Tuesday, May 7, 2013

SALSA DANCING at the MUSIC CENTER……

…….yes, that’s correct…..every other Friday during the summer there’s a different dance band and this past Friday it was SALSA time!!!056  And they were great….the crowd loved it!

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I mean they REALLY loved it……053 

This little girl was having her own dance party to the tune of ‘Splash Splash’!.

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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………044

Nikka & I were there to see ‘FELA’, a super high energy musical at the Ahmanson produced by Jay-Z along with Will & Jada Smith. Taking place in Lagos, Nigeria in the late ‘70’s it’s based on the life of Fela Kuti, creator of ‘Afrobeat’ whose music & lyrics attacked the corrupt military dictatorship.  065

Not quite sure what this pooch was doing in the parking lot but he sure was cute!073

Kita thought in all fairness a picture of her should be inserted at this point.  This is how she looks waiting for Vicki and Nikka in the morning.  So cute!

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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.