Washington, DC's Long View Gallery currently has a delightful show featuring artist Jamie Pocklington on view until April 25. Pocklington teases us with brightly colored provocative paintings that invite us to join the fun.

Jamie Pocklington is a resident of Richmond, Virginia and he thrives on painting real people in a bright manner. Every one of his subjects makes us feel that we have met him or her somewhere before. Each painting clearly contains a secret that challenges us to use our imagination. As you view his colorful works, you find yourself projecting your own story and hidden agendas upon the artist's subjects.

In his oil painting entitled "Mark the 'Crappy Clown' No One Ever Knew Why", we are treated to almost a vivid puzzle. Two spheres compete in the painting: One, of course, is the poor "Crappy Clown" and other is the fun-loving duo of women. Is their laughter causing him to cry or is his crying making them laugh? Who wouldn't want to personally know the vivacious and joyful young ladies? We instantly are ready to get our coat and go party with them.

Pocklington's "The Two Baddest Apples Off The Family Tree" is just deliciously evil. You know this prominent family represented by the generations in the painting has dark hidden secrets. God, I would love to know both the subjects in the painting and the juicy stories from their clearly dysfunctional family. The artist goes easier on the outstanding colors in this portrait and allows us not to judge them through his eyes but our own. More color would have risked painting a 'scarlet letter' on them.

With this showing, The Long View Gallery continues its excellent series of American artists and their paintings. Should you find yourself in our nation's capital this Spring, try and catch the fun.