Nan Rae - Brush Painter

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

APRIL ISSUE of WOMEN’S HEALTH…..

……..featuring……..

……..in an 8 page spread…..

…....wait for it……

……..wait for it…….

‘KITA the AKITA’!

……”What’s my line?”

….”Is that girl really necessary?”

…..”Are you getting the shot?”

“I forgot my line?”

“Where’s MY makeup person?”

“Do I get brushed….what’s going on here?”

“Listen girlie…Let’s remember who’s the star here.”

“I’m pumped…let’s go!”

“Nice meeting you too.”

“ Chris, we should have lunch.”

“How long do I have to wait?”

“What’s my motivation?”

“I thought you said I should look to my right.”

“Did you get the shot???”

“We stars understand each other.”

That’s ‘Women’s Health’….April issue!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT…..

………lots of giggles…….

Midnight hi’s to mom and Vicki……

Cuddles for Kita…..

….and for me…tea with Lisa at Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena….

But first….there are rules:

You have to ring the doorbell and the ‘Master of the House’ gives you a ‘white glove’ welcome.

You’re not allowed to have tea until you put your crown on.

No pictures allowed, turn off your cell phone because ‘very important people come here’….perhaps Prince Phillip or Charles will show up!!!! So, No pictures to show you of this very, very British place. (They will take a photo for you.)

We had so much fun…this is really our thing!

I took some scones, preserves & clotted cream (from England) to mom.

This is the perfect book to read to begin this new year!

I wish you every lovely thing your heart desires in this grand new year that we’ve been given!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

LEADING UP TO THE NEW YEAR…

Les Miserables…with Laurie…..

We had to wait in line but it was well worth it…Glad we got there early…

Got a refill on my ‘large’ popcorn and then went into Armani Exchange to get a bag for the bag. You get the idea…don’t you?

Later at Katsuya…delicious dinner and time to open ‘Presenting You’ Laurie’s fantabulous new book hot off the presses. Yippee!!

Here’s Laurie’s book:

Americana all sparkly…

Thank you Laurie for thinking of me in such a beautiful way…..I’ll try to take very good care of this treasure!

Sandie and Jim at Far Niente on Brand in Glendale where we had a relaxing dinner before seeing Lincoln.

For you foodies… Parmigiano Reggiano and imported Jamon serrano..yum, yum!

Waiting for Lincoln….the L.A. Times had an interesting article Monday about the ending of the movie saying it would have been better leaving it when Lincoln is walking down the hallway….you know where he is headed. I think I agree. Other than that it was just about a near perfect movie. I’ll see it again.

Kita’s new job (she’s a ‘working’ dog after all)is waiting sentry style for the new neighbor’s Yorkies…..she’s obsessed by them.

Getting ready for New Year’s eve dinner…..

Made the stuffing the day before….it’s sooo good!

Thank you Mr. Turkey….you gave your all and we sure appreciate it.

I love having the neck for lunch……shared with Vicki.

Poor Kita….so near….so far…..

Ready set….into the oven with you….

Vicki said that we needed to have 13 pieces of fruit (they’re all there) for a New Year’s blessing.

Yams with all sorts of good stuff, cranberries, oranges, nuts, lots of butter & spices.

I had quite a few ripe avocado’s sooooo…….

Congratulations to me….I didn’t burn the turkey….it came out just perfect as I did not use the ‘convection’ setting this time!

O.K., you probably know how great these table favors are. Besides our paper crowns with musical scores printed on them, there were little horns in each. Everyone gets a number and then the conductor (me) points his baton to various ‘numbers’ to play the tunes. It’s so much fun because it gets quite confusing and people don’t always come in on cue so the laughing begins and the whole thing falls apart.

Examining the little horns (they come in various sizes to make the different pitches).

Vicki had the longest……she was #1.

Charles was number 2 and did quite well.

I of course love to toot my horn!!!! (No comments please.)

Remembering the Stork Club as 2013 begins……

Cheers for the New Year!

For more information:

www.farnienteristorante.net

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.