Tuesday, July 1, 2014

CHINESE PAINTINGS in JAPANESE COLLECTIONS…….

……is in it’s final week at LACMA.  If you didn’t see this second half of the collection I so hope you’re able to view the exquisite scrolls before the exhibit closes.

Miss Judith, Eileen and Lizzie kindly picked me up on Sunday at mom’s and off we went to meet the rest of our group at Ray’s for nourishment.

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Eileen, Miss Judith and Ralph had the short ribs……

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But everyone else had a salad……

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I had color coded the name tags….Green for the salads…….014

Cutie Kc dubbed herself Ms. Salad.

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And here’s a photo of some of her ‘Salad’ relatives Sweet Lynne, Colleen and Kathryn.  Don’t quite see a ‘family’ resemblance except that they’re ALL cute!

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Time to meet up with the rest of our group and Susan Bjerre, our wonderful docent, who gave us so much history and information about the scrolls.  A docent led tour is really the best way to see any exhibit but you need at least nine in your group in order to get one.

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Afterwards Miss Judith, Eileen, Lizzie and I headed towards the Japanese Pavilion but I got sidetracked seeing all the munchkins.

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Finally the Japanese Pavilion is in view.

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We wanted Lizzie to see the Netsuke collection.

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After that we were pretty much in need of a rest stop and Eileen treated to Latte’s and yummy Coconut Macaroons.

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Sooooo good!  Thank you Eileen!!!

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It was a perfect day and I’m looking forward to our next adventure!

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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.