Thursday, March 20, 2008

Wisteria class


Spring is here and I'm delighted. All the buds are popping out, fresh green leaves showing off and longer days to enjoy it all.....it's wonderful!
When you exit the elevator that takes you to my studio, the Wisteria on the deck is beginning to bloom. Flowers, buds, new shoots everywhere and it's georgeous. I was so inspired that I decided to teach the Wisteria lesson to the class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens (in San Marino) yesterday. It worked out wonderfully as there were several new students who had not had that lesson. At the end of the day I was surrounded by beautiful Wisteria paintings done by all the students, some who had never held a Chinese brush let alone attempt a Chinese brush painting. We even did birds and butterflies!

One of the new students was a lovely young woman, Daisy, visiting from the Philippines, who amazed me by mentioning that she had purchased my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' in the Philippines. Imagine that!
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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.