My name is April Clay and I approve this message.

President Barack Obama visited our restaurant! He asked everyone name and shook our hand. He was just so cool and lovely.. and I'll say it... he's hot! Defiantly, a lifetime highlight for me.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)..This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. .

Ashmont Grill Reception

Ashmont Grill

Mother's Day

Don't forget Mother's Day this weekend! I just finished a piece for my friend Jared for his wife, Kerri. They have twins who keep them very busy. Jared is one of my biggest fans and I am honored to do a piece for his wife about family. Family is very important to her, and I hope I was able to capture this in their piece.

My family has always been a huge source of love and inspiration for me.. I am going to Pennsylvania on Monday to go see my Mom. it's her birthday on Monday. She is such a beautiful, smart, funny and loving lady and I'm so lucky to call her my Mom. Happy Mother's Day, Momma!

Mom and Jordan dancing at Fawn and Dan's wedding

A Cabin in the Woods

The High Speed Trolley!

It's been a interesting experience living in Lower Mills. There is so much I love about the area.. there are cute antique stores and restaurants as well as the Neponset River Trail that I love to take my bike on. That being said, it's also at the end of Boston and it sometimes feels a world away from my friends and family. Although it was a very mild winter, I still developed a vitamin D deficiency and slipped into the blues.. my painting slowed to a complete halt. Luckily with some heavy doses of vitamin D and some sunshine as well as some doses of inspiration, I'm slowly coming back to painting regularly. That being said, I've also find it challenging to live and work in the same space.. but I'm learning.

My latest pieces were inspired by 2 friends. Justine is one of my dearest friends from NY. She is working on her thesis for a Masters in Creative Art Therapy. She is exploring the dynamics of hearing (listening) and not hearing (not listening) from a clinician’s perspective and the experience of being heard (listened to) and not being heard (not listened to) from a client’s perspective. I came up with this piece called Ideas Come and Go it measures 12" x 12"x 2". I worked in encaustic collage as well as the resin insert.

Jasen Strickler is a wonderful photographer and friend whom I recently reconnected with. His photography captures forgotten spaces, quirky people, signage you think you remember seeing someplace, bike culture and everyday beauty/ugly. I made a piece for him called Jasen's House , it's a simple piece but one of my favorite parts is the sun that I made with a bike gear and a camera lens with an upside down  bicycle figure.


Next.. I found a bunch of old photos from a antique store in Gloucester containing pictures of people and their pets... not sure where these will take me but it could be fun.