Tag Archives: art

Manifesting your life

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Six months ago I was sitting in Australia thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I was not teaching but trying to enjoy the art of relaxing. It was at this time I realized I needed a purpose, because I found relaxing boring. I considered where did I want to live? Was it OZ, America, well I knew it wasn’t China. I really missed America and all it has to offer. Where did I want to live in America? So many choices. Should I live near my children who are spread all over the country? I know I didn’t want to live in Plano anymore. I had grown up there. In 1998 I returned to raise my daughter and be near my parents. A little more thought and I realized, I had always loved Houston, the climate, the ability to grow ferns and the proximity to the beach. I had taught art classes at the Glassell and loved the downtown. So why not live where I love? It was at this point that I focused my thoughts on creating my purpose and my new journey.

I decided I would find a job in Houston where I could teach IB to International students. Only two schools provide that environment and one had an opening which turned into my new job. I could now move to Houston, and live downtown. Just this week I was able to find the home that I had dreamed of. It is exactly what I wanted with a wonderful kitchen, art studio space, garage, large tub, a rain shower and right on Heights Blvd.

I believe we are the creators of our life. We envision what we want in our thoughts and our thoughts are manifested into reality. My reality is everything and more because I dreamed it into being. I cannot tell you how much happiness this has created for me. I have it all and I created it.

http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/index.php

This is a site that my wonderful friends Judy and Patti helped me discover. It is about the “Law of Attraction” and how to create what you truly want in your life. I have used the law of attraction in the past, but this site has helped me focus even more intently. Every seventeen seconds you can create and hold a thought, this is how to manifest your desires.

If you can’t seem to find what you need, or your not attracting what you want I suggest you give it a read. You will be surprised at what you find. As my friend Ann says it is about the journey of happiness. Happiness is the answer, so manifest that in your thoughts.

Moving Up

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September! Did I miss August? I started my new job in Houston, teaching International students art and worked the entire month of August. Whew! I am enjoying my Chinese boarding students. They miss their family and home towns. I can relate my overseas experiences and watch them smile and “light up” hearing similar stories. It seems to me life is about familiar experiences and feeling accepted. It is good to be in Texas teaching! This girl is happy to be back on American soil and near family and great friends.

My house hunt has been exhausting, looking close to 150 condos, apartments, town-homes, single family homes, and multi-family homes. I put bids on four different places, with competition on three. This last bid on a town-home I was fortunate to have accepted. The Heights is an extremely popular neighborhood and is transitioning into a really wonderful place to live.

The town-home is three story and three bedrooms, one of which I will use as a studio. It has everything I wanted, from a dreamy kitchen with granite, a bathroom with a soaker jetted tub and a space to create art. There are any windows with interesting views of Houston, including the train tracks—toot toot! I know I will like the Urban environment and richness of diversity. It will be wonderful to finally get my gear out of storage and in one location, where I can continue my journey from my very own new home.

When I get settled I want to have my first art opening and feature a retrospective of my art. My home will be a lovely setting for this event. If you would like to attend, let me know and I will include you in the festivities.

Inspiration by artist Dai Li

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I find inspiration in the art work by artist Dai Li.

The Exhibit at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery is called “Games We Play,” and seeks to set up metaphorical connections between the games we play and deeper experiences in life. Moments of contemplation, when we are unguarded, or when no one is watching, are moments when people can reveal their true nature. Dai Li is a ceramicist and watercolorist from Sichuan, China and educated in Jiangxi province. Her work, petite in nature yet strong in commentary shows clay sculptures depicting a slice of life. Her humor is wonderfully candid!

Inspiration makes me happy! Check out her work and get a few smiles yourself.

http://www.daili.com.au/daili.com.au/Home.html

Homeless… without ocean and art studio!

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A week with Hurricane Debby and you realize how noisy, windy and wet nature can be. Storms can be challenging, especially if you have a ring side ocean view from your hotel window. I taught a week of IB art classes in St. Pete, Florida and saw only one day of sunny weather. I love the beach and living on the coast would be the most wonderful opportunity to experience sand, surf and sun.

