A New Life, A New Web Site
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4ce926_e950f6737f184c93aeb1d6bc82e8d40e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_608,h_304,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/4ce926_e950f6737f184c93aeb1d6bc82e8d40e~mv2.jpg)
In January 2016, Marcel and I closed our beloved cafe', MAD about Chocolate, and sold it to restaurateur Mike Riordan, so Marcel could retire.
![Does this look like a man who wants to retire? Yes!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4ce926_d973fb60f041478bb2ca46e4e8fcc4a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_720,h_959,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/4ce926_d973fb60f041478bb2ca46e4e8fcc4a6~mv2.jpg)
Does this look like a man who wants to retire? Well, yes.
As for me, after working MADly for 14 hours a day, 7 days a week (and loving it), the last thing I wanted to do was stop my shark-like ways.
The first thing I wanted to do was spend more time creating my lifelong passion: art.
During the MAD about Chocolate Days, I hadn't exactly taken an art hiatus. The cafe' was my gallery, and I needed to keep it filled. But I spent more time creating chocolate, advertisements, Facebook posts, customer service and employee enrichment than I did art.
So after MAD changed hands, I painted. First, a commissioned portrait of former Virginia Governor Chuck Robb, then two large pots. I completed a second commission and lined up two more. Plus I embarked on this web site - the most challenging of all of the projects. It remains a work in progress.
Speaking of works in progress, that's the reason for this blog. To show art-in-progress, and perhaps explain why it exists at all.
Stay tuned.