DANNY CHEN, VISITING ARTIST FROM VANCOUVER…..

Friday, May 23, 2014

DANNY CHEN, VISITING ARTIST FROM VANCOUVER…..

…..conducted two amazing workshops in the studio this past weekend!

Saturday the study was a beautiful landscape….

Here are some close-up photo’s. I especially love the rocky area in the lower right.

Danny crumpled the mountain area prior to brushing over it with various tones of gray (Ink).

Trees in the upper right of Danny’s painting.

Here’s everyone practicing the trees seen above.

Working on a fine point with Clara.

Po Chu getting those trees just right.

Tony was sailing along!

These two are just ‘2 too cute’! Kathy and Clara. O.K. girls, pay attention!

Danny’s demonstration work in progress.

Lisa was really concentrating. I’ll have to get her a larger table!

Serious discussion with Kathy.

Kc was getting it just right!

Peggy’s theory was ‘slow and steady wins the race’ and she was right!

Kathy’s almost finished….

Ready for the great results?

Here’s Lisa……..

…..and sweet Jane.

Congratulations Kc on your beautiful painting. Good thing we weren’t going to the opera that night!!!

Good job Peggy!

Tony I am so very proud of you!

Yea Po Chu!

Oh dear Clara, Landscapes are definitely your thing!

Kathy we’re all forever grateful to you for bringing Danny to us!

All right everyone, get a good nights sleep because there’s a cute little owl in your future.

Up close and personal. Danny’s wonderful little creature!

He got those eyes just right!

Danny’s preliminary work.

This is going to be great Kathy!

Woops….time for cake!

Awwwwwwww……such a sweet one Diane!

WOW, Lisa even finished the background! Doesn’t she look happy!!!

So did Kathy and I like the moon!

Another moon & Peggy’s really pleased!

No moon for this guy….nice work Jane!

Diane, be on the lookout for owls when you’re in London!

O.K., let’s change that to the sun…..good going Tony!!!

Kc didn’t have the time to finish as we left for the Music Center at 3:00. I know this will be great when she has a chance to finish it.

Thank you Danny for two wonderful days. We’re looking forward to your next visit!

www.chensgallery.com

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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.