SHAKESPEARE, ART, CARS and SHOES.......

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

SHAKESPEARE, ART, CARS and SHOES.......

What more could one ask for!

Amy, Nikka & I headed off to the Huntington for a Heritage Society event and were greeted by awesome Cris Lutz.

These young people were so, so cute and we had great fun watching their performance.

Amy has never seen a tree, plant or flower she didn’t want to connect with. Come on along now Amy…….

Next stop the nearby Langham Hotel and it’s Nikka’s turn to not pass up something PINK!

When I get over my shyness we’ll talk…….

Awwwwww………………Fun having drinks and snacks in the lounge.

Class next day……A Loquat special! The 60 foot tree I planted with a seed from Italy is producing lucious fruit now and it’s quite inspiring.

Amazing Kathy…..

You too Kathryn!

I Signed Kathy and Kathryn up to do demonstrations at the eARTh Festival in Pasadena and they headed there after class to meet up with sweet Lulu.

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The report back was that they had a terrific time and Lulu really rhapsodized later about it. I’m so beyond description proud of all three.

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Kathy brought me this new book/Brush painting kit of Danny Chen’s which will be available at COSCO and I predict a great success. Thank you Danny!

Class at the Huntington was great fun and I was delighted to see Iris had been painting during the month.

I think she’s just plain tired of seeing me eating a Protein Bar at lunch so she gets these gynormous sandwiches to share. This one was big enough to cut in half again and share with Nikka who was able to be with me.

So cute. I love them all!!! (Where’s Iris?)

Nikka and I had a couple of hours to idle away before an event at Rusnak’s so we went to the Norton Simon Museum and had snacks looking at the Lily Pond and wild geese.

On to Rusnak’s. I asked this young lady where she was from hoping to hear something like ‘China’. As it turned out I deeply insulted her which I noticed by her reply. ‘America’. Whoops, sorry!!!

We stayed for refreshments and to see the live Jaguar but the best part was this car parked out back.

Nikka wore heels and could not walk another step so I ambled down to the Maserati event which was much nicer by far. This sushi from Sushi Roku in Pasadena was wonderful!

I even got us two caps!

Back to semi real life. Anyone for Ferragamo? We’re putting these on e-Bay under ‘Collectables of Desire’.

Just call me Emelda. I think I just bought shoes…didn’t wear them!

A rose by any other name…….may yours be sweet!

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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.