ADVENTURES IN EATING WITH SOME ART THROWN IN

Monday, May 9, 2016

ADVENTURES IN EATING WITH SOME ART THROWN IN

More and more Sundays start the week off with Tina Marie, Nikka and me having brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This time it was poolside.

The little jars of Maple Syrup are so adorable we asked for some to take home!

I think the basic idea is to see how much room there is on the table. Here’s the waffles….for the table….and the fruit plate….for the table, with a view of my Eggs Benedict.

Nikka always wants anything she can have with fries and this time it was a club sandwich.

Awwwwww……………..

So far we’ve sold five pairs of shoes on e-Bay but the downside is I’ve become an e-Bay addict bidding on stuff!!!

I really loved these loafers. Too bad I never wore them.

Looks like I’m way behind in the blogging department as I never did write about Passover. This cheese scene is to take my mind off of all I had to get at Whole Foods.

You’re probably wondering why there’s a photo of Kita placed here. It’s actually her ‘mug’ shot as she was a very, very, very bad girl! The day of the Seder she snuck out of the house and escaped to who knew where. I hunted for her with the car (Minus cell phone & ID) while Vicki got Trudy’s husband to also go driving about. I won’t bore you with the gruesome details other than she turned up next door where poor little rescue Tulip lives, wanting to get her paws and quite possibly her jaws on her! Bad, bad dog!

Back to the Seder for mom…..all is in order…...

Mom wanted Matzo Ball Soup…….

Meanwhile, bad, bad dog is cordoned off…..She’s watching for Tulip!

All in all Charles thought it went well….

This year our Amy was selected to decorate the Living Room at Robinsons Gardens for their big fund raising event on May 14th

We went to do a second ‘walk thru’ and Nan Rae collector Diane Jenkins (in the middle) greeted us.

Lots and lots of thinking for Amy…..

But always time for a selfie!

What’s so nice is that they always have a yummy spread set out for the designers and florists…..

Can’t say I did a very good job of controlling myself….

Go anywhere with Amy and she’ll see beauty in absolutely EVERYTHING!!!

We were heading into Beverly Hills when this pack of 24 dogs with four walkers was spotted. Parking the car, we spent 30 minutes of bliss….

Four walkers, 6 dogs each and all behaved perfectly .

They’re called ‘The Healing Pack’ and will be here in two weeks to ‘evaluate’ Kita!

Yes, it’s not a joke. I really did clean out a sock drawer!

Enough of that. Time to play and no better entertainment than ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Murder’ at the Ahmanson.

I didn’t have time for lunch so cookies and nuts in the Founders Room had to suffice during intermission.

Even pooches like the theatre…..

I guess this poster was worth the $50.00. It went to a good cause…..and besides, it’s autographed. Maybe I’ll put it on e-Bay!

I just want to know if you believe this photo. A bird photo bombed the scene and I didn’t realize it until the photo’s went into iPhoto. (I had been stopped at a light and loved the way the trees looked.)

Just in case you think I didn’t get in any work during the week….

Class in the studio was delightful. Somehow at lunchtime everyone decided to sit at the round table.

Sweet Lynne came over for Nikka to make some cards for her to have at this weekends Sierra Madre Art Fair. (Nikka & I went there yesterday but that’s in the next blog.)

Can I pass up a dog along the way?

Nikka and I had worked hard so it was time for burgers and other ‘stuff’ at The Habit.

This is one of my all time favorite doggie photo’s and it was taken right outside The Habit.

Hope you got your ticket for the Robinson Gardens 28th annual garden tour event this coming Saturday.

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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.