Storms and sunny days, are like the ups, the downs of life. We all have challenges, I suppose how we handle them is the key. My stormy days have subsided and now nice sunny ones are on the horizon. I want to live by the ocean, but with my new job I will be sixty miles to the surf. Now what? Deciding on a second best scenario is difficult. Should I live in a high rise, suburban home, older home in a more trendy location or even an apartment? For me, this is too many decisions. I make my mind up quickly, now I am weighing options. I decided the other day that an art studio was the most important for me. Did you ever try to find a home with an artist area? After looking, I find the art studios as a part of a home are over a half a million in cost. Tell me how is an artist going to afford that? What an oxymoron!

Life is throwing me a curve ball, no ocean, no artist studio….. What do I do?

My brother-in-law humorously calls me a squatter, I am sure they would like me to move on, but where do I go? Anyone in Houston got an artist studio I could buy, rent or squat at?

Where in the WORLD is Susan?

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Here I am, no longer in China but A U S T R A L I A. The Fall months were excruciating with a terrible medical issue that proved the medical coverage in China was a piece of paper with a red chop mark, only. Then a bout of serious food poisoning to top it off and I realized time to move on. The semester at NSFZ ended with the most delightful IB Art students sending me off with a fond farewell from Lukou Airport. Thank you Rita, Cookie, Arno and Jane for the sweet gift and hugs at the International terminal. Keep making art, you are so talented.

Many friends gave me good bye gifts, dinners out, last minute trips and so many fond memories. Mr. Chen, you and your family were a blessing to have in my life. Spring Yan and Stone thank you so much for all the lifts in your car, the trip to Suzhou for a silk bed duvet, and spending New Years with your family. Lady Ma, my maid I will miss our Sunday mornings together and communicating not knowing each others language. I enjoyed having a tailor, Mr. Lin. He created a gorgeous Chinese dress and Capri’s for me. My wonderful neighbors across the hall, thank you for watching over me. Sarah, Fino’s mom thank you for helping me at Sentosa Gardens, first of all finding my 27th story apartment that overlooked the city and the Yangtze river. Secondly for bringing me food when I was so ill. Rita and her vegan mom, thank you for helping me mail boxes to Texas and introducing me to a wonderful Vegetarian Restaurant. Jane, Ellen’s mom for being a wonderful art friend and showing me Nanjing sites. Daisy and her sweet friends in Shanghai and Xi’an for all our vacation trips! Didn’t we have some fun? I love the picture of you as a concubine and me as the Empresses!

Nan Shi Fu Zhong and my wonderful Chinese colleagues friends, what can I say? My office mates, Sue, Jenny, June and Alice, ladies I could have never asked for better friends. The library and offices down the hall with Esther, Shirley, Serena, Maggie, Tracy, David, Emmy and Ms. Wang, the teachers that work all day and night! The upstairs admin and teachers, Stephen, Mr. Can, Jackie, Mr. Hao, Tess, and Guo, you did so much to make my life run smooth. Thanks for getting that latte maker! To Sophia, girl I could never thank you enough for all your expertise, care and patience. “Let all my troubles pass through the hollow places,” you said describing the stone Lotus you gave me. You are a wise woman. To Gong Yan, the leader of the tribe, love your teachers as they work hard for the IB program.

My best friends Michael from Britain and Peter from Australia, how can I thank you for you brotherly friendship? I adore you both, for the care, time and lunches we shared. You were there for me in so many ways. Friendship is something I treasure and I will love you both forever and ever! We were the “Three Musketeers!”

“There was something in the water,” as Americans say when everyone gets pregnant. Drinking Nanjing water is no different. Sophia and Jenny had boys last year! Tracy just had a wee one this week. Alice and Sawyer, next month it is your turn and what good parents you will be. I wish I could be there when your daughter is born. Serena will be next! Oh my, so many sweet moments I will share from afar. I will be waiting to hear from each of you about the wonders your children are creating in your lives.

Lastly to all the national curriculum art teachers that befriended me. The art teachers are inspirations. The graceful dance teacher next class over, what a marvelous dancer and kind soul. I learned Tai Chi from the retired teachers, they were so patient with me. Then the sweet janitor lady that gave me hugs daily.

My graduating Seniors, Joy and Iris of higher level– you are talented young ladies! Iris, Elaine, Stephanie, Tiffany, Karen, and Willson of standard level, isn’t it nice to be finished with your Visual Art’s CRB? Move on, go to college and stay motivated with art or whatever you want to be. Cheng Peng, you are now at SCAD! You busted out of China early and are the happiest I have ever seen you—become the artist you want to be. My Juniors—Angela, Ellen, Rita, Cookie, Arno, William, Peter, Kevin, Jane, Becky, Sam, Fino, Amy, and Moon! Kids what can I say? You are all on track with IB, almost all 7’s and each of you totally motivated with art. I will miss you guys and remember you the most! You were the teenage art blessings in my life. The 10th grade foundation art students, to the fifty of you keep speaking English daily, stay focused and motivated, you are the future of NSFZ!

