FUN STUFF IN NOVEMBER

Saturday, December 1, 2018

FUN STUFF IN NOVEMBER

Kita welcomes in the fall season.

Neighbors just don't get any better than these, hosts Wayne and Izabela (with Kert in-between), Maryam and Kert and Dave and Alexis. We have great fun rotating from house to house for amazing dinners and grand conversation!

I'll catch you later...

Did anyone say Hermés Carre? How could I miss this pop up on Melrose?

Write a suggestion for a color so...what about Nan Rae Red?

You could watch designers work on new patterns and they would sign your scarf selection.

Great fun with Clayton, my new Toluca Lake friend.

Time for Pink's!

Back to work. My Sweet Sandie Girl came over with delights from Julienne's for a lovely al fresco lunch on the patio before going to work on her Christmas card.

If you're a lucky recipient you'll agree this year's card is beautiful!

That week Clara brought lunch from Kreaton Organic and we feasted before going to the studio.

This magnificent landscape will be Clara's entry in the January studio class exhibit at the Crain Art Gallery in San Marino's Crowell Public Library.

Thanks to Shantien 'Tom' Chow, our Master Calligraphy teacher, we have the interpretation of Clara's beautiful calligraphy.
Clouds care about gorgeous dresses,
Flowers think about their beautiful appearance,
Soft wind of Spring touches the fences that protect the flowers.
Unless she comes from the fairyland,
Or could it be an angel from Heaven.

Next step, deciding where to put the seals.

We were so happy Amy stopped by.

Time to drive to El Monte and wonderful May at Chiang's Frames.
9255 Telstar Avenue.

Precious Lisa Bowman came to the studio to pick up Diane Riska Taylor's exquisite Brush painting that she purchased at the Huntington's class exhibit.

Diane notes the back of the work.

Elizabeth and Nikka work on cards in the office.

And back again another day with more work....

Stephanie stopped by to pick up some art supplies and she was definitely in the holiday spirit!

And Sweet Lynne. Gosh we have the most fun around here this time of the year!

Sandie Girl stopped by after work to give Nikka all the artwork for her Christmas card gifts. It was great fun to have her stay for dinner.

Need a break....Perfect meeting Lizzie Girl at Bloomie's for lunch and our smoothies.

More lunch....Prosecco Trattoria with dear Alice.

Time to give thanks....

Nikka and I celebrated Thanksgiving at the Royce in the Langham.

We were then joined by awesome Maggie and friend Curtis, chatting until midnight!

Sorry Kita, no turkey this year.

Wha.......

Time to settle in to watch The Story of the Yanxi Palace, all 70 episodes. Totally addicted.

I've posted in the past about 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' by Huang Gongwang, a Landscape painting we've studied in class so it was thrilling to see them talk about it in 'The Story of the Yanxi Palace'.

What we studied in the studio...

Yummies at the Harvard College Fund event at the Montage Hotel.

Now goodbye November and hello Christmas!

I wish you all things bright and gay!

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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.