A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE TO BELOVED TYRUS WONG

Monday, January 16, 2017

A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE TO BELOVED TYRUS WONG

…..TYRUS WAS a ‘DISNEY LEGEND’ for his ground breaking concept artwork on ‘BAMBI’ but that only skims the surface of his many accomplishments attested to by the hundreds who came to pay tribute to him on Friday at Forest Lawn’s ‘Hall of Liberty’. The hall was packed with nary a dry eye.

In this photo, Tyrus is holding one of his exquisite hand made kites which he would fly on the beach at Santa Monica the 4th Saturday of each month. There were kites of swallows, butterflies, panda bears, centipedes and more. As you will note, 106 years, each packed with adventure, creativity and meaning!

With awesome Pam Tom at the Santa Monica beach. No one who witnessed one of these amazing adventures would ever forget it!
Tyrus’ daughter Kim was always the #1 assistant! The Butterflies will soon be aloft to flutter in the breeze!

Love the Panda!

While the ceremony was incredibly moving, touching both heart and soul, the joy was found in knowing that here was a life well spent, a template for joyful living. Tyrus found joy in everything and that joy was palpable, felt by anyone who knew him.

I’m beyond description proud of Pam Tom, writer, producer and director, who through sheer dent of purpose and courage finished the documentary of ’TYRUS: BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOOD’. It was always such great fun to be at one of the fundraisers for the film!

If you don’t see the film sooner, you’ll get a chance this summer when it’s featured on PBS. I know many of you saw the moving tribute to Tyrus on last weeks CBS Sunday Morning Show. (If not, I recorded it, come over & I’ll make some popcorn!)

Pam’s tribute to Tyrus was so beautiful and her description of how she first discovered this National Treasure was in watching BAMBI with her daughter, noticing his Chinese name was one of those ‘meant to be’ moments!

Awesome Lisa See was featured in the documentary speaking of Tyrus and along with Pam, her tribute brought out the kleenex! Afterwards, it was especially meaningful for everyone to be able to give our heartfelt condolences to Kim, Tai Ling and Kay, Tyrus’ loving daughters.

My mind drifted back to Tyrus visiting my studio. A day I shall never forget!

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Joyfull! 053

Even the sky was incredibly beautiful all throughout the day in tribute to Tyrus...

Thank you Tyrus for making your life a work of art!

Tyrus 20Wong 5

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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.