sketches

I've a lot of old drawing books, with small sketches
of ideas that didn't become paintings (yet).
Left is 'tree-ing' , right is 'listening' .
Under middle one is this quote:
"O you who fear the difficulties of the road to annihilation:
it is so easy, it may be travelled sleeping."

Today is in fact the 1st of January, 2009,
I still haven't figured how to change it on heading.

Wishing happiness to all.
My time on the net has mostly been looking for
good hotels or guest houses in Thailand & Laos, as it will
be the busy time when I am there.
Here's a few discoveries, though: one, two, three
four, five, six.

warmer

It's definitely getting warmer, & a big storm
builds up each afternoon, today with hail.

The poinciana trees still have flowers (right);
nature is so inexhaustibly inventive, but also,
sometimes, within a narrow band ~ the flower at left
could have been drawn by the same hand, then turned
upside down, except it's on a vine, not a large spreading tree.

Just checked in on a few friends: Kiki, Zom, Susan, Janice, Mel

north & south

Some very warm humid days, here; hard to imagine cold & snow.
The cold was in Colorado,
the traveller's palm & ginger flower in Byron Bay.
Almost a whole year has sped by. In me, there is a sense that
time is running out, I don't think it's from all the 'end of the world'
thoughts out there. Others believe the beginning of
a golden age is nigh. We just never know, do we?

As you may notice from my links, I love folk art, & so-called
outsider art. More here & here.

boxing day

Not so easy to photograph a book, without an extra pair of hands

a hand could also give a clue to the size (it's A5 page size)
though it could be a very large hand, or a tiny one..

A few airmail copies available locally. Please comment/email
if you'd like to be reminded when the seamail copies arrive ~
looks like it will be early March.

Some lovely handmade books here

dawn

Visited friends & family for a few days

& looked out from the 8th floor for many hours

at the ever changing ocean & light, took enough photos to make
a short movie, each moment seems better than the last,
how can you possibly decide that this is the moment ?
(that is, the best moment for a photograph ~
this moment is of course the best one we have right now..)


Haven't been much on the web, but here's some tasty food

happy holidays

Wishing everyone happy times.

to mullumbimby

In Vientiane there was a man standing beside some Lao temple
drawings, it looked a little like they'd jumped onto his arm.

My first approach to bookstores was yesterday
at Abraxas in Byron Bay where Betty was very helpful & positive
Today I went to Mullumbimby & arranged that our book
is also available at the Bookshop Mullumbimby,
I always like it there.

Otherwise it will be at Isaac's meetings only. There's been
one more hitch, the seamail copies will be late February.
I've just the airmail copies, so won't sell online yet,
just hope you'll check in again. It's AU$28 plus postage
($2.50 within Australia; $12.50 to both USA & UK)

If you like optical illusions, here's some

we have a book

Yesterday I received a finished book, it's fine, I said yes.

It became such a process. Let me warn anyone who thinks
to publish their book ~ if there are any little nooks & crannies
in your habit patterns, this will find them.
Then there are the people you deal with, who have their own
stuff..
Sensations in the body are somewhat ambiguous,
a bit like this old painting.

Excitement beginning to happen.
I get the airmail box today, the bulk will arrive by sea
from China, late January I think. Please check back then
Airmail copies for sale now, locally (Byron Bay).
I'll get paypal at Shanti Press once the books are all here.

distracting myself

Isn't it amazing how we can recognise a whole city
from a few brush strokes ? This is Varanasi
where I stayed for several months, a truly fascinating place.

A rock pool at Yamba, drove there one day with friends.

No, the book still hasn't materialised, lost in some twists of
who knows what. So I'm doing other things.
(.... ******* **** ....)

Bought a gorgeous book, Equus, photos by Tim Flach
& a lovely reunion
& a food tripper

nearly there

This is the intro page of our book
Nearly there...or not.

Interesting technology here

&, for a sister who soon starts a job with
an ngo in South America, here's two heroes:
Sebastiao Salgado & Wade Davis

signs

part of a sign in a nearby small town


& another that has since been sprayed by some
no-talent tom cat.

Speaking of which.. but no..
& cats are fine, they are totally upfront about their motives.
(Had to come back & edit this: so angry about something.)

Some interesting stuff here, - check out the FM 100 Hue test.

drawings

I came across this group years ago, I think in the
SF Asian Art Museum, & made several drawings. They were
a honey coloured timber, with remains of painting, & had
an endearing aliveness ~ life size as I recall, so it
felt like the figures were looking back & even commenting.

I'm in magical thinking mode, perhaps.

Don't you think it's fascinating to see what was happening
in other places, at the same time?

& then there's the timeless..

china

From my trip down the Yangtze in about 1982 ~ I can recall
a man coming up to me & saying ' You must be 40 at least',
he didn't seem to get that it wasn't a winning
opening gambit. The river, & especially the gorges, was
truly fantastic. & August unbelievably hot.

The book..seems to be taking the slow boat..

I like these papercuts,
& this artist has some awesome works

storms

Stormy weather. Not just outside.
If I was lightning, I'd probably strike someone.

wrapped eggs

I painted these wrapped eggs in mexico, on the hand made paper
that looks like Australian paperbark trees. The wrappers they
used in the San Cristobal market were the outer leaves of
corn cobs. At home I'd put the eggs in a glass of water ~
if they float, they're bad.

..This excruciating waiting trip continues..