the Aware

Busy on other things; this is in the folder of files I keep

for this blog, I don't recall if I've posted it before.

I used some plug ins for the effects on the lettering

which is one of the names of God.

calligraphy in motion

despots

2 of my old paint sketches from photos. It's easy to think that all
the worst abuse of power was/is by men, but China had
some women (right) who were in the finals.
I heard that Tibet is closed to tourists at present.
Watched some old footage from late '40's>50's, in Tibet,
it looked so marvellous, partly because it could have been
from long before photography happened.

devotion in Tibet

brush drawings

Further pages photographed from one of my old
drawing books.
Am puzzling over where my next holiday will
take me: how to get to see new places, old friends,
at the best time of year, all in one package.
Of course I'm following the awful news from Japan,
it must be so hard for everyone there, & their loved ones
elsewhere.

I admire his photos & approach very much:
Phil Borges

sit,stretch

These were loose pages in another old drawing book

Maybe I was doing some meditation courses then.
If you are an artist, let me encourage you to use good paper
& materials. Trouble is, those scribbles get done
on whatever is near. (What am I saving them for anyway?)

Feldenkrais method

exercises

It's possible I just filled a couple of drawing books with
'reference' material, but maybe I wasn't really organised
at all, because I'd get to the new town/country, & start
drawings like these..

Some great holidays at wildfrontiers

drawings

Another of my old concertina drawing books,
inconvenient to scan, so I photographed pages quickly.
As I explained earlier, I took these books with me on long
trips, full of reference for painting I might do.

I stayed in Mexico for 2 years that time, never
know so far ahead, even now ~ do you?
In some ways the web makes it much easier,
though I still prefer books, museums etc.

terrific lettering: Alex Trochut

maya

This sketch book, from the mid 80's, was partly from museums
the rest from other sources, also with the aim to have
multiple (portable) references while travelling.

Here's one I used:
a woman carrying a baby on her head.
The painting right is in Burning Questions, it was initially
inspired by the old story of the teacher who asks his
student to first fetch him a glass of water
before he gives him an explanation of maya.
I think the flooded river is all too real for many

in Brisbane & other parts of Queensland,

this year.

farshidmesghali

early

Some of my earlier drawing books have
pages like this, it looks like they're from
Greek pots or reliefs ~ I don't remember ~ I often
made drawings from library books etc, without much
agenda, just the pleasure of drawing. These days I prefer
to use a brush when drawing, & take more care with
archival paper & 'permanent' media etc.
I wonder why?
..there's too much already, no?

R B Kitaj on painting

references

Some scanned pages of a small concertina style
drawing book. Drawing figures from some ballet books
was an easy way to carry reference for new paintings,

even though I didn't know yet what I'd
paint, nor that I'd be in San Cristobal de las Casas
for 2 years.
By the time it was drawn again, in another context,
they all looked completely different.

a new look at souvenirs: Walter Martin & Paloma Munoz

drawings-3

Did these in India, after doing the lettering for a book
about Japanese mandalas. About 10 years later
I went to Kyoto, so many beautiful temples there.
& absolutely stunning art.

the Starn twins

drawings-2

From Bali about 1970. I stayed months longer than planned,
it was such a beautiful place to be, just about everyone
was an artist. My drawing books from those years are a bit
disappointing, mostly small scribbles of ideas for paintings.

There was a very large cremation during my stay ~ sensational!

drawings-1

Something different for a while ~ some old drawings.
three from Sri Lanka, that's Ananda left,
& another I did in a Bangkok temple c '72.
It interests me how the forms changed as Buddhism
moved east from India, even though there were
apparently artists, stone carvers etc from very diverse
cultures, who had, for instance, moved from
the Mediterranean area to escape persecution.

always plenty of inspiration: anindiansummer
Andrew Moore's wonderful photographs

abbreviated

These are the last 2 spreads, of my short art history,
I ran out of pages in the book

oh well, history is totally subjective like most other things.
No?
To see some of the masterpieces in the great museums
is to fill a need that little else reaches. In Thailand it's
possible to find great art still in a living situation.. shall
see some soon!! (also true in India, Laos, Cambodia et al)

the asian art museum in San Francisco.

4th & 5th spread

Maybe my history is a bit vague at times, or dates for some
cultures are still controversial..
maybe I didn't scan all the pages..

also it had a lot to do with what photos or pages I could find;
am sure there was a lot happening in asia all through time.

Musee Guimet

more pages

If you know any art history, it's self explanatory..
if not, wonderful discoveries ahead of you, in any museum,
at sites both actual & virtual, tons of books etc.

I usually feel some strong connection to the artists, sculptors,
makers of artifacts from whatever time, as I'm sure most
creative people do, don't they?

Amazing coincidence: the British Museum

hello, 2010

The lettering says something like after a while I wonder
whether I wish to communicate anything (because I end up
in places where I cant talk to anyone) so maybe I did it in
Japan, but it could have been many places..

Maybe this year a few people who come by might actually
write a comment?
Wishing all a happy year.

le divan fumoir bohemien

memory

Thought the figures top right & lower left were familiar as I'd
seen similar ones in Vientiane top left, but found this sketch
in an old drawing book from about 1971, I'd been on a trek
in the golden triangle, opium was still in evidence, then.

Also in northern Thailand, looks a different (good) place to stay

bodhisattvas

More drawings in museums, from chinese sculptures ~ bodhisattvas

& buddhas, pretty sure they are Northern Wei style,
I like that period best, to me they emanate a kind of
uncomplicated delight that ~ perhaps ~ goes with those times.
But who knows, we seem to bring our complications to all eras.

Friends are celebrating the life of Marcey Jacobson 1911-2009
today in San Cristobal de las Casas, have been tuning in.

Love saintverde's combinations

a few more

Here's a bit more of Recipe for Dreaming, written by
Bryce Courtenay, with my illustrations, you should be
able to find 2nd hand copies, it was reprinted several times.
top left is the cover image, top right is possibly my favourite,
(When you're skating on thin ice you might as well tap-dance)
then the initial sketch for it's finished page.

From yesterday's link, Alexey Titarenko's stunning photographs.

back when

Left is the initial altered photo, top right the full image in the
2nd edition of Recipe for Dreaming, I used a bunch of letters
I'd written my mother. Above right is from the 1st edition
(my paintings; the more recent edition has my photos)
& below right the initial drawing. Text was about Aussie blokes.

The hands were on the invitation to my first exhibition.
It's a Tibetan mudra, but can't recall the meaning. The other
picture is Shiva. I have only a few b/w photos of that series,
they had quite delicate ink washes ~ in Dr Martins' inks
which are beautiful but extremely light sensitive.
Clearly I wasn't thinking ahead in 1970...

How to make a baby elephant float ~ lots of interesting images
& what a great name