At the corner of Valley and Case Avenue, two bright sunflowers painted on a utility box wink hello and bring unexpected joy. Along the sides, a smiling bee and a fluttering butterfly ride clouds in a painted sky, gently reminding us of the small creatures that share our world. The sunflowers, symbols of loyalty, longevity, nourishment, and vibrancy, bloom quietly amid the hum of traffic—offering a moment of happiness to all who pass.

Artist Robby Houghton has been creating art since childhood. At just seven years old, he was already perfectly re-creating Disney characters, animals, and cartoons. His early work in bold marker evolved into more refined expressions in watercolor and pencil, especially after he began studying with renowned Livermore artist Thomasin Dewhurst. Thomasin, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art (with honors) from Rhodes University and a Master’s Degree (cum laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, has gently guided Robby in developing his talents.

Painting the Sunflower Day utility box became a learning journey for Robby. Instructor Dewhurst challenged him to explore scaling and proportion, surface planning, how to wrap a design around corners, and the brushwork required for exterior paints and protective sealants.

Like Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers series, Robby’s bold central subject draws strength from simplicity, defined by strong outlines and a vibrant, limited palette. Both artists use sunflowers as a metaphor for hope and resilience, joy, and nature. Young sunflowers turn to follow the sun; mature ones stand strong and radiant in the light.

Robby Houghton is a young man with autism and a member of Sunflower Hill, a Pleasanton-based nonprofit dedicated to creating intentional, sustainable residential communities for individuals with special needs. For Robby, art is both a joyful expression of optimism and a powerful form of communication. Now creating artworks without Thomasin’s instruction, his work is a splash of sunshine, and his smile- pure sunflower…bright, beaming, and always chasing the light.

Robby reminds us all to have a “Sunflower Day” and to celebrate what is good about the City of Pleasanton.