THANK YOU MAY FOR THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER

What a perfect way to begin my birthday!  A drive-by love greeting from the Papazian's, beautiful Amy and the lovebirds Eliza and Tyler.  This was such a surprise and I'm just grateful I wasn't in my PJ'S.  Sweet Alyssa agreed with me that birthdays are the best!

Here's the first B-day cake from Eliza and Tyler from Sweet Lady Jane.

And beautiful flowers from my dear friends at Harvard!

Since we're in the midst of a pandemic, the LA Opera sent this thoughtful gift!

Perhaps I should begin at the very beginning...the night before when Nikka called me to the studio at midnight.  It's impossible to describe what all she did to surprise me but I'll start with seeing 150 balloons.

She's amazing!

Actually this was the first B-day cake!

But the biggest surprise was when Clara gathered some thirty friends to participate in a ZOOM birthday greeting. They all sang Happy Birthday and I really needed extra Kleenex along with the third cake.

I was so overwhelmed and touched by the tender loving greetings.  How can I ever begin to express my gratitude for such an exquisite expression of love and friendship?  How beautiful you all are! Please know I carry you always in my heart.
https://youtu.be/lE3d6dhnELE

Special thanks dear Lynne for this wonderful compilation of memories throughout our friendship.

Needless to say we were eating cake for a week!

May brought so many more delightful events.  I especially loved being in the ZOOM group for Carol Soucek King's virtual 'Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life' brought to us by the amazing photographer and videographer Curtis McElhinney. Check out his stunning work at curtisvision.com



Great fun seeing everyone.

We did several short talks for the followers of Nan Rae Fine Art on Instagram and that's always a joy to be able to connect like that. This one was in the garden.

Here's another...

Then there was a IG Live where I could answer questions and talk about various things for an hour or so.

Along with that, we're shipping "What If..." and art supplies all over the world!

I'm always so touched when people send me photos of the book and describe what it means to them.



We did two more live online classes in May and it's exciting to have students join in from all over the world!  To make the classes even better for the students we got an additional camera, a wider lens and a MacBook Pro.

This is so students can view my 'blind strokes'

This lens gets up close ...

The new MacPro will help co-ordinate all the different cameras.

Of course there's a storyboard for each class.



Everything is tested before going live.



Students send in photos of their setups and also pictures of their work for me to critique.



I was quite touched and honored to do a live video welcome to the graduating class of 2020 at College Launch an amazing program that assists students in their path to higher education!



Tammy Huang-Anacleto, brilliant co-founder along with hubby Joao of College Launch, came by to pick up the inscribed copies of 'What If...' to present to the graduating class.

Kita loves her rides to the Vet as being sequestered doesn't work as well for her as it does for us.  She's such a party animal!

May you stay well and above all...be safe!

REMEMBRANCE OF OUTINGS PAST...

It was great fun supporting awesome Eliza Krpoyan when she moderated "What She Said' at the 'W' Hotel in West LA. Hundreds of women, and some guys too, turned out because of Eliza!

Didn't I say it was great fun!  Here with Lovely Marine, Eliza's precious sister!

Eliza you are just toooo cute!


On to the Music Center for a 'Spotlight' event with dear Amy.  How cool that they issue free parking!

Checking in at the Artists Entrance.

This was the Spotlight Non-Classical Dance Master Class with the one and only Jacob Jonas!



Sooooo cool!

Brilliant Jeri Gaile, Director of the Spotlight Program.

Time for yumminess at Kendall's Brasserie.  Amy and I eat like we may never see food again!



The first Monday in the month means it's the China Society dinner and lecture at the Golden Dragon. Here's just one of the jillion different dishes we're served.

We were treated to a wonderful lecture by the Huntington Garden's Katie Chiu on the architectural elements in the next phase of the Liu Fang Yuan Chinese Garden.  So interesting.


Thank you everyone who bought my new book 'What If...' I missed a few photos...





So cute, the Ch'i of the Brush along with 'What If...'

Thank you Bob Lee, President of the Society....

It's always a joy when Sweet Lynne comes by to have Nikka scan her exquisite work for prints and greeting cards.  I'm beyond proud of her.




Thank you dear Lynne for not only getting the new book but for rhapsodizing over it.

Did someone say lunch?  What a delightful time with Chris Johnsten and Kimberly Stafford from the LA Opera at Cascabel Restaurant in Toluca Lake.  This is a new discovery and I absolutely love, love love this place!  It will be first on my list when we can get out and about.

Yes, you're correct...Guacamole with candied Bacon...oh my!

The very best lobster tacos ever!!!

Another 'Spotlight' adventure with dear Amy.  This time the Ballet Master Class with brilliant Mikko Nissinen, the Artistic Director of the Boston Ballet.  This was absolutely thrilling!



Photo op...

Back to Kendall's Brasserie

My penultimate outing was thanks to awesome Valerie Foster Hoffman who invited me to 'Art of the California Club' with James Irvine Swinden, President of the Irvine Museum.  It was wonderful seeing artiste extraordinaire Peter Adams who is quite active in the Club's acquisitions.



I was so delighted to have Valerie gift everyone with my new book 'What If...'.  We had the books gift wrapped in my wrapping paper from Ling Design in England.

Valerie checks to make sure everything is perfect for her guests.







I know, it's all about desert!

Outside the California Club waiting for my Uber...

O.K. everyone, here's my very last, ultimate outing.  Valerie invited me to a luncheon given by Marie Gray and Kelly, her stunning daughter honoring Valerie in 'Grayse', their Newport Beach Fashion Island shop.





Yes, I polished off the whole thing! Me bad.

There were beautiful models and I did manage to do some 'shopping'.

Say cheese...or Grayse!


Soooooo fun....thank you lovely Valerie!

Remember, you can still order in cake!

Be well and stay safe...Wishing you joy!