Painting Chinese: A Lifelong Teacher Gains the Wisdom of Youth

Painting Chinese: A Lifelong Teacher Gains the Wisdom of YouthI loved reading the poems Kohl interspersed with the narrative of his experiences and feelings as a beginning student of oriental painting. Well and simply written.

This book was beautifully written description of opening the heart to receive wisdom offered by life. It describes a transformation from a fearful state of mind to one of acceptance during the transition from employment to retirement.

This wonderful book details the author's struggle with loss, both the closure of a program he had created and his own mortality. He wanders into the Joseph Fine Art School, hoping to learn how to paint. It turns out to be a school of Chinese painting, and Herb Kohl finds himself in the beginner's class with 6 year olds as his fellow students. He details his struggles to paint a monkey, accept his role as student rather than teacher, and learn about the culture behind the paintings he is doing. Comfort comes from these activities, loss recedes with time, and joy blossoms. This lovely story is essential reading for anyone who is having or has had loss or fears mortality.

This is a quiet little book, it's not about raging, "...against the dying of the light," nor does he take the tone that "aging is not for sissies." He accepts that life has a beginning and an end and that he is closer to the end. He cherishes the irony in being in a class with small children who will be guides for him as he learns to paint in the Chinese style. Along with learning how to paint he opens his eyes to a way of teaching that had been inimical to him in his life as an educator. He finds joy in learning and his book is a joy to read.