EXCITING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

EXCITING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY

....had to begin with receiving pre-publication copies of my book 'What If...We Have The Power to Change Our Lives' from my publisher, 'Laughing Elephant'!

I started inscribing copies... catching up on back-orders!

As for the rest of February, it was quite amazing beginning with a lovely Music Center 'Spotlight' Event at the Hillcrest Country Club.

Lots of tasty snacks....

And then a brilliant performance by Spotlight Alumni jazz singer Daryn Dean accompanied by a marvelous Spotlight jazz trio. Amy loved meeting Daryn.

I so love lunches at Bloomies with dear Lizzie Girl. No matter what we order, we always have to have a Smoothie! Are you able to take time for your friends? It's restorative!

The Landscape class in the studio is always a tremendous learning experience....for me included! We really begin to 'see'. I've been noticing the bare trees beginning to bud and leaf out. That's another good thing to take time for.

How wonderful Marlene! I'm so very proud of everyone and especially gratified how meaningful this Landscape series of classes is.

Thank you CTG for the tickets to 'The Last Ship'...Perhaps it's best not to comment.

The interaction with the audience was interesting.

Oh Sweet Lynne how marvelous you are! I so love all your work and how delightful to see special pieces converted to greeting cards. It's always such great fun when you and Nikka work together.

I don't know....Are you a Richard Serra fan?

This is way above my pay grade.

But I loved these photos of him in action!

Needed dinner at Santuari afterwards...

Thank you LA Phil for the interesting evening at The Valley Hunt Club.

It was marvelous to be serenaded! Barry Gold on Cello and Dale Breidenthal on violin...both from LA Phil.

Brilliant Claire had an amazing dinner before our working meeting...

More about that later....

And my wonderful students at the Huntington! Seems more like party time than a class.

Amy and I always enjoy the LA Opera's 'Bella Voce' dinners.

After dinner we were treated to the rehearsal performance of 'Roberto Devereux'.

May you find joy everywhere and in everything!

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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.