Tuesday, September 6, 2016

TEACHING BRINGS ME THE GREATEST JOY........

 

….especially so because I have the most wonderful students!

Here’s the class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens where I have been teaching since the mid ’90’s.  When I started there the class was in an area that is now the Boone Gallery and the Botanical Staff worked out of trailers!  So many wonderful memories of happy artists.

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Awesome Maggie had to leave early so here’s a photo of a previous class….There she is to the far left.

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Thanks to Ralph, Nikka has started to paint as well….so cute!  Ralph’s family was instrumental in establishing the Bonsai Garden at the Huntington and I blogged about the special day we walked over to see a bench dedicated to his parents. Touching beyond description.

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 I think we have a budding artist here!

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 We always have so much fun and even get some amazing work done!!! I’m laughing because everyone ooooooed at this one brush stroke (the first) so much that I threatened to retire for the day!

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I continued on anyway...

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After class Nikka and I love to go to Din Tai Fung for dinner.  I think it’s because we love Boba’s!IMG 5970

Of course the studio class is dear to my heart and has been since 2000 when it came into being.  Here’s a little group taking a lunch break….IMG 2154

I really do have the most amazing assistant and everyone is so appreciative of Nikka and the way she produces their beautiful artwork onto greeting cards and prints.  I’m so very proud of everyone.  Here’s Sweet Lynne.IMG 2156

Kathy is an artist extraordinaire and she is not only masterful at Brush painting but has widened her art knowledge in other mediums.IMG 1624

Both Kathy and Kathryn are getting out there with their beautiful work.  So proud!IMG 1617

 Look at Po Chu….great job!  We managed to cover two subjects that day.

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 Kayleen’s joy with this beautiful Peony says it all!

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I will never paint on a students work but I do like to hold their hand and guide the strokes for them so they can feel how light the touch is.  It seems to help a great deal.IMG 1683

 Amy & I combine our Ch’i!

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 Even new students Andrea and Julia do amazingly well…..

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 Diane and Cathy are students at the Huntington class who requested a private class in the studio.  It was great fun and we accomplished a lot.

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 I used to teach a Landscape class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens but it became easier to hold the class in the studio. There’s a different subject covered in depth each month.

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I’m always impressed at how diligent everyone is….

IMG 2474Everyone gets to express their feelings about each subject and no one is better at that than Lulu!IMG 5793

Time to embarrass myself.  I was invited to an event at the Huntington for  Jade Circle donors to the Chinese Garden.  Hu Qiuping, a famous calligrapher from the China National Academy of Painting gave a lecture (interpreted) and afterwards the Huntington staff ‘volunteered’ me to be a ‘student’.  The thought running through my head quite loudly was ‘Why didn’t I attend more of Tom’s classes????'IMG 6329

 How am I doing?  Don’t answer that!

IMG 6332That did it.  I determined to show up for Tom’s calligraphy class in the studio the following Saturday.

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Just what I tell everyone….practice, practice, practice!IMG 6381

 Tom and I combined our Ch’i!

IMG 6398I wasted no time going on Amazon and ordering this amazing Zen Brush from Japan.  It’s a monster and only the brave need apply!

IMG 6465However you paint your life, may it be beautiful!

 

 

 

 

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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.