Are you Ready to Welcome The Red Fire Monkey!??!

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

 The Chinese New Year is coming - February 8, 2016.  The Year of the Red Fire Monkey

THE FIRE MONKEY - by Becky McMahon - Chinese Brush Painting 

My guest today, an artist friend, BeckyMcMahon of Triskel Tree Creations. Becky is a Chinese Brush Painter and each year she creates her own interpretation for the Chinese Horoscope.  I am pleased to have her Fire Monkey as a guest today. 

Becky says,"Monkeys are clever, intelligent, have a good sense of humour and open minded. Focus is extremely difficult for them and they can be deeply insecure. But they are never at a loss for words or ideas and can usually maneuver around any troubles their weaknesses get them into. Monkeys are incurable optimists and are generally good with people. 

This year is good news for Artists.

 The Fire Monkey's intelligence and inventiveness bodes well for your artistic creative side.  Also, his nimble mind mine means he is quick to see outside the box and ready to try new things. ( Not surprising Leonardo da Vinci was born in the Year of the Monkey.)

The Monkey is also fast and mischievous. A warning that changes will  come, and quickly.  Long term plans may fall aside, quick thinking and adjusting to change may be in order. 

Sounds exciting, eh?!

Don't let this year happen, be ready for it! 

First off, clean up your house.  Sweeping out the bad luck and getting ready for the good luck is important. Cleaning the house also means cleaning up business affairs, finishing up old jobs, getting your financial books in order.  (Even Revenue Canada supports those values!!)

Secondly, prepare your food ahead for the big day.  Cutting with knives on New Year's Day may 'cut off' your good luck.  Making Red and Gold Banners to decorate; honoring your ancestors; and getting fresh flowers are next on the list. I have already started here.  In China, it is Lucky Bamboo and Orange Trees but I have new tulips and primroses ready to go. 

These are all good things, for you as an Artist, removing the clutter from your everyday life will definitely leave you free to tap into the creative spirit. You will be ready to jump 'outside your box' to try new things.

Have a great Chinese New Year and I hope it brings big creative changes for you. 

Me, I have to get back to my books, not all my financials are done yet!!

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 Have a great artful day, Wendy

Gong Hei Fat Choi - Happy New Year!!

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Gong Hei Fat Choi 

The Year of the Ram - by Becky McMahan
Watercolour and Ink on Paper - 13 x 14

To celebrate the Chinese New Year I invited artist Becky McMahan to share with us her picture for The Year of the Ram.  Becky is a good friend of mine and I really enjoy her work.  She is an Oriental Brush Painter, working with Chinese Ink and Watercolours on Mulberry paper.  In the Fraser Valley, Becky's work can be found in the gift shop at Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, Vancouver, BC.  I find it an interesting contrast to see her work to mine.  ( See my last post for my Bighorn Sheep, my picture for the year) She definitely has an Oriental flavour to her work which I find very appealing.

To Celebrate the Chinese New Year, it can't be done in 1 day!! The celebrations actually occurover 10-15 days depending on where you look.  We are now already into Day 2!  Not sure how that happened so fast. 

To Celebrate the Chinese New Year, it can't be done in 1 day!! The celebrations actually occurs over 10-15 days depending on where you look.  We are now already into Day 2!  Not sure how that happened so fast. 

The next few days, Day 3-7 are a time to visit with family and friends.  But watch out on Day 3, the evil spirits roam around so it is considered inauspicious to be outside.  Day 8 is often the end of the holiday for most people as they head back to work.  But there is one more really important  day - Day 15.  It is March 5, the day of the Lantern Festival.  It is the end of the Spring Festival celebrations and a time to set lanterns adrift on rivers, seas and lakes.  The release of the lanterns is a symbol of peace and good fortune.  I always enjoy this event, it is so lovely to see the brightly lit lanterns floating on the water or in some cases in the air!

Here on the West Coast, the Chinese New Year is an exciting event.  Over 4,000 performers and volunteers will be  involved in the Year of the Ram parade on Sunday. The weatherman is already telling us it will be a wonderful, warm sunny day!  Many other special events are happening in Vancouver and restaurants and stores are full of decorations.  With all the bright red colours it is easy to forget our gray, cold days of winter!!

So "Gong Hei Fat Choi Everyone"!!

Special Note: 

Last Marketing workshop this year, Sunday, March 8, 10-3pm.  See Workshop/Private Classes for registration and more info.

Points to Ponder: During February I will be adding weekly Marketing Tips to my Points to Ponder -Marketing Skills Page.  This week's topic "What do you do?"  Simple question but the answer is very complex!!

Contact me to purchase my work.  collectors enjoy a 10% discount on all original work.