Wednesday, December 28, 2011

TAKE A PLANE, RIDE A TRAIN, HOP A BUS, JOG ON DOWN OR DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE…….

…..whatever you do, don’t miss ‘PACIFIC STANDARD TIME: Art in L.A. 1945-1980’ at the Getty.  It’s a sensational exhibit!!! “A unique collaboration among museums and other cultural organizations across Southern California.  This unprecedented endeavor showcases the region’s artistic production during an important period in the history of modern and contemporary art.”

“This exhibition charts the artistic innovation in post-World War 11 in Los Angeles, when artists looked for new approaches, subjects and techniques for art making.  The works on display represent a number of important and distinct West Coast movements,including the hard-edge painting, assemblage, and large scale ceramic sculpture of the 1950’s, the iconic Pop Art of the 1960’s, and the perceptual explorations and process painting of the early 1970’s.”

A wonderful bonus was the FREE ‘Getty Guide’ Multimedia Player.  We could hear L.A. art world figures talk about artistic innovations in the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s.

Carol Soucek King and I are ready for our art adventure!

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This was the funniest…’TAP DANCER’ by Stephan von Hueme actually tap danced!!!

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Cara Lee, brilliant Swiss architect, Elizabeth Gill Lui, a true Renaissance woman, and dear Carol Soucek King, author and creator of the inspiring ‘Arts Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life’.

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Here we all are.  It’s a privilege to know these outstanding women.

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For more information:

elui@earthlink.net

www.elizabethgilllui.com to learn more about Elizabeth’s creative output.  You’ll be inspired by ‘CLOSED MONDAYS’, a documentary that celebrates the museum as an art form, expressed through its architectural and environmental aesthetic.

www.carolsouceking.com To learn more about the Salon and Carol’s brilliant and totally beautiful books

cara@lm-arch.com

www.lm-arch.com

www.getty.edu

www.getty.edu/pacificstandardtime

CHRISTMAS MORNING at the PARKERS….

………….Jana & Ivan have pretty much established a tradition around here.  They come over Christmas morning and make us all brunch.  Considering we’re all recovering from the night before it’s a wonderful treat!!!

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Where’s my brunch?038

 

The chef slaving away…………058

Photo op…then dig in!

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PERFECT…..MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!056

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE PARKERS…..

Everyone say ‘CHEERS’!!!

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How would YOU like to be ‘Queen for a Day’?

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Paul brought the most wonderful wine…Orin Swift’s ‘PAPILLON’!!!

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One of those great singing cards…..

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Mom was so much fun when we played ‘parlor’ games!

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No more presents?128

 

No Paul, Kita is not your Christmas present!001

Thursday, December 22, 2011

SCHOOL DAYS,SCHOOL DAYS…..

…..Baby Girl attended her first Brush painting class in the studio.

Kc  welcomes Kita.

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Kathryn  thinks it’s a good idea…

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So Does Colleen ………

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Hey Laurie Burton…she’s sitting with me!

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Now see here Baby Girl!

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Say hi to sweet Lynne Sims

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For me?

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Photo op time

Woops, me bad.

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Hi Violet Lee.

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Time to party.  Colleen brought these delicious treats.

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Kc brings this treat at Christmas and I go hog wild…

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Here’s the recipe…you’ll thank me!

Kc’s Croutons with Smoked Salmon, Goat Cheese, Mustard & Dill

(for 12 – double for 24)

2tb. Honey mustard

1 TB. Dijon Mustard

1 tb. drained capers

1 tb. finely chopped red onion

2 tsp. minced fresh dill

12 – 3/8th – thick diagonally sliced sourdough baguette

Olive oil

4 oz. soft goat cheese

6 oz. smoked salmon – not lox (lox is too salty)

Fresh dill sprigs for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Blend first 5 ingredients in small bowl

Arrange bread on foiled baking sheet.  Brush lightly with oil and bake until crisp – about 6-8 minutes (depending on oven temp & taste).  Cool bread.

