SAYONARA JAPAN.......

Thursday, April 10, 2014

SAYONARA JAPAN.......

Just overnight in Osaka. It's hard to believe that my artwork had traveled to Osaka 20 years prior to my being here. (It was in an exhibit sponsored by Sony that later traveled to Paris.)

With special thanks to Amy for being such a wonderful guide during the second half of our journey. Kind, thoughtful and so considerate of our needs down to making sure we all got to each designated flight on time. Thank you Amy!

The 'taxi's' in Japan are all like 'limos'! The drivers wear white gloves and escort you into a spotless black sedan. A beautiful, new white covering is over the drivers seat.

It's hard to imagine but these lovely, petite girls do all the heavy lifting onto the weight scale. They are so efficient and courteous....I'm loving it!

Because I was flying 'Business Class' from Tokyo, I was invited to wait in their special lounge area.

And oh the food and service there.......

They made sure to tell me when it was time to head toward my gate. Honestly, I hated to leave! Oh well....

The cutest part.....before the flight is announced, the girl bows to the waiting, seated passengers. And the stewardesses all bow and march onto the plane in a neat, lovely line.

They are soooo cute!

I love JAL....I love this plane!!! I had a Sky Suite with it's own 23" TV and a seat that you could convert into a bed! WOW!!!

And the food....

I decided to go for the Japanese menu to extend the adventure as long as possible!

Second course....

And throughout the flight you could have all the fruit, ice cream & drinks you desired. I also opted for the 'Japanese' breakfast. While indulging in all this beautiful & most delicious food I was able to watch current movies on my 23" personal TV. I stumbled across the most delightful Japanese movie based on a true story of two people who lived during the time of the Samuri. It's a sweet love story revolving around how they developed the most amazing recipes that are still used today. I highly recommend this movie! "A TRUE LOVE STORY" (A Tale of Samuri Cooking'). Sure hope Netficks has it!

Back home the house appeared surprisingly large to me and it was so lovely to see the roses blooming

Hopefully I brought back enough of my favorite 'snacks' to see me through 're-entry'!

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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.