"Put energy into your artwork"

Words from Flora Chow Yen, a very special teacher, who would come each year to Maui from the Bay Area to teach Tai Chi and Chinese brush painting at Hui No'eau in Makawao.   The activity of the Tai Chi in the morning led to afternoon classes where we would always start with the meditative, classic grinding of the ink stick to create our medium, then paint concentric circles on newsprint to loosen up.  Afterwards we would be taught a motif to paint...not always the most interesting part to me...I more enjoyed the free form painting with no stress of 'exactness'.  When we felt we were ready, a new white sheet of rice paper would be laid out, and we would perform the subject.  The whole practice of movement and discipline instilled a love of brush strokes in me.  ​

This is a sampling of my work from Flora's classes, including my chop, which was made in Honolulu by Horace Hunt

Flora Chow Yen was an esteemed instructor of Tai Chi in the Bay Area.  

This is a photo of an acrylic painting sitting behind practice calligraphy on watercolor paper.

This is the name given to me by Flora...she interpreted it to mean "Rings Like a Bell".  It is quite an honor.

A gift of calligraphy from Flora Chow Yen, interpreted; "As You Like It".