An old Zambian saying(?) from Ranji

If each drop of water were to say: one drop does not make an ocean, there would be no sea.


If each note of music were to say: one note does not make a symphony, there would be no melody

If each word were to say: one word does not make a library,

there would be no book

If each brick were to say: one brick does not make a wall,

there would be no house

If each seed were to say: one seed does not make a field,

there would be no harvest

Clementine Hunter and her art gallery.

David Hockney playing with his new I Phone

Wedding group

A beautiful pot by Jennifer Lee.

Jennifer Lee Exhibition in Japan.

The Amazing Jennifer Lee

“Because she does not use glaze, her subtle colours and misty shades come not from a veil draped over the pot but from within its very substance, as in the face of a cliff.


There must also be a sensitivity to shape and material linked to a kind of daring that comes from an instinctive understanding of both. It is this which fuels true creation and gives her work such distinction and beauty.”

Sir David Attenborough

Captain Paul Watson introduced by Persia White at Worldfest

Another lovely word image.

Life in the Mountains


by Otagaki Rengetsu

Living deep in the mountains

I've grown fond of the

Solitary sound of the singing pines;

On days the wind does not blow

How lonely it is!

A small poem

Handmade Pottery

by Otagaki Rengetsu

Taking the fragile

little handmade

thing to sell —

how lonely it looks

in the market place

RENGETSU was a Buddhist Nun renowned for her delicate poems.

Randolph Stowe

Vale Randolph Stowe. To the Islands!

'Under his sandals, leaves and nuts fallen from the Moreton Bay figtrees crunched and popped. Beyond the merry-go-round was the sea. The colour of the sea should have astounded, but the boy was seldom astounded. It was simply the sea, dark and glowing blue, bisected by seagull-grey timbers of the rotting jetty, which dwindled away in the distance until it seemed to come to an end in the flat-topped hills to the north. He did not think about the sea, or about the purple bougainvillea that glowed against it, propped on a sagging shed. These existed only as the familiar backdrop of the merry-go-round. Nevertheless, the colours had entered into him, printing a brilliant memory.'


This excerpt is from Randolph Stowe's book The Merry go round under the Sea.  Randolph Stowe lived in England for a lot of his later years but has writen some wonderful books with an Australian background. He died this week aged 75 years.

The voyage continues.......

Winter days and overcast......feeding the honeyeaters with a little warm nectar.  Now have the largest breed, the Noisy Honeyeater with his beautiful blue markings and of course the busy community of Lewins Honeyeaters.  This weekend is the Festival of the Dreaming and there will be a special tribute to Ruby Hunter.
Garden jobs are mounting up and need to move some of the lucious red soil delivered from a swimming pool excavation.  Such a colour!  Dreaming of new vege and herb patch but will need to fence as the Brush Turkeys are ruthless and particularly love yummy roots and fresh shoots
Louise Bourgois has died at 94 years...a wonderful sculptor!  Really enjoyed Patti Smith's doco with lots of faces known and loved.
Lotus ponds looking ragged with dead leaves and spider webs.  I am not too fond of winter. Lucky we have a fire and heaps of wood and bamboo leaves to burn.

The Goddess of Compassion.

The pose Guanyin is often represented in shows her with one leg raised and her arm resting outwards stretched.  This is known as 'royal ease'.  When traveling in South East Asia, one often sees people relaxing in a similar style.  So graceful.

When is a blog not a blog.

Finding one's way through cyber space is like getting a ship past the coast of Somalia.  I am constantly assailed by unknown forces telling me what I have not done  or must do.  Who is the pirate and who is the genuine friend.  It is quite an art to outguess the tricksters.  I will struggle on and hope for the best outcome.

Some sculptures from New Guinea

These pieces were collected  by a young man in Cairns in the 1970's.  They are wonderful examples of a fascinating culture.

Ancient Chinese ceramic houses. Statues of Guanyin,

These wonderful models of houses glowed with a bright jade green glaze.

A sojurn with my daughter.

This last week or so I was fortunate to hang out with my middle daughter in a southern city and we had a great time going to gardens, galleries, antique hideaways and bookshops.  Precious time spent one on one.
Here are some images of different treasures observed.

Life in the rainforest in March, 2010.

Well we have had the rain...lots and lots.  Everything has grown and flourished and we now need some sunshine.
In the studio, pots are slowly drying and kilns are offering some warm dry spots to dry shoes and clothes.
The Chorissa has had a second flowering and some gorgeous perfumed gingers are flowering.
The faithful Mexican Lime has showered us with fruit in abundance..tea every morning with fresh grated ginger and honey. 
The road in is badly awaiting the repairers who cant come till it dries out.  Cyclone Uluia has crossed the coast so we should see a change soon.  Lots of geckos, skinks and goannas moving around. 
Trees in the forest starting to bloom.  Eucalypts and pioneer species.  Lorikeets shrieking.

A dragon in the studio

One pot was chatting to another......

An artist friend who lives on a mountain in Venezuela.

Here is Nik's painting of a beach.  I can hear the waves.

When a star rises in the heavens,

From the Coorong came a wonderful person, Ruby Hunter.  Awoman with a magical voice.  A songwriter, musician, Mother, lover, friend and inspiration to many.   We have been fortunate to share some time with Ruby.   Thank you.

Cambodian painting.

Detail from Cambodian painting.

Enough so each can eat together.

A Cambodian painting.

Sharing.

Make sure all have good and equal share of food.

A painter from Cambodia.

These works are presented in the Asia and Pacific Trianale in Brisbane,  The artist took up the brush upon retirement.  Most works refer to correct thought and behaviour amongst family.