? Old-fashioned Aqua Net hairspray works great. It’s a classic art school hack. I’ve got drawings that I sprayed 30 years ago that have held up with no damage.

Saturday was the regular first Saturday exhibition openings at the Minnesota Street Project in San Francisco, filled with many art galleries full of captivating art and fascinating humans flaunting creative fashion.

Fascinating exhibition of sculptures made with felt at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Francisco. Based on ancient Japanese folklore. Admission is free!

Absolutely gorgeous work in an inspiring show of African-American quilts @bampfa.bsky.social recently acquired an enormous collection that is likely the most important and largest in the world. Highly recommended!

Interference colors are gorgeous.- pigments that reflect only a specific range of light, like like a soap bubble. Here, I’m painting wooden beads with interference violet. These will be used like oversize “pearls” as an ornamental circle on a large abstract artwork that I’m doing for a client.

In 1971, corporate attorney Lewis Powell drafted a memo urging Big Business to mobilize for political combat against consumer, labor, and environmental groups. That roadmap kicked off the corporate takeover of modern American politics. Watch. https://youtu.be/bbbgfnpJN9w?feature=shared

Don't let this story die. It's bad. We know it's bad. And they're all covering up what's in the docs about Trump. newrepublic.com/post/197987/...

Hmm

Another article on this mess: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

This is exactly right. Also, during the Biden administration, the owners of the tech sector experienced the beginning of meaningful anti-monopoly regulations from the federal government. They went fascist to crack down on worker power and destroy regulations. Classic move!

Good evening:

My current view while working in Kerala. What am I working on? 🌿 Drawings of goddesses: www.mookambikaekadasadevis.art 🌿 Tomorrow’s online class about yantras and Jyotish. Register: www.divyam.life/ekabhumi 🌿 Some videos about the journey to Kamakhya Pitha this November. www.mysticart.org

Two trees with similar names but are quite different: 🌳 On the left, we have Chambakka, AKA Rose Apple. It tastes like a combination of apple, clove, and a hint of strawberry. 🌳 On the right, we have the magnolia-like Champa flower, used in Nag Champa incense. It has a powerful and heavenly aroma.

Some beautiful leaves from the tropical plants growing in the gardens here at the Rhythmbhara retreat center where I’m staying.

At work on a drawing of Ucchista Ganapati while sitting on the patio of the Rhythmbhara eco-resort retreat center.

Imagine my surprise upon receiving a message from South India, that a book illustration that I made of Svacchanda Bhairava had been made into a mural at the Rhythmbhara retreat center. Even more astonished to see it was receiving daily worship! 🦂 #svacchandabhairava #vagamon #rhythmbhara #muralart

Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by gracious Rhythmbhara eco-resort team, and by a group participating in a 3-day Soundarya Lahari study lead by Dr. Ramanand. I had the pleasure of joining them for lunch, and was inspired by their presence. Many conversed with ease in English.

Hello from the tea-growing region of Vagamon, Kerala! Lots of walking and sleeping today. I still haven’t gotten over my jet lag. Lovely morning stroll, surrounded by bird song, frogs, insects, & occasional rumbling thunder. Marvelous scents of jasmine, damp earth, cardamom, and vanilla.

Layover in Doha, on the way to India. 🇶🇦 The airport atrium is really impressive and the plantings are gorgeous. They also offer free Wi-Fi, which is a pleasure. 🌳

Now in India, by way of Doha. Here for a couple of months to work on a mural for the Mookambika temple in Kollur. More pics soon!

Heading for India on 15 April, arriving in Kochi on 17th April. Will probably be in Kerala, working on a temple mirror project until the middle of June.  www.mookambikaekadasadevis.art

At work on a sketch of Ucchista Ganapati, while sitting in a lovely park.

Here are some beautiful flowers from around my neighborhood. Please take a moment to pause the news and go outside to be quiet and take a “Nature Bath” if you can.

"It’s bad enough being a failing empire. Let’s not also be a delusional failing empire. Let’s at least have some dignity about our situation." Here's a start:

Notes from a private art class: We learned about the symbolism of the 4 Gates of mandalas & yantras. Also that the original Hindu Swastika “Swast”= Good) invokes effulgence (clockwise spiral), & stability (square resting on one side). Not to be confused w/ the European symbol of dynamic destruction.

In the studio. Building stretcher bars, stretching canvases, Art requires training, practice, tools, materials, facilities, time, stability, and educated patronage. Art is a triumph of the entire community. An artist is as much a custodian of the art process as a cause of it.

Strolling after lunch in my neighborhood

My aunt Ethel turned 100!!! Here’s Felicia (my wife) with her relatives and Auntie, in the center. Someone from Nassau county dept of aging even came out to give a certificate! 💯 Auntie is quite cogent and healthy, though she needs a wheelchair. 💯

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” Theodore Roosevelt

At work on an art project in the studio. These will be a circle of oversized ‘pearls’ that form a frame around the entire design. Lots of sanding and many layers of white paint and pearlescent paint yet to go. 

This is where/why you start and commit to a meditation practice. Reclaim your inner space entirely. I’m offering a donation-based class starting on Thursdays at 8:45 at my place near Sebastopol. This will be within a secular, universal framework of contemplative practice, suitable for all.

The brief and beautiful bloom of the Crocus flowers in my garden. Spring is officially here in Berkeley.

Delighted to have superstar #Mohanlal complete the eye-opening ceremony on our collaborative artwork by Mithun Salila, based on my drawing of goddess #annapurna from the Shakti Coloring Book. It will be installed in the dininghall of #mookambikatemple in Karnataka, where 1000s eat for free daily.