Demonstrating Brush painting for art groups is one of my very favorite things, and the South Bay Watercolor Society is one of the best! A world of thanks, dear Jody Wiggins, for inviting me and for being so very gracious.

It was so much fun painting and telling everyone about the history of Brush painting. There were quite a few people, so the overhead projector was a great help!

Raffle tickets were sold, and the winners were delighted with their prizes!

It’s a joy to introduce artists to a new medium.

Thank you again, Awesome Jody, an amazing artist and precious friend!

The drive back from Torrance went fairly well. Has anyone else noticed the abundance of very bright blue cars?

Look who I spotted on the way to Julienne’s with dear Maryam and Kert! “Do Not Pet”! and he means it. Kert kindly slowed down for this shot.

We were off to a reception for Camerata Pacifica’s opening night of the season. Lovely Julie always makes everyone feel at home at Julienne’s!

With Adrian Spence, the brilliant Artistic Director of Camerata Pacific. In 2020, Adrian developed a brilliant landmark resource for hospitals entitled ‘The Nightingale Channel.’ The initiative draws upon Camerata Pacifica’s extensive video library to create curated programming to be delivered to patient bedsides, offering interest and solace when it can be particularly meaningful. The program launched in 2021 in collaboration with UCLA Health and has since spread to numerous hospitals and institutions. It’s wonderful!!!

Sweet Maryam with Ana Papakhian, Camerata’s Executive Director.

Then, it was off to the Huntington Botanical Gardens for the chamber music concert. These Calder pieces are stunning!

There was a wine reception afterward to end the lovely evening.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to pianist Irina Zahharenkova. Her Mozart piece was beyond amazing, and I was surprised to hear that it took her less than a month to learn it. During concert times, she practices six or seven hours a day but on other days less so as ‘she has to have a life.’ Amen to that!

This reminded me of my adventure with Karl Lagerfeld in Monte Carlo!

It’s always delightful to have lunch with Awesome Steve Benson, President of the Music Center Foundation! San Laurel at the Conrad is the perfect spot!

Besides, I’m in love with Amazing Chef Jeffry Chen!

Well, as long as I was downtown, I headed across the street to the Broad for the Keith Haring exhibit, as Dave Hanson had recommended it.

I have never been to a more moving ‘Celebration of Life’ than the one Pam Dong had for precious Wilbur at the L.A. Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park.

The couple went with me on a group tour of Japan that I led, and everyone remembers such loving moments with Wilbur. Especially dear Miss Judith, who said, “Wilbur looked so fine in his Emperor garb. It is our good fortune to have traveled with you both. Condolences for our loss of a good man.” And from Bonnie Ross Schwartz, “I’m so glad we got to know him on our trip to Japan; I remember that the top snow monkey fell in love with him and sat by his side.” We also remember dear Wilbur being my Brush painting student at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Thank you, dear Pam, for a day I will long remember.

This is one of the Brush paintings Wilbur did in my class!

And here he was making paper when we went to Japan!

Lunch was yummies from Portos…

I rode on the steam engine twice!

I’ll end the blog for now, as it’s a good place to reflect and choose to live a life that matters! Thank you, Wilbur…thank you Pam!