My solo show of paintings ended last week. About half of the paintings sold and I was able to make a hefty (for me, anyway) donation to the ACLU. It felt great to help in some small way. It's just a drop in the bucket, I know, but it was my drop.

Three issues of my 36-page, artbooks are available now at Etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy

These contain all new drawings, and my best work to date. I'm going to do a few more of these in the coming months.

I just finished reading Crumb, the new biography by Dan Nadel. I didn't want it to end. I'm grateful for Robert's prolific output, his candor and bravery. I own almost everything he's ever drawn, so the biography sent me down many rabbit hole deep-dives into his oeuvre. I think my next couple of sketches show his influence, but he's incomparable.

When Willa passed, her friends' people asked me to watch their dogs and it has gotten a little out of hand. I almost always have two or three furry buddies with me, which I love, but I get cranky when they won't let me draw, do yoga, sketch in coffee shops, etc. I need to learn to say no, I guess, but I love all my dog friends. They help me be less insular and self-centered. Still, I think I'm going to cut back so I can focus more on my drawing.

I feel I'm at a crossroads: Will I stay in Seattle? Travel Europe with my old teaching colleague? Buy a hybrid mini-van and outfit it with a portable art studio and travelsketch? Is it time to apply for Social Security before it's looted? I don't know. I just don't know.

I hope you'll visit Etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy and read the reviews. I'm proud of these books (only $12 each or all three for $30) and think it's my best work.

Please give your pets some lovin' from me.

Steven