Let’s toast to The Year of the Martini…, which comes hot on the heels of many The Year of ... paintings I have created.The Chinese astrological calendar has 12 great animals, one for each month and I painted all of them.The visual beauty of Chinese calligraphy has always intrigued me and adds a ‘mystique’ to the painting. Only those familiar with Chinese calligraphy know this symbol is for ‘happiness,’ which usually accompanies a martini or two. I thought that the martini deserved some notoriety after a friend mixed his special recipe for me.”