Now that I have said my thank you’s to China, what am I doing? I moved to Australia, retired and am relaxing. It is warm if not hot here, I am barefoot and happy. Learning to “BE” and not “DO!”

Forbidden City

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The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.  Located in the middle of Beijing it was the home of Emperors and their households (including concubines), as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government, for almost five hundred years.   The complex covers 7,800,000 sq, ft. consisting of 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms.  It was built around 1406.  The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture.   When I walked in I noticed the buildings were brightly painted and rambling to the end of the horizon.  One building after another.  It was just the most amazing place, I kept imagining myself as a little emperor playing on the stairs, hiding behind walls, and climbing the most delightful shaped trees.

One of the trees had gnarled elbows with long branches hanging downward which looked like dragon claws.

I love this tree and want one in my yard!

I found a couple artisans, one carved me a chop mark that says su san, maybe su shan.  Su means family name.  San stands for the number three and they seem to prefer Shan which means mountains.  Personally it means family of twin peaks, my play on words.   Then I meet a teacher from the local art university.   He was selling his work along with other professors to help generate money for scholarships.  I am a sucker for helping kids go to art school and  bought a black and white oil panel with the four children holding red yarn stars and a traditional tiger painting.  Love my art finds.

Inside some of these rooms we found mini-museums of pottery, jewelry, weaponry and ceremonial attire.

Then a trip to the hutongs or alleyways of Beijing to eat and shop.  I ran out of memory on my card but here is my find at a propaganda store.

My OBaMao T-shirt “Man who serves the people!”

The philosophy of painting a life story.

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Past thoughts are like a work of art.   It is already painted, hung on the wall and viewed.  Our thoughts should be like this.  Already did that,  finished and moving on.  A painter knows it is difficult to go back and rework a painting.  Typically, once you finish and return to paint you have lost the “zone” you were in at the moment you were painting.  The likelihood of getting it back is slim.  When recalling thoughts of past love, loss,  and sad times, it is best to observe them like a painting.  Frame it and hang it.  Reworking those times in your head, honestly it just doesn’t work.  The painting is finished, like the past life experiences.

From my artist view point,  it’s time to move on and paint something new and fresh.  How about you?  Are you still reworking life’s tragedies?  Well stop it!   Today create a new composition.  You may not be an artist but you can create a new life story.

Saturday morning I became a student of a 16 year old who has five years of Chinese traditional painting under his belt.  I pulled out my new bamboo brush dipped it in ink and started painting.  He stopped me!  The line must show more emotion from thick to thin in the blades of grass.  I should paint with more feeling.  He would correct my fingers and the way I held the brush many times.  He was so patient and constantly showed me how to paint leaves.  He has practiced the art of painting leaves for a year and I thought I could pick it up in a day.  NO way.  There is a specific way to create each part of nature according to my young Chinese teacher.  I would watch him paint.  Then I would copy his strokes.  I quickly forgot and couldn’t do it again to save my soul.  He never laughed just keep showing me again and again.  Is this what I need in my story of life, someone to show me again and again how to do it right?  I am beginning to wonder.

Is life a painting?  Think about that just a moment.  If  life is a painting, what does your’s look like?  Is it beautifully executed  or retouched and muddy.   Have you hung it on the wall or do you rework it over and over?  Today lets stop reworking our paintings, lets create a new one to hang on the wall?  You need some new supplies or new thoughts.  For me I bought all new supplies in a shopping trip to “Fu Zi Meow” or Confucius Temple shopping mall.  New bamboo brush, ink, felt pad, paper, and a couple of  “how to”  books in Chinese.  Fresh start.  New supplies are like new thoughts.  What do you want to paint?  I want to paint a mountain with misty clouds… but first I need to learn grass, rocks, leaves and flowers.   This is the start of my creation, a thought provoking mountain landscape.  Must learn the parts to create the whole composition according to my young teacher.  Like life, get all the pieces in order to create a great life painting.

