Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Addicted to Cute Doggies……

…..and other fun stuff!

I showed you this fellow before but I love him so.

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What can he be thinking?007

Would you believe….These two were being hand fed with a fork….

070 There, there Kita, you’re still my fav……

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I love the way you sit and beg to go for a ride…202

Never giving up hope….

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This cutie was at Centinella picking out toys…

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I tried so hard to get wonderful pictures of Amanda’s great doggies but they kept eluding me. Bunny, her great Briard would never have her ears up when I went for it. This was the best I could do.

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So cute….

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Here’s Morgan….184

….and Sophia with Amanda’s artist friend…

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Time out for a little kissy face…..

143 Tried to get all three together…..

173 Brilliant Marc was describing his hike up to an active volcano in Japan which later did it’s thing.  I don’t know Marc…..I’m just not as adventurous as you are.

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And the star of the evening….Amanda’s awesome son Devyn who is as camera shy as his mom.

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Time for a few nibbles and then off for home before I turned into a pumpkin.

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O.K., maybe some more good stuff….

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Tomorrow’s another day………….

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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.