Exhibition by Chinese Brush Painting Society of San Diego.

Those who love art should head over to Spanish Village in Balboa Park soon. An exhibition by the Chinese Brush Painting Society of San Diego can be enjoyed inside Gallery 21. The Flow of Ink and Color will be on view through Monday, October 9.

I gazed at fine works by seven members of the society, and wondered how the human hand can produce such beauty.

Talking to Wendy Nakamura, one of the artists, I learned that one thing distinguishing Chinese brush painting from Japanese brush painting is the color palette. I also learned how traditional brush art can inspire contemporary, more brightly colorful or abstract pieces.

Wendy demonstrated how she handled a brush to quickly render an image of bamboo. Visitors are invited to try their own hand!

I noticed many displayed pieces are for sale. Do you collect beautiful art, or simply love to view it? Swing on by!

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Naoko creates a flower.

I met artist Naoko Ozaki today at the Art Club of San Diego show in Balboa Park. She was very nice and demonstrated Japanese brush painting for my camera.

Together let’s watch her gather brush, black ink and paper, and magically create a flower!

Naoko Ozaki can be found at this website.

Her art is both subtle and powerful.

Like a memory.

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Art Club of San Diego creates memory, dreams.

Several years ago I attended the Art Club of San Diego’s summer show in Balboa Park. You can revisit that memory here.

Today, as I walked through Balboa Park past the Casa del Prado, I noticed this group of local artists was having their 17th Annual Art Show.

I love Japanese art. It’s suggestive, dreamlike, and has a deep spiritual quality. Naturally I stepped inside.

I met a group of very nice people. The artists whose creative work was on display were Hiroko Szechinski, Kayo Beach, Kazue Knowlton, Joe Cross, Louise Rendich, Keiko Kitano, Teri Ashabraner and Naoko Ozaki. Their diverse artwork includes ceramics, calligraphy, ikebana (flower arrangement) and brush painting.

I was informed the Art Club of San Diego welcomes new members! If you want to learn more, or perhaps would like to purchase one of their pieces, you can find contact info at the bottom left corner of the following flyer. (Click the photo and it will enlarge for easy reading.)

I was glad my feet turned this way today. As I walked among these precious works of art, I felt I was walking through a beautiful memory, or a dream.

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Learning one’s letters in Old Town San Diego.

In the one room Mason Street School in Old Town San Diego, younger and older children sat together before the teacher and learned their letters.
In the one room Mason Street School in Old Town San Diego, younger and older children sat together before the teacher and learned their letters.

A cool theme developed during my walk through Old Town San Diego State Historic Park yesterday. First I wandered into the 1868 San Diego Union Building and observed ladies in 19th century dress practicing calligraphy. A short time later, as my eyes scanned the walls of the one room 1865 Mason Street Schoolhouse, I noticed a sheet on the wall titled First Lessons in Penmanship.

Turns out it was a great day to relearn the alphabet!

A super nice gentleman in the old print shop provided all sorts of tidbits of information concerning printing, publishing and life in early San Diego. I learned the original Washington hand press that was used by the San Diego Union newspaper is now in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. And that setting up the tiny type for a single page of the newspaper took a keen-eyed person about 12 hours!

I posted photos of the old print shop and editor’s office four years ago. I also wrote a little about the San Diego Union’s history. You can revisit that blog post by clicking here.

You can see much more inside the old Mason Street School building and learn more about San Diego’s first school teacher, Mary Chase Walker, by clicking here!

Additional information that I learned yesterday is in my photo captions!

A sheet on the schoolhouse wall contains First Lessons in Penmanship. THE ALPHABET.
A sheet on the schoolhouse wall contains First Lessons in Penmanship. THE ALPHABET.

I'm given a small tour of the print shop inside the historic San Diego Union Building.
I’m given a small tour of the print shop inside the historic San Diego Union Building.

Like wet laundry, hundreds of newspaper sheets would be strung up all around the print shop so that the freshly impressed ink would dry!
Like wet laundry, hundreds of newspaper sheets would be strung up all around the print shop so that the freshly impressed ink would dry!

A demonstration of assembled type and the finished impression.
A demonstration of assembled type and a finished impression.

Part of a large plate in the Washington hand press. Today school students often visit the historic print shop to learn about publishing long before the digital age.
Part of a large plate in the massive Washington hand press. Today school students often visit the historic print shop to learn about publishing long before the digital age.

Those students can rearrange these letters to spell words like SUPER.
Those students can rearrange these letters to spell words like SUPER.