Pieces?  What are your pieces?  Think for a moment, all the sweet things in your life.  Do you need to thank someone for something they did for you?  Maybe a child cut their finger and you were able to offer a band-aide and compassion to heal their wound and dry a tear.  Have you talked to your child today?  No!  My suggestion is call them and say “I love you”  for no reason.  Write them an email or text them a nice message.  Know an old person that is lonely, then go visit them?  Don’t know an old person, then call your grandmother and say hi.  You can smile at someone when your walking down the street.  Take someone to lunch and pay for it.  See someone on the street begging for money, then give them a coin or two.   Your painting becomes a compassionate one, one with tender feelings and love.  Every minute you are painting a life story, make yours beautiful, full of wonderful emotions and lovely memories.

Remember you can’t go back and rework it or you will muddy it up.

Start creating your story of life.  Reflect and step back, look at it and admire the effort you spent on it.  You might want to do this every evening just before you fall sleep, recall all the events of the day and say, “What a nice composition I created.”  Then fall asleep, and awake to a new day and start your new work of art.

What are you creating?  Hit the reply button and tell me what it is you created today!

Student Art – Chinese vs American

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Saturday I spent the morning watching our Chinese public high school teacher instruct his art class.  I was fortunate to see one student mastering the art of traditional Chinese painting.  He was working on chrysanthemums.   He had a blotter under his practice paper.  AH-HA that is the answer to working with the ever loaded brush and bleeding.  He painted one set of flowers on practice paper, which happens to be the paper I have.  Then he was given a paper with sparkles in it.  He painted the same composition again on this paper.  John, his teacher told him in Chinese to create more gradated values and I actually understood!  The third time he painted the flowers he used the same paper but turned it over to a plain backing.  This time he added more gradated washes laying the loaded brush on its side and quickly sweeping in a U-turn.  The brush tip was black creating a nice swish of gray to black.  All the students in the class were drawing from copyrited art, perfecting their skill.  In America this is something we do not stress.  I found the students were able to learn values, composition and how to lay down marks more proficiently due to the repetition.

Painting with a Bamboo Brush

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It is about time I painted something!   I’ve been studying Traditional Chinese Ink Brush painting and find it intriguing.  I want art lessons from a real brush painter now.  It is harder than it looks.  I painted this bamboo picture using a liquid ink and bamboo brush on typical Chinese student drawing paper.  It’s simple and big.  Ink dried fast and looks ok.

Then I was given some bamboo paper from a colleague.  She brought it back from her home town one weekend for me. I unrolled it to find the sheets are 5 x 2 feet…  Large paintings!  The paper is as thin as tissue paper and I am wondering how this is going to take to ink.

My ink is in stick form and you grind it in a circular motion in a special vessel with water called an ink stone until you get your desired value.  Making gray in a variety of values is fairly easy.  I looked at some Landscape paintings on line to get the jest of painting.  The paper adsorbed the watery ink rather fast and dried real slow, something I am not accustomed too.  But the grays were really nice, just figuring out how to control the bleeding is gonna take some time.

Yuejiang Pagoda, Lions Gate Temple

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FIELD TRIP…..  I took my senior IB students to the Yuejiang Tower or Lions Gate Temple for an art outing.  We had a lovely afternoon.  The focus was on photographing patterns, architecture, people, light and shadows.  Mike, Anna and Ophelia accompanied me along with the economics teacher, Michael. When we got to the steps to climb the hill to the pagoda  Michael took a leave (something about nap-time) and it was just me and the students.  The temple was part of a Buddhist monestary built in 400AD.  Much was destroyed, rebuilt and opened to the public in 2001.   Being new, there are no Buddhist monks to be seen.  More of a tourist attraction, it still represents the Ming Dynasty when Zheng He sailed to the Atlantic. It includes complex architecture lines in traditional Chinese style.  Housed inside is information such as ship building, scientific sailing, how to conquer the ocean, peaceful diplomacy, good-neighborly relationships, transmission of civilization, equal trading and culture exchanges as well as local customs and practices in western countries. (This last sentence I copied from a tourist guide!)  Since I can’t read the Chinese characters I enjoy the museum visually.

This tower can be seen from my office window and I look at it daily.  It is fun to be standing on the top balcony and see my building for a change.  I can see the Yangtze river bridge, the vast array of apartment building, old and new, hi rise and small old hutongs.  It is miles and miles of building, so unbelievable, bigger than New York City, so awe inspiring.