Nan Rae - Brush Painter: February 2017

Friday, February 24, 2017

A FABULOUS SOIREE FOR THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB

….at the home of incomparable Valerie Foster Hoffman, Hostess with the Mostest.
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California Art Club Executive Director Elaine Adams, wife of Peter Adams the plein air artist extraordinaire!
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Our beautiful hostess whose grandfather painted the remarkable copies of Pinkie and Blue Boy…..
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I’ll show you some more of the lovely table areas. Here one in the library,
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Well maybe just a little more….
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I love these two….Martha and Scott! DSCN4275

Does this photo make me look fat?

Lady Vanessa said NO!

Exquisite flowers by Amy at Le Jardin Privé!

I wish you lovely evenings filled with love and laughter!!!

Friday, February 17, 2017

LOVE IS A VERB

….and no one expresses it more fully than Miss Judith who is the template for doing good and friendship! As an Executive Advisory Board Member of the ‘Iris Cantor UCLA Women’s Health Center', Miss Judith includes me in her list of guests for the annual ‘LUNCH WITH THE SCIENTISTS’ at UCLA. During this joyful event, young scientists present their exciting research projects in Women’s health.

The money raised by the Executive Advisory Committee has led to $20,000,000. in funding. Awesome!
Thank you Miss Judith, I ‘m honored to be amongst the myriad of friends who adore you!

Here’s Sweet Eileen, another kind and caring soul, always ready to lend a hand where needed.

I know I shouldn’t have but dessert was soooooooo good!

It’s all the more time to be mindful and fill each moment with joy! My number one joy….my students!!!
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Class in the studio is always a great joy!

You know the Huntington is dear to my heart and it’s always a joy to connect up with Cris Lutz!
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There’s a new menu at the Rose Garden Tea Room and it’s wonderful...
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We had to ask what this was but then all you smarties knew….correct….a Gooseberry!

To carry on the luncheon theme….lunch at the Bistro Garden’s with cousin Carol….

More eating…this time at Din Tai Fung with the one and only Lisa B. Who gets the last Pork Dumpling?

I’m quite proud to say I introduced Lisa Girl to Mango Bobba Slushies and now she too is addicted!

That was so much fun why not do it again with Monique Schenk, my awesome architect! (We had Bobba’s later!)

Trudy was a student of mine years ago, until she and hubby Paul moved to La Jolla. They came up for a visit and wanted to go to the Tam O’Shanter. Amazingly it’s still in business and actually crowded!

Afterwards we went toThe Improv Theatre on Vermont to be amongst the 40 or so people it can accommodate.

Just ‘cause I love this photo!

Michael and Hildegard Lindsay have been dear friends for ages. Michael, an advertising genius, got the idea for a comic book years ago that would unfold the idea of how, in the future, a robot could become president of the United States. His illustrations, done at that time are finally in book form and it was presented at Vroman’s in Pasadena.

Class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, as always, could not have been more fun!

After class Nikka and I stopped at Din Tai Fung for an early dinner and of course….Strawberry/Mango Bobba slushes! Then time to pick up Kita at dear Trudy’s!

Wishing you everything sweet and delightful!

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.