2014 Christmas gratitude and reflection.

Dear beloved creative friends:

I want to thank you for supporting Joyousbrush Club in the past or present in journeying with me in search of aesthetic excellence, as Confucius' explains :". What the "Great Learning" teaches is: to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence. "  The aesthetic excellence is in the condition of the soul, be it rich or poor, splendid or barren.  Brush painting is the language we use to explore, communicate and enrich our soul.  Brush painting techniques or the products is only the means for such reflection.

Confucius continues: ". The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to.To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.

The rest he states here is the vision, the aim or the ultimate goal.  What better rest can we find than in the Christmas story.  The ultimate wisdom demonstrates how to instill goodwill to sin ridden men, which is by replacing our sin ridden spirit with the spirit of truth and grace through whatever it takes kind of sacrifice.  So a child is born, a sinless son is given in order for the exchange life to take place.  He takes over our sin and it's curse as we take over His righteousness and blessing.  

Once the point where to rest is known, then the object of pursuit can be determined. Education should first instill goodwill to man then move on with the empowerment of achievements. The object of pursuit is to revive and nourish our poor spirit. Not to cover up with layers of masks but to calmly receive the amazing grace which allows us to see our soul in its deprived and depraved condition without fearing the curse associates with it.  With such acceptance we then can calmly, deliberately, diligently grow out of such condition.  The growth of a righteous spirit is to explore truth, to promote love and to pursue beauty.

I am one who received such grace, so I am administer the same to build communities of truth seeker, love promoter and beauty pursuer.

Merry Christmas to you all

My Tellico Village Joyousbrush worshop delight

honest effort, rekindled passion, boundless goodness and contagious joy

These are the kind of fruit I labor for.  I am so blessed by people like Mary Kay and the kind of experiences captured by her gracious words.

Plain Air at Chastain

We painted outdoor at our last Chastain class.  The live band was playing the blues in the background.  The weather was perfect 10.  No mosquitos.  Delightful group of friends.  We would not discovered such treat if the center was not locked.  What a memorable way to end our extended Spring sessions.

Updated personal mission statement

For the past 2 years, my work took a turn.  Instead of realize beauty on paper, I desire to realize beauty in people.  My canvas has been transferred from 2 dimensional to 4 dimensional. I found a common need and serve people with it. What a delight it is to discover those who are humble and true, deligent and grateful. Through this experience, my mission statement is now updated from:
To proclaim truth, promote love and pursue beauty to:
Building communities where truth can be proclaimed, love promoted and beauty pursued.

The updated mission statement merges my leisure and work.  I can go about fulfilling my mission both at leisure and at work, finding pleasure at work and productivity at leisure.

Art Guild of Tellica Villiage

A delightful visit to the Tennessee Valley sharing the joy of Chinese brush painting with Art Guild of Tellica Village.  A wonderful mature, talented audience eager to be STRETCHed to the Eastern aesthetics.

The brush and the ink that have been used throughout Chinese history to document the artist's thoughts, emotion, volition and spirit.