ALL CRATE and BARREL STORES …

Thursday, November 7, 2013

ALL CRATE and BARREL STORES …

…..are displaying this limited edition ‘Ink Study: Rose’ print of my painting. Some months ago I had blogged about flying to Richmond, Virginia to sign and number 300 pieces. The Manger of each store decides how to best display it and recently Nikka & I visited the Pasadena, CA store where it’s placed over a bed. A very serene, Zen like setting.

David, the manager of the store and Sheila, an assistant manger are very excited about the piece and will be arranging a ‘Meet the Artist’ to be held in a few weeks.

Each piece comes with a little tag. The front shows my signature……

….Inside is ‘About the Artist’….

And on the back, a description of the work, the type of print, paper, dimensions and price.

How cool is this!!!

While we were there…the sales associates came over to meet me…Here’s Richard, shaking my hand and Andrew standing next to him.

Pretty soon there was a crowd of associates and I had so much fun talking to them. Special thanks to Nikka for all the great pictures!

Monique Schenk, my awesome architect, saw the piece at Crate and Barrel’s Woodland Hills store and sent me this…….It would be great fun to travel to all the stores to see how they have displayed the work!

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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.