My recent fascination with having some pictures of cherry trees and other spring going on around here now (DC area) is because I have become fascinated by the work of Tracy Helgeson. She is an artist who paints in oils and does these absolutely luminous landscapes in wonderful colors. They remind me of Wolf Kahn's work -- and it turns out that he is sort of one of her mentors -- but I have decided that I like her work better than Kahn's. Maybe last year there was an exhibit of Kahn's work at a small gallery down in Georgetown. I am so glad I took the trouble (I am so lazy about getting out and going to art shows) to go see it because I have admired his work for a long time, and this was the first time I had been able to see it in person. And of course, the real thing is so much better than any picture. His work also just glows. I would love to have one, but I think the best I could ever do is a poster. But maybe I could save up and buy one of Tracy's.