Nan Rae - Brush Painter: May 2011

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

FRANK ROMERO, ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE…..

…..has set aside 20 silkscreen pieces of his latest work ‘CRUISING WHITTIER BOULEVARD’ pre-publication (the release date is in December.) The original oil painting of this delightful work (seen below) was commissioned by AltaMed Health Services for their corporate offices and the silkscreen of the image was produced by master printer Richard Duardo. The limited edition of 100 was hand printed with the 20 colors separated by Frank.

Frank is a dedicated member of the Los Angeles arts community and a founding member of the influential Chicano art collective, ‘LOS FOUR’. With numerous murals throughout the city, this amazing artist has shown extensively in the States, Europe and Japan as well as being featured at the National Museum of Art in Washington and our own LACMA!

Charles and I are so thrilled to own this original Romero oil.

Looking at artwork

Art everywhere!

Frank and his wife, talented artist Sharon, will be returning to France shortly where they work six months of the year. Their atelier is located in the village of Mirmande, an area rich with wine, fruit and Vahlrona chocolate. Yummy!

Sharon teaches classes on ‘The Art of the Tart’ based on her handmade books of art and recipes. What fun to experience life in Provence and learn to cook like a French home cook.

I plan on taking the class here when they return in six months! Just working at this fantastic stove will transport me to France!

Meet ‘Flocon’ (French for Snowflake) who has his own passport.

Photographs courtesy of Nikka Carrasco!

For more information:

Romero Studio

Sharon & Frank Romero

www.romerostudio.net

romerostudio@aol.com

1625 Blake Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90031

323.226.0356

And coming soon: www.sharonlearromero.net

Atelier Romero

Le Village

26270 Mirmande

France

06 33 26 23 09

Richard Duardo, founder of Modern Multiples, L.A. Fine Art Serigraph/Silkscreen

323.342.1954

info@modernmultiplesinc.com

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUE VESSELLA, CHAIR…..

…..of Woodbury University’s Department of Graphic Design for the most amazing exhibition of student work. You will be astonished at the range and quality that is being produced by these talented & creative students.

Enter a world of wonder…

This thought provoking installation ‘HOPE’, a degree project by Elizabeth Sweeney will greet you as you enter a world of wonder…..

Me, Sue Vessella, Rose Nielsen, Senior Development Officer and Kenneth Nielsen, President

Senior Sose Ohanjanian (center) discussing her moving installation ‘FREEDOM of SPEECH’.

This lyrical work speaks of the use of poetry to compensate for the lack of freedom of speech.

Sose, who has worked for me is as sweet as she is beautiful and talented. Keep and eye out for her as she’s definitely going far in her career.

038

Discussing Photography

Getting crowded…...and no wonder!

Lots to inspect!

Some of the work you’ll see:

Typography

Package Design

Graphic Design

Logo & Identity Design

Advertising Design

Entertainment Design

Screen Printing

Professional Practice

If you need a logo for your company or complete identity design you’ll do well to hire any one of these talented designers.

For more information:

www.woodbury.edu

sue.vessella@woodbury.edu

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

BACK at the HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS…..

…..after three very long months that seemed like a year! The Brush painting class is now in the TEACHING GREENHOUSE as the Ikebana House is being restored. This is all in preparation for the Japanese Garden’s 100th anniversary. There will also be a restoration of the pond system, work done on pathways and the installation of a tea house and garden up by the scree slope. Very exciting!

Then after class, it was delightful serendipity to see Kathabela Wilson, poet, artist, jewelry designer extraordinaire and one of the sweetest persons to ever grace our beautiful blue planet. Kathabela with her husband Richard,a math professor at Caltech, have the most amazing special poetry events. So numerous and interesting, I really think you’ll do yourself a great favor by asking to be on their mailing list. The current one has so much good stuff on it that it would take till forever to list it all. One such event is the Poets on Site, The Poetry Tour of the 40th anniversary exhibit, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA. You will be amazed at how many wonderful cultural events are going on right in our midst! Richard is also a brilliant flautist and gives concerts hither and yon. His website is packed full of interesting info.

Sweet Susan Rogers with delightful Kathabela on the right in her ever present charming flowered hat.

For more information:

kaw@oldflutes.com

www.oldflutes.com

www.pacificasiamuseum.org

www.huntington.org

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.