NOW WHERE WAS I????????????

Thursday, August 15, 2013

NOW WHERE WAS I????????????

Perhaps I should start at the beginning when I got the urge to plant some new roses.

While Kita entertained herself…………..

And my addiction to cute doggies grew stronger.

Rosie and I met for lunch at Le Pain Quotidien in Americana…..catching up on her Ragbrai bike ride thru Iowa!

Our healthy, tasty lunch!

Elizabeth has been taking private lessons and is doing beautifully. Our conversations are the bonus round! Her beautiful Fuchsia painting will be used as a paper product to benefit www.elizabethscanvas.com helping cancer survivors through the arts. I’m soooo proud of her!

Then Mary Beth arrived for Kita’s training session. We’re great at high-fives now.

That evening, yet again, the world turned upside down. Nikka was with mom, phoned me to come over & we called the paramedics at 9:00 in the evening. Honestly, they are our unsung heroes and always appear to be angels in disguise.

Nikka rode up front (yes, I did suggest that) while I trailed along to Glendale Adventist.

Here’s Collin…..cute and friendly ER nurse (single but has a girlfriend). He helped me get mom into the new tower with a private room but it took until 1 A.M.

Mom’s nurses were great….here’s Tusdai….

Olga stopped by on her way to Bulgaria. It’s not often one can use that phrase in a sentence!

Rose tells mom about her Ragbrai bike ride across Iowa. Oh my gosh she is sooooo buff!

Mom gets the O.K. to go home and Vicki pays close attention to the instructions.

Flowers from Rex brightened mom’s homecoming.

Vicki will be taking care of mom 24/7. Nikka will be with Charles 24/7 and I’ll be…………

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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.