Cover mustard mixture and bread separately, let stand at room temp. (may be made 6 hrs. ahead.)

Spread bread with goat cheese (room temp) then mustard mixture (Or combined mix).  Top w/salmon.  Garnish with dill sprigs.

Soooooooooooo yummy!!!

Lynne, these are the best crackers, the best cheese, the best best grapes ever!

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Here’s Priscilla’s recipe for amazing Creme de Menthe Brownies

Prepare packaged brownie mix in 9X12 pan.  Cool.

(use a fudgy mix, like the kind with can of chocolate sauce in the mix).

Cream:  2 c. powdered sugar

  1/2 c. unsalted butter

3 T. creme de menthe

Spread on brownies and refrigerate.

Melt:

1 cup chocolate chips with 6 T. unsalted butter

Spread over creme de menthe topping & refrigerate again.

These can warm up in a room and get gooey fast, so best to keep pan chilled.  Cut brownies into squares before the party, then refrigerate again.

For gluten-free desert, use Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie Mix.

 

Now Laurie, if I laugh this hard how can I possibly teach?

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Look at the Poinsettia card on the right…Kathryn painted it…I’m soooooo proud!

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Courtesy The New Yorker

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

BABY GIRL’S First Vet Visit!

 

Time for puppy’s first vet visit so off we went to VCA Animal Hospital on Olive in Burbank (recommended by Olga).028

 

Everyone was soooo friendly.  Here’s Michele and Adriana with their big, beautiful smiles!

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Sheila is the Office Manager…of course it was love at first sight helped along by the fact that she had TWO Akitas!

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Dr.Vanessa Aberman is Kita’s vet and we are so pleased with her.

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Nikka’s happy to hear puppy is so healthy.

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Oh my, do you really have to look there?

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We got a wonderful bill of health and a not so wonderful Vet bill.  Mike talked us into a ‘special plan’ but the truth is …it’s a good idea.  Nothing but the best for Baby Girl.

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Recommended puppy food…………we’ll mix it in gradually with the Blue Mountain

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O.K., did I mention shots?  No?  Well puppy got the works and seemed just fine.  I went out to dinner with mom and got a phone call from Nikka.  “Where are you?  Kita’s vomited 10 times….come home!!!!”

Fortunately I had finished dinner (priorities)….took mom home & then flew back.

Off we went at 8:00 P.M. to the Animal Emergency Centre where Kita was poked and prodded and heads were puzzling over what could be wrong.  After testing for the dreaded parvo and dehydration the vet determined our little girl had an allergic reaction and gave her a shot of Benadryl and who knows what else.  My wallet was emptied.  We left at 11:00 with a full page medical record for ‘Kita’ Parker and instructions for me to administer Benadryl in the morning!

For more information:

VCA Animal Hospital

2723 W. Olive Ave

Burbank

818.845.7246

www.vcahospitals.com

ANIMAL EMERGENCY CENTRE

11730 Ventura Blvd.

Studio City

818.760.3882

Monday, December 12, 2011

WELL, HERE I AM…..

…..the new top dog on Via Alta!  But please don’t think my job is going to be easy ‘cause’ I have very big ‘paws’ to fill.

Woof to you, Kita

HERE SHE COMES……

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Hmmmm…

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Mom welcomes Kita!

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Breeder Alycia Linder with our Christmas present.

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Ok puppy – you know the drill

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Mom’s in love

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So is Charles…..071

And me too…

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All together now

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O.K. here are the rules…

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It’s about time you served dinner

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Now Vicki’s in love…

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Puppy’s 1st toy (a fire hydrant!)

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It’s about time I got some real food around here…

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Mommy thought this would fit me…

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Bye for now…

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Neither rain, snow or sleet will deter me from my mission!

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For more information:

www.makitas.webs.com

alylinder@yahoo.com

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.