“Please close your eyes and then open them with the understanding that you are now in my world…”

That was the screen text on one of my short films I made for uni way back when. It then followed with a non-eventful continuing loop of crappy video footage of water backwash from a motorboat. Yes I went to art college. My poor fellow students, I apologise to you now but I’m sure I must have thought it expressed something inside me worth expressing at the time. Perhaps some inclination for wanting to be one of Kingsley’s captured water babies…

The Water Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby

My mother read it to me as a child and as difficult as it was to try to understand the 19th century English of Charles Kingsley’s at the age of 8, the essence of the story and the beautiful sketches of Jessie Willcox Smith are etched in my heart forever still.

In short, the story is about Tom, a young chimney sweep who falls in the river and unfortunately dies but is transformed into a ‘water baby’. A series of underwater adventures follows with fairies such as Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid.

This story fuelled my imagination and passion for the sea and inspired many an artwork since, including the above mentioned short film and a number of sketches, photographic stories like the one below, short stories and poems that one day, when back in Sydney, I might take a wander through the attic and perhaps will feel brave enough to post them here in the (blog)house. I am always drawn to water, I can’t help but want to take out my camera and click away, so this week is dedicated to places, things and images water related that have inspired me and continue to inspire my work. I adore the waters edge, finding all sorts of little bits and pieces to make things from… stringing little shells into necklaces and bracelets, gathering driftwood, or just collecting, I always find a gift from mother nature when i take a wander by the sea side…

it’s a little late, but it’s for all the mothers out there.
This photograph is from a series I took a few years ago, with my trusty Canon AE-1. And looking at this image I realise, I am missing film, just a little bit.

3:18pm: It’s afternoon tea time for me. And I’ve decided, while sipping my tea, that this image goes with this song. They both make me feel happy.

3:19pm: Tea time’s over

It’s been spectacular weather here in Amsterdam for the past week and I thought you might like to come with me on a mini trip around the canals. The lovely Davo, our guest in the (blog)house, has invited us all out on his weekend runabout, and who would say no to that? David has been an awesome guest - sharing his photos, photographic tips, and latest projects with us, and now this boat trip - he is definately welcome back to the (blog)house anytime! But sadly we have to say ‘dag’ to Davo as a new guest is arriving shortly. So let’s say our goodbyes now (no tears, he will be back, I promise) and enjoy the weekend touring the canals of Amsterdam…

So what about the soundtrack you ask? Ah, click here to open it and come back to this page to scroll the pics below. Have you got a glass of rosè? and would you like some cheese? Here you go. Enjoy…

Thanks to Eddie Vedder for supplying the music (via some strange you tube user). Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday with another little something special.

wow, i’m wrapped with the response from the before and after, thanks guys! And a BIG thank you to Grace for posting it. I love how the story looks on her blog (well, I love everything on her blog!), it really shines - but poor French Boy, he is a little embarrassed… I did warn him to close his eyes!

There were quite a few questions in the comments on design*sponge so I am going to try to answer them all here. I have linked to each commenter so you can easily find the answer to your question within this post. I love questions about my work, so don’t hesitate to ask more in the comments if you have them.

(more…)

French Boy, you might want to close your eyes. Everyone else, come with me.

I’ve added some new features to the other rooms in the (blog)house and I’d love you to check them out! In the Library, I’ve added books with links that I have just read, or currently reading, as well as the latest on my coffee table. And in the Sound Studio I’ve added music I am currently listening to, currently playing on the piano, and currently composing, all with links. I will endeavour to write posts with reviews as I go too. So click here to go to the sound studio, or click here to go to the library (Alfred is there now waiting for you with some chablis)…

Also, something special is coming this way in the next few hours! I love surprises, don’t you? So be sure to come back this afternoon (or midnight for you aussies and morning for my american pals). See you soon! xx

Gather kids, it’s story time! Seriously, gather your kids if you have them, as this post is for the little ones and the little ones at heart. It’s a treasured childhood book of mine and I found a you tube reading of it to share with you which (again, with the peeing in the pants) brightened my day so much so that I now need to wear shades.

This book is called tikki tikki tembo, and the story is set in ancient China. It’s written by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent.

I adore this book, although my 30 year old copy is in Sydney, I can still bring it to you right here, thanks to technology. It is this book that first captured my imagination and sent my heart wandering East. It was through my constant yearning to learn more and more about China that I soon learnt about Tibet. I was devastated to realise that right at that moment, a country and people I cherished were destroying and torturing it’s neighbour and themselves. My wandering heart bled. That was about ten years ago. and at that time I was at Uni studying art, so I went to a Chinese calligraphist in Sydney who taught me the Chinese character for ‘love with suffering’, I was told it is a character used often. I still continue to use this symbol in my art.

But as some of you may know, thanks to all of us pressuring to bring this situation to the headlines and hearts of thousands, Tibet and China are talking right now. This is positive.

My post about my Tibetan friend Tenpa gathered some great and controversial comments, check them out here. And as I mentioned in my last comment on that post, I will not only be showcasing Tibet on my blog, but everything that is connected with it, and that includes China. So why not start with Tikki Tembo! It begins a little something like this…

The illustrations captured my imagination as a little girl. When Mum read me the book I was instantly taken to the little house at the top of the hill, or resting with the old man and his ladder.
And it is now one of my niece and nephew’s favourite as I have been reading it to them since they were toddlers. Their faces beam when they hear me say tikki’s name and they join in with pure delight.

I highly recommend you buy a copy as the printed version is definately the best. But for those who just can’t wait, here is the very awesome retro video reading. Make yourself a tea, take a break and a deep breath. And enjoy…

And just for laughs, here is a chipmunk version of tikki’s name!