FRIENDS INSPIRE ME......

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

FRIENDS INSPIRE ME......

…..and especially so in class when I feel the love generated amongst everyone…...

……..and see the beautiful work that’s always created.

The kindness and dedication of everyone I know inspires me. Dr. Eileen is becoming a docent at the Huntington and believe me….that requires study and dedication! We’re so proud of her.

All artists inspire me. Their vision, purpose and drive. John brought this magnificent Silk Stamp Album to class. It's a limited edition copy of ‘Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains by Huang Gongwang 1269-1354. One of his masterpieces it’s arguable one of the most famous paintings in China and only 100 of these copies were produced to honor dignitaries visiting China..

Work inspires me to do even more and I trust yours does as well. Walking in your purpose is the greatest turn on possible. I was delighted to see how many rose paintings could go into the catalog as we filled up a page with them!

Pirch inspires me. I love their philosophy…’Live Joyfully’. It’s great fun just to go in, have them make you a cappuccino and talk about ‘stuff’. Plus, they will meet any price and also give you a contractor’s discount. Now that’s what I call inspiring!!!

Being able to celebrate….being joyful inspires me and what better than a friends birthday!

Mom inspires everyone. She loves to get herself ‘together’ and is always ‘up’ for anything!

How people from disparate backgrounds and places meet and fall in love inspires me. Vicki and Otto are so adorable together and would never have met had mom not had the flood in her stack forcing her to move to the Embassy Suites. Amazing!

Charles summed it up on one of our anniversaries (he always created wonderful personal cards for me). Kinda adorable!

Scholarship awes and inspires me……….

Beautiful writing amazes me……it’s really painting with words….inspiring.

Well you know food inspires me……..I’ve gotten about twenty pounds of inspiration…..

Kita knocks me out! From the time she was a puppy she showed the most amazing curiosity for absolutely everything and this gave me new eyes and appreciation for the wonder that surrounds us. The world became new. Oh look, a leaf………Here she’s thinking about developing her culinary skills.

The act of creating…..How Amy can continually be inspired to create floral masterpieces that are perfect for the chosen occasion……This along with her kind and tender heart continually inspires me.

Call Amy at 818.625.5243

And of course no one and nothing inspires me as much as Charles. His courage, strength and kindness shines upon everyone!

Well there you have it. A very, very short list. I suspect by tomorrow I will have thought of a hundred more things. Perhaps that would be a fun blog in & of itself.

May you be filled with inspiration and the joy of creating!

1 comment:

Nancy from Tehachapi said...: Love this. Words of wisdom. Now has me thinking if all the things that inspire me. YOU are at the top of my list. You are so kind and generous to all. And so talented. You shine a very bright light upon us all.; September 9, 2015 at 3:22 PM

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.