Cooper Hayes Simmons has explored many religious traditions from the inside, especially the meditative traditions within Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. He has been influenced profoundly by the San Francisco Beat poets who were bringing forth the wisdom of these ancient traditions in new ways. Now Is Love resonates with the love poems of all of these traditions and more, love's permeating invitation in the air, in the breeze for any and all of us to enjoy. His paintings spring from that same well of wisdom: "I identify completely with the paint...I go in with the brush and out with the color."