DANNY CHEN Canadian artist extraordinaire RETURNS TO THE STUDIO…….

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

DANNY CHEN Canadian artist extraordinaire RETURNS TO THE STUDIO…….

………for two wonderful workshops!

Saturday was absolutely fascinating as Danny demonstrated wrinkling the paper in order to create mountains, valleys and waterfalls. Here’s Danny’s example.

A closer look.

After wrinkling the paper in the prescribed manner, Danny begins to pick out the various shapes.

O.K. class……time to go to work….Po Chu gets some pointers. It’s looking good.

Who’s next?…..Violet’s really concentrating!

And Kathryn was really getting into it….

O.K. everyone, gather around for phase two…

Kathy’s taken classes with Danny in Vancouver and had been instrumental in getting him to us last year and now again this summer. Special thanks also for the treats Kathy, you’re always so very thoughtful.

Time for a ‘Danny conference’….

Colleen really went to town and I love her painting!!! Waterfalls and all….Magnificent!

Elizabeth and Danny had a super discussion…wish I could have overheard….

So did Lynne……

This is Lynne’s finished painting…..Isn’t it magnificent!

After class Kathy’s ‘too cute’ progeny came by and we had so much fun!

I guess I left out the A.M. scene with my greeting everyone at the front door in my P.J.’s (the Panda ones of course) and Kita slipping past me to wreck havoc in the driveway….we/they finally got her but it was Kita 10, humanoids 0 for quite some time!

Great day Danny…

To be continued……

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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.