Nan Rae - Brush Painter

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

TEA and BOOK SIGNING for LISSI KAPLAN....

….in the Nan Rae Studio, a space that was created in 2000 in part to enrich others and to be shared by visiting artist’s.

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Perhaps none more gifted than Lissi Kaplan which was evident as we celebrated the launching of her new book, ‘LIGHT as a FEATHER’. Lissi has graced my life with her loving, caring heart and the strength of character & purpose that is her. Lissi’s art is informed as much by her life’s journey as by her inspired love of beauty. She’s truly a butterfly that’s emerged from a cocoon of struggle to be beautiful and glorious!

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Everyone was enraptured as Lissi shared the story of the little wren who inspired this heartfelt story.

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Of course it was inspiring to learn how each beautiful porcelain piece is created by Lissi. Surely you remember how I always hold up the plates she creates for the Peninsula Hotel’s High Tea.

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I also wanted Lissi to share the story of her book ‘THE POWER OF A TEACUP’!

Joy filled the studio…..

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A special heartfelt thank you has to go out to dear Amy at Le Jardin Privé for creating the exquisite floral arrangements….All hand crafted with love!

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Here’s another one designed by dear Amy.

Is it time for tea and treats?

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How cute is this, identifying each tea!

Sweet and savory….Scones, clotted cream, preserves,delicious cheese tarts, assorted cheeses and grapes just because.

Beautiful Valerie, the real ‘Hostess with the Mostest’ gave a big thumbs up!

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Awwwwww…………..

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Lulu chats it up with Nancy Rossi, daughter-in-law of Fermo Rossi, a delightful student of mine from years past and one of the most amazing men who ever was. We all miss him!

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I’m going to sorely miss dear Lucia who is moving to Boston! Don’t know how she could part with her condo which graced the cover of Architectural Digest. Anyway, good news is I have an open invitation to visit!

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So here’s a precious story for you. Twelve years ago, Lucia brought Desiree, her granddaughter, to class and she had the photo's to prove it!

Sooooo cute!

And here we are today!

Trudy just made it back in time from her cruise and Junnie does a tea toast! There aren’t enough thanks or perhaps not enough words to express how grateful I am to Junnie for being our official photographer. Note to all: Photo’s will be mailed out shortly.

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Delighted to see dear Kathy back from her travels! Oh these gad-a-bouts!

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Clara and Kathy are now sisters or at least extremely close first cousins!

Maggie just made it back from Europe…...

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Sweetest of the Sweet Amy with her two precious daughters, Grace and Faith. They will absolutely charm you as no other.

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Lovely Amy also got an exquisite plate that had a very special meaning for her.

When these two connected a few years back it was love at first sight. The incomparable Lisa Bowman, dancer, singer, newscaster, writer….I think I’m leaving out a whole list but this will suffice. Oh yes, heart song friend.

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Thanks to Lissi’s soul mate and all around mate Doug for filming the day and for all of his help in setting up!

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Special thanks to Connor for being the very best valet ever!

What…..it’s over? No, let’s start all over!

As the sun set we lingered with the memory of a perfect day….

May all your days be ‘Light as a Feather’!

Thursday, September 29, 2016

GRAND OPENING NIGHT for the L.A. OPERA SEASON......

….is just about the most glamorous, red carpet event in Los Angeles.

Nikka had a choice of three things to do for her birthday and picked this event! It was so much fun seeing everyone glammed up and intermission in the Founders Room gave us a chance to fully take it all in.

The one and only Placido Domingo starred as Macbeth and it was opera at it’s finest!

I think one of my favorite things to do is have dinner on the patio with Sandie Girl and just do our foodie best, relax and catch up.

Teaching brings me such great joy and a new student in the Huntington Botanical Gardens class asked, “Do you always have so much fun?” Of course the answer was a resounding YES!

I’m so proud of Jeannie. She had a major breakthrough and I loved her painting. Yes, lots of JOY!

Time for dinner and Bobbas at Din Tai Fung at Americana and then Nikka and I went birthday shopping for mom at Nordstrom. WOW, what a long day! Good thing we had the Bobbas!!!

Having the windows washed was on the list for getting ready for the Lissi Kaplan book signing in the studio. This corner window area in the office is rather tricky.

Jimmy put this bamboo covering up to hid our neighbors all too messy area. Thank you Jimmy for the perfect solution!

This must be birthday month. Even though Kc would rather keep it mum we had to get a cake and celebrate!

Congrats to Kayleen for her beautiful painting!

O.K., here’s the birthday girl with Sir Charles whose special day is coming up this Friday.

Kristine relieves Nikka with mom so Nikka can be in the office at least two days a week and also get a much needed day off.

Charles is always up for a good party!

Nikka is borderline TOO cute! She got these balloons at Party City!

And have you ever seen a more beautiful cake????

That’s correct. 104 years of living on our beautiful blue planet! Happy Birthday dear mom!!! We celebrate you.

May you have many, many years of joyful celebrations!

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.