AMY WAS a STAR at the ROBINSON GARDENS........

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

AMY WAS a STAR at the ROBINSON GARDENS........

…..Annual Garden Tour that is held once a year for one day only! Note the hat & umbrella as they may turn up later.

There she is….under Floral Designers….Menuah Flowers!

This is THE Robinson as in Robinson’s Department Store! Remember them??? Well, our Amy was asked to do the guest bedroom and bath!

Thanks to valet parking (ticket bought in advance) I was able to drive right up to the entrance. I was greeted by Diane and as we were talking who should walk up but Valerie! Photo op time!!!

Yes Amy, I made it!

How’s this for exquisite? You’ll hear more about it later.

These charming pieces were everywhere! Don’t you love Peonies!!!!

Giving you a glimpse of things to come…..

I was borderline delirious when I saw what Amy did over the bed…...

Another view up close…...

Where are the finger sandwiches & cookies?

More beauty…...

Amy created two window boxes each with a delightful little porcelain bird nesting in them!

And overhead, more beautiful flowers …..

Lots of hugging went on with Katherine Johnson, Manager of Grande Maison de blanc….Fine Linens on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. They did the bed coverings and linens scattered about.

Amy that’s not a cake….you’re hungry….let’s go eat! (She designed that amazing hat!)

Here it is with beautiful kid gloves that Amy embellished with lace, flowers and jewels.

Must have food…It was sooooo good!

The tented area was beautiful….

I want dessert…..

Almost there…...

This is more like it….We’re actually in the room where I’ve conducted a workshop. Rather hard to concentrate overlooking the pool and garden expanse.

Truth be told I was very good and just had fruit…..lots of it!

Is the cake for me? You shouldn’t have…...

That’s right….put some ice cream on it….

Or this yummy looking ‘stuff’….

No, just fruit please!

Another cake for me?

Amy went back to work & I wandered over to the Gift Boutique and Raffle area…...

Where I ran into Virginia Kazanjian…..who told me the funniest thing I had ever heard.

Kazanjian’s had donated a beautiful necklace and she had second thoughts and spent $400 in raffle tickets in the hopes of getting it back!

On to Amy’s work in the guest bathroom….This hand decorated umbrella got tons of oohs and ahaas! (sp?)

And these shoes….Do you believe? Each petal individually placed by hand…..her creativity and imagination knows no bound!

Sorry folks, no can use…..

This delightful woman is Christina Baltayian who does beautiful Botanical illustrations.

Here is Juan F. Bastos, portrait artist who confessed to starting the portrait two weeks earlier.

Bye, bye, see you next year!

Exhausted but exhilarated, Amy & I met at Recess on Brand for dinner. Love the tea presentation.

The Halibut was sensational….

See how good we were….fruit for dessert.

On to my house where Amy presented me with this magnificent creation for my birthday! Remember I said there would be more about it?

Just so you know….. These flowers for mom on Mother’s Day have lasted ten days! Amy uses only the finest quality, freshest flowers available. Call Amy at 818.625.5243

May your week be filled with beauty!

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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.