WHERE DID JULY GO?

Thursday, August 1, 2019

WHERE DID JULY GO?

Honestly, I don't know where the month went to especially since I had determined to enjoy the summer. It started off wonderfully with a bang up 4th of July party at Marine and Aram's my friends who wrote the book on partying!
I took mostly video's so you just have to imagine how amazing this party was.

There was a station for tacos and for desert, this fellow from 'Crepes a la French' was quite awesome!

So happy for this selfie with dear Gayane, Marine's precious mom and her adorable sister Eliza who took it.

Kita is always party ready!

She's also always ready to help out in the office!

There was a grand party the next day celebrating Maryam and Kert's second anniversary but again...all I took was video's!
Sweet Patricia treated me to lunch at Geoffrey's in Malibu for my birthday...

and then we dipped our toes in the ocean....a summer must do!

Next stop dinner at Élephante in Santa Monica for dinner. WOW does that place rock!!!

Al fresco lunch at Ca Del Sole with Monique Schenk, my brilliant
architect is always a joy!

Of course the class at the Huntington is always a sublime pleasure...

It was great fun to work with Elizabeth on her project.

Dinner with Benjamin discussing my next book...

and chips and dips with the Gift Show gang at Veranda, the poolside lounge in the historic Figueroa Hotel downtown. Brings back so many memories...

Finally, al fresco on the patio with Grace Farag, my brilliant writer friend.

Summer means at least one trip a week to Monte Carlo Deli for their amazing gelato!

Sandi Girl and I finally celebrated our May birthdays with a Chuan Spa adventure at the Langham Hotel. Thank you so much Marine and Eliza for this special treat! Time for a champagne toast!

Next a birthday dinner poolside.

Later beautiful Stephanie came over to show her stunning mom the studio.

To close out the month I took some large works into Chang's Frames to be mounted. May is the best!

May August be filled with summer fun for you! Maybe a road trip!

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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.