Nan Rae - Brush Painter: January 2018

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

BECAUSE YOU ASKED

My dearest friends you have been so kind and loving throughout this transition time and I am so touched and heart warmed that many of you have asked how to donate in memory of dear Charles.
To make a gift, please have the tax deductable check made payable to President and Fellows of Harvard College and mail it to:

Harvard University Planned Giving
Attn: Jane Verrill
124 Mount Auburn Street, Suite 400N
Cambridge, MA 02138

In the memo field of the check, please write: HBS Fund for Student Financial Aid
In addition, because you are wishing to make a gift in memory of Charles, you should also include an additional note that says that you would like this donation to benefit the Harvard Business School Fund for Financial Aid in memory of Mr. Charles Lee Parker MBA’63. (This can be on a separate piece of paper.)
Everyone who makes a donation will receive an official acknowledgement letter from Harvard with detailed information about their gift for tax purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: It’s most important to include ATTN: JANE VERRILL on your envelope in order for all the gifts to be directed to the same place.
For those of you who knew Charles I would be most grateful if you could write me a few lines of a special memory you have of him. These will be placed on a remembrance board when we have our celebration of his life in March.
If you have any questions, please do feel free to either phone or e-mail me.
And yes Virginia, there is a Rainbow Bridge!

All my love sent from a grateful heart!

Thursday, January 4, 2018

REMEMBERING WITH LOVE

With a heart filled with gratitude, thankful for each precious moment with Charles Lee Parker who left us on December 17, 2017.

He was just an adorable boy with a chicken...

Who grew up to be the smartest, wisest, kindest man also always adept in the kitchen with the turkey!

So many wonderful adventures but always great walks in the park with rescued Yuki. We were all rescued!

This is how I remember Charles, loving and dear, never judging or unkind….. If you have any memories of Charles, we would be so grateful to receive them so we can place them on a ‘Remembrance Board’ we’ll have for the celebration of his precious life. (Date to be announced)

Goodbye my darling Charles and my strong brave mother who taught me to be just that! Thank you both for gracing my life.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who knew and loved Charles.

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.