IT’S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR…

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

IT’S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR…

…since I first introduced you to Jeffrey, our gifted Japanese gardener of so many years who is also an award winning poet and calligrapher! You might want to stop reading at this point and scroll back to:

JEFFREY HAS FALLEN IN LOVE…

Posted on Friday April 3rd, 2009.

…are you back? Well good, because now I have a life altering conversation to describe to you.

Last Friday, after Jeffrey had planted a beautiful Cymbidium orchid near the ‘Deer Chaser’ fountain, we stood admiring it and began talking of all the joys in watching various blossoms that spring forth this time of the year. (I’m going to receive a special Cherry tree and a long promised Fig tree which would have been planted this season had Jeffrey’s dog not placed dibs on it first!) Oh, by the way, Jeffrey told me that he makes his own planting soil as what we purchase at the nurseries is not any good! He goes to a certain river (the name escapes me) and collects the sand along the riverbank for his soil! What a labor of love and attention to detail!

As we stood there, Jeffrey told me that he had tenderly raised and then planted 200 (correct) Ginkgo trees along the main section of West Covina as his gift to the city. He then said that for each tree he planted he first wrote a short poem on a stone and would then bury it under the tree. Jeffrey then looked at me and said that “THESE TREES WOULD REMAIN AFTER HE DEPARTED AS A TESTIMONY OF HIS LIFE”. My eyes welled up and then I noticed Jeffrey’s did too! May we all so lovingly create a better place in this our beautiful world!

Shall we help Jeffrey continue his labor of love? He will happily DONATE and plant trees in San Marino, Glendale and Burbank so if you have a connection with the ‘Powers that Be’ in these areas…please do let me know.

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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.