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"Life is short.  There is no time to leave important words unsaid." - Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist

As we get older, we come to understand certain things more and more.  One of these things is well said in those words by Paulo Coelho.   His words can be interpreted literally or metaphorically, but either way, I take it to heart.

In this business of art that I do, I meet and work with a lot of people every year for my workshops, exhibitions, publicity and marketing.  If I count in my workshop participants and audiences for my demonstrations and talks from around the world, there would be a countless number of people I must cross paths with in a year.  By the way I do not think we cross our paths by accident.  It's amazing to think of that, and I cannot express how grateful I was to each one for sharing their time with me this year.

There's a Japanese adage that I like and try to keep in mind for every encounter in my life: ichigo ichie.   It literally means, "one time, one meeting," referring to each encounter being both the first- and last-time occurrences at the same time.  Yes, a meeting happens only once.  Even if we meet the same person again, each time is a different moment.  The proverb reminds us that we must treasure each meeting with utmost respect and sincerity.  We must say important words that need to be said without waiting too long.  The reality is, however, sometimes we are too busy, too tired, too worried about something else, etc. and we could easily forget the importance of doing it or even remembering it.  I am guilty of that, too.

As I reflect on this year, I realize I was able to work on and accomplish so many things.  And I know I couldn't have done it without many people who generously gave their time and attention to work with me.  As 2016 is approaching its end, I'd like to extend my special thank-you to the following people for their hard work, enthusiasm, dedication, professionalism, patience and kindness.  My thank-you also goes to each one of many attendees of the workshops I taught throughout the year 2016.  I wish you all joy, good health and success in the coming year!

(workshops, art trips)

Donna Delseni Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, Bonita Springs, Florida

Colette Chaumet & Domy Lhonoré Pinceaux Passion Bezannes, France

Freddy Samain & Fabienne Crepeele Aquarellades de Mons, Mons, Belgium

Wendy Oliver & Sally Noble California Watercolor Association, Walnut Creek, California

Barbara Otey California Watercolor Workshops, Folsom, California

Rebecca Giesking Catalyst, Westminster, California

Lana Coryell Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, Maui, Hawaii

Robbie Laird Kanuga Watermedia Workshops, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Avi Sadhu Saddleback Art League, Mission Viejo, California

Micheline Hayez & Monique Dupret Aquarelle en Stage, Libin, Belgium

Isabella Rizzato & Marco Fazzini TheArtsBox, Vicenza, Italy

Judy Augustadt & Linda Andres Art of the Lakes, Battle Lake, Minnesota

Vickie Kwasney Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Karen Goldstein & Ingrid Albrecht Ingrid Albrecht Studio, Chicago, Illinois

Erin Blum Cedarburg Cultural Center, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Marco Agostini & Claudio Castiglioni Associazione Romana Acquerellisti, Rome, Italy

Pascal Szapu Atelier Art'image, Durtal, France

Zony Gordon & Jeanne Iler Santa Clarita Artists' Association, Santa Clarita, California

Enrique Alda Alda con Limon, Madrid, Spain

Loli Alvaro Dalvaro Art Holidays, Beningamin, Spain

Jackie Granschamps & Valerie Sans French Escapade, Bay Area, California

Xavier Duponcheele & Nathalie Medernach individuals, Gordes, France

Eugenia Slesareva & Yulia Demina Art Holidays, Moscow, Russia

Lena Bradford Alliance of California Artists, Fresno, California

Gina Barron The Arts Colony Gallery, Corona, California

Tony Trowbridge individual, San Diego, California

Heather Bowling Brea Art Gallery, Brea, Callifornia

Feroze Antia & Supaporn Supawan School, Bangkok, Thailand

Yu Kagami & Kazuko Takahashi Ikebukuro Community College, Tokyo, Japan

Karen Neal Anaheim Art Association, Anaheim, California

Virginia Pierce, Maui, Hawaii

eban, Strasbourg, France

Sandra Beck, Arizona

Eugen Chisnicean & Family, Eugenia Shalalis, Igor Mosiychuk, Eugeniu Gorean, Moldova

Konstantin Sterkhov & Larisa Sterkhova, St. Petersburg, Russia

Fausto Sutera & Antonella, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Yumi & Adriano, Salinara, Marsala, Sicily, Italy

Saeko Kageyama, Japan

& all of my workshop students from all over the world

(publicity, marketing)

Dave Geada & Clint Watson FineArtStudioOnline

Danny Handler The Design Core

Michael Campos, Campos Photography, California

Axel Coeuret, Axel Coeuret Photography, France

Ken Goldman, Ken Goldman Fine Art

Victor & Ana Retuerto Veopintar

Jenna Zilincar M Studio

Janine Gallizia & Laurent Benoist L'Art de l'Aquarelle

Kelly Kane Watercolor Artist

Sarah Laichas North Light/Impact books

Karin Plass, European Association of Urology

Stefan Gadnell

Hashim Akib

(Photo, top, courtesy of Victor Retuerto of Veopintar)

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