CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF LISSI KAPLAN ARTISTRY AT THE PENINSULA AND OTHER FUN STUFF

Sunday, November 24, 2019

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF LISSI KAPLAN ARTISTRY AT THE PENINSULA AND OTHER FUN STUFF

Celebrating twenty years since the amazing Lissi Kaplan was commissioned by the Peninsula Hotel to design and produce a line of fine china for the tea service in the 'Living Room' of the hotel. Each piece is lovingly hand painted and then fired by Lissi and it's a joy to see the service each time I'm there! Bravo Lissi!

Amy And I had a delightful time...

Everyone was gifted with their own 'Lissi Kaplan Original'! Thank you dear Lissi for this precious treasure!

Next Amy and I went upstairs to the pool area. Did you know you can get a pedicure poolside? Thank you dear Irene!

I still don't know how or why we got a cabana for our dinner time...Mistaken identity?

Many hours later it was time for the 'Relaxation Room' in the Spa. Strike a pose!

Ha.....Me too!

Thank you dear Laura for helping me get the perfect 'thank you' gift for Ryan who was sooooo kind to help with Kita!

Lunch with Beautiful Mary is always delightful....Bistro Gardens is perfect!

And dinner with brilliant Claire and Patrick at The Athenaeum....

I love them both dearly but it's quite possible I love their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels more!

Classes at the Huntington and in the studio are always my greatest joy! November is such great fun because it's the time when we work on images for Christmas cards!

Lisa Bowman and I celebrated dear Amy's birthday at the Langham but first....a gift for me??? A hand painted della Robbia hand carried from Italy no less!

Happiest of Birthdays Precious Amy!

I have such wonderful memories of Charles and my beautiful wedding in the courtyard when it was the Ritz Carlton.

Checking out the hotel's Gingerbread House!

Afterwards Amy and I settled in for some tea in the bar area. The table next to the fireplace is best!

Well, it finally happened, the final celebration for my May birthday was Saturday night at the fabulous Santuari in Toluca Lake! Thank you dear Miss Judith and Eileen, my templates for doing good in the world!

Their houseguest, Katharine, delightful and brilliantly talented theatre director from London share's May 18th....How amazing is that!

Now it's on toThanksgiving...

May yours be blessed!

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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.