INSPIRATION....

…Where does inspiration come from?  Does it land full force like a space ship from Mars or settle gently like a cool breeze?  I don’t know but what I do know is that in doing the painting for Robinson Gardens an avalanche of ‘inspiration’ tumbled down upon me in the form of ROSES!  This was the first painting in a large format for the series and you can see I was trying to decide if I wanted to be in Peony or Rose heaven….

It didn’t stop there….

This then was the final painting in the series on Monday…..along with several others in a smaller size format.

I’m thinking of these three as a triptych.

I was amazed to see we had enough new cards created to fill an entire page in our catalog.

Thursday evening I delivered the original artwork to Diane Jenkins when we met at Valerie’s, along with a small ‘book’ Nikka and I created describing the inspiration and process of the painting.

What started it all.

On the lighter side I’m pleased to report that I’ve now seen ‘Inside Out’ for the third time!  It happened last Sunday with Sandie Girl and Dr. Jim.  Take away lesson….joy needs sadness to be complete.

O.K. foodies, you know you want it….Lobster Pot Pie at Bourbon Steak House

I had the usual suspects, Tuna Tartare and Foie Gras.

I’m quite impressed with the effort mom makes when I go over. Full makeup and pearls!  WOW!

You’ve seen this one before.  Cheesecake Factory take out.  I always get the Skinnylicious Salmon which would work well on my ‘diet’ if I wouldn’t consume massive quantities of their bread and butter!

I don’t know if you have ‘Classical Arts Showcase ‘ on your cable system….We get it on Charter #96.  With a beautiful selection of all the arts you’re bound to catch something that will ‘inspire’ you.  I thought Pavarotti had the definitive Nessun Dorma but watching this segment of  ‘La Boheme’ got me to YouTube for Bjoerlings version.

How’s this for inspiration…..I still can’t believe I was up at 3:00 A.M. to get this moon shot from the studio. 

I’ll be blogging about Valerie’s soiree to celebrate Satinder Dhiman's latest book ‘Gandhi and Leadership’.  Can you imagine what an ‘inspiration’ it was to see my name in the acknowledgments?

Could we have more fun in the studio?….I doubt it!

 

We set up two tables in the reception area of the studio to properly display this amazing silk scroll copy of arguably one of the most famous paintings in China….’Dwelling in Fuchun Mountain’ by Huang Gongwang 1269-1354.  Brought to us by new student John who said that this was what inspired him to begin studying Chinese Brush painting with me.

Inspiration seems to take many forms…..

We’re so proud of Dr. Eileen who was inspired to become a docent at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.  This entails a lot of study and a love of the gardens.

Find some puppy joy this week and it may come wrapped up in inspiration!

 

AN ANNIVERSARY and a BIRTHDAY!

I absolutely love, love, love the look of the blog now.  It was Nikka’s idea and she created it! 

Sunday started the week off with meeting Tomiko at Pacific Theatre in Americana.  I was a bit early and could not get over the lines at both the ticket area and will call.  This photo doesn’t do it justice.

 Got our tickets for Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission Impossible’ and must say it was one great ride!  Ate way too much popcorn.  It’s not a good idea to get the large size with the instant refill.  I’m sure you agree but on the other hand, I bet you have more self control so it really wouldn’t matter.

 Tomiko loves Anthropologie.  I love just plopping down!

 Kinda sworn off Bar Verde so it was off to Amici Trattoria where I got my usual Sole.  I love the way they do the tomatoes……quite fresh with lots of Basil!  You can see my Campari with Sparkling Water…my drink of choice in the summer.  Learned that at the Ritz Bar in Paris.  (Sorry, had to place drop.)

 The folks at www.patiencebrewster.com asked me to write a blog about my inspiration as an artist and they dubbed me ‘The Monet of Brush Painters’.  Kinda has a nice ring to it don’t you think?

 I dug up this photo of me at Monet’s Garden in Giverny for the blog.  Oh dear, that hair!!!

Ahhhhhh Heaven………...

 His kitchen is a dream and oh what a bedroom with the biggest, softest down filled duvet in the world!  It was all I could do to keep myself from flinging onto it!!!

 Sigh…...  Back to work.  Focused on Roses and having so much fun.  It’s all so fresh and spontaneous.  Don’t worry about the form…just delight in playing!

 This Yogurt Marinated Chicken with Couscous and Mint from the Green Chef sustained me.

The next evenings Lamb and Sweet Potato Sliders with Grape Arugula Salad was equally yummy!

Wednesday the 19th was our anniversary celebrating 20 years together.  Actually it’s about 21 and a half.

 Charles would always make these wonderful and quite clever cards for me and here’s one he wrote…...

 Wednesday was also class day at the Huntington but we were evacuated at 1:00 due to a gas leak on the grounds.

 Actually I was quite delighted as it gave me a chance to easily drive to El Monte to pick up the painting I’ll be donating to Robinson Garden’s big fund raising gala in September.

 Just in case you need this factoid, the Thrifty Ice Cream plant is on Telstar Avenue in El Monte.  Now aren’t you glad you’re reading this?

 Back to our anniversary……..we decided to celebrate on the 20th instead as I was really pooped.  Good thing Vicki had made this Southwestern Black Bean Soup with Lima Bean Succotash from the Green Chef.  It was vegan so we added grilled chicken!

As with all the Green Chef recipes…..they’re delicious but cleanup is a bear…...

And here comes another Green Chef delivery…….

Back to the anniversary….Amici Trattoria seemed like the easiest place to get to.

 Awwwwww……………...

My usual…..Sole.  Don’t you love the way I’m my own bartender!

Next to Kaley's Panna Cotta, this came in a close second…...

 Yes, the server’s mixing Risotto with Truffles and Black Mushrooms right in that big wheel of cheese!

 On my way to Staples I spied this rider and pup…..love driving on Riverside Drive past the stables…….

 Friday, as always, Nikka and I have a lot of catching up to do in the office.  I was also busy mounting the weeks work…..

 Saturday mom came over to help celebrate Nikka’s birthday (a day early) and Nikka showed mom the latest work.

 Of course we ordered Chinese from Gourmet 88 as this is always our go-to celebratory meal!

Lets hear it for the cake…..

 Make a wish…...

I sure love Nikka…...

 Kita was getting very jealous and angry at being cordoned off so she attacked the sofa!  I thought those days were long gone…..

 This is one of the greatest photo’s ever!!!

 I hope you take time this week to notice all the beautiful things along your way!