To proof newspaper sheets as type was assembled, this huge heavy roll would be used to make a quick impression.
To proof newspaper sheets as type was assembled, this huge heavy roll would be used to make a quick impression.

In the entrance of the San Diego Union Building, ladies sat at a desk practicing their penmanship.
In the entrance of the San Diego Union Building, ladies sat at a desk practicing their penmanship.

A sample of elegant Copperplate Calligraphy.
A sample of elegant Copperplate Calligraphy.

This beautifully penned text is from Lewis Carroll's humorous Lobster Quadrille in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
This beautifully penned text is from Lewis Carroll’s humorous Lobster Quadrille in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Showing how to write fancy letters with a quill and inkwell!
Showing how to write fancy letters with an old-fashioned pen and inkwell.

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Do you love to read?

You can find small, thought-provoking works of fiction at my website Short Stories by Richard.

The Art Club of San Diego showcases fine pieces!

Gifted artist with a great laugh creates a beautiful dragonfly with ink. Demonstrations were part of this weekend's art show inside the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.
Gifted artist with a great laugh creates a beautiful dragonfly using ink. Demonstrations were part of this weekend’s free art show inside the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.

I was wandering all over Balboa Park today when I saw a sign on El Prado. A free art show was being held inside the Casa del Prado!

What I discovered was pretty cool. Lots of really fine art, created by members of the Art Club of San Diego. Every year they have an exhibit in Balboa Park, and I was told taking photos was just fine. So here the photos are–and I hope many people enjoy them! Please note the name of the artist if you happen to be taken by a particular piece.

The Art Club of San Diego showcased the work of their artists in Balboa Park. Art styles included Sumie (ink wash painting), Ceramic and unusual, highly creative Art Forms.
The Art Club of San Diego showcased the work of their artists in Balboa Park. Types of art included Sumi-e (Japanese ink wash painting), Ceramic and unusual, highly creative Art Forms.

Many great pieces were out on view for anyone to enjoy. I was told taking photographs was fine. So here are some cool works of art! I've done my best to note the artists.
Many great pieces were out on view for anyone to enjoy. I was told taking photographs was fine. So here are some cool works of art! I’ve done my best to note the artists.

I love this bear and the wild hills beyond! Artist Keiko Kitano.
I love this bear and the wild hills beyond! Artist Keiko Kitano.

Some unusual but beautiful sculptures were part of this unique, once-a-year show.
Some unusual but beautiful sculptures were part of this unique, once-a-year show.

Beautiful artwork, everywhere I turned!
Beautiful artwork, everywhere I turned!

I love this traditional bamboo. The artist is Joe Cross.
I love this traditional bamboo. The artist is Joe Cross.

Another fine work of art using ink and brush. Artist Louise Rendich.
Another fine work of art using ink and brush. Artist Louise Rendich.

A colorful bird! Uh, oh. I didn't get the artist. Sorry!
A colorful bird! Uh, oh. I didn’t get the artist. Sorry!

I wasn't the only one who was really enjoying these. You might want to watch for notices of the show next year.
I wasn’t the only one who was really enjoying these. You might want to watch for notices of the show next year.

Mother monkey and offspring in a tender embrace. Fantastic. The artist is Kayo Beach.
Mother monkey and offspring in a tender embrace. Fantastic. The artist is Kayo Beach.

This one really caught my attention! The artist is Kayo Beach.
This one really caught my attention! The artist is Kayo Beach.

One table had superb ceramic works arrayed upon it, all produced by Kazu Takahashi.
One table had superb ceramic works arrayed upon it, all produced by Kazu Takahashi.

According to a nearby sign, this Nihonga Japanese Style painting uses gansai Japanese colors on gold screen or dosa treated rice paper or on silk.
According to a nearby sign, this Nihonga Japanese Style painting uses gansai Japanese colors on gold screen or dosa treated rice paper, or on silk.

More beauty found in amazing Balboa Park. The Art Club of San Diego has some fine artists! Here we see the work of Kazue Knowlton.
More beauty found in amazing Balboa Park. The Art Club of San Diego has some fine artists! Here we see the work of Kazue Knowlton.

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Funny skeleton tries to get a bone tattoo!

funny skeleton gets a bone tattoo

This morning, as I began to climb Bankers Hill, I casually glanced into this tattoo parlor and was immediately horrified.

Just inside the window, a poor skeletal artist was attempting to apply ink to a sadly bony customer. Not much progress was being made.

Seriously, I believe this funny window display was created for Halloween!