I decided to change the way I brought in the new year.  On December 26th, I flew out to Los Angeles and spent the next 5 days at the Los Angeles Zen Centre where I would participate in Zazen in the mornings and the evenings and paint during the day. 

The painting workshop was lead by Michele Cassou, the same artist I studied from in San Francisco. Her methods are about getting down to the core of what you are and this connection we have to the universe through the painting process.  It isn't about painting really pretty pictures or learning brush techniques or how to paint mountains realisticly.  It is about opening yourself up with the 'jaws of life' to reach the core - which is hot and bubbling like molten.

The ZCLA: http://www.zcla.org/index.php

Here are some pictures

Zendo Centre

One of the beautiful gardens at the ZCLA

A few of us set out easels up outside