THE BLUE LOTUS

Ulysses: "On the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eater, who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower. Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. When they had eaten and drunk I sent two of my company to see what manner of men the people of the place might be, and they had a third man under them. They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-eaters, who did them no hurt, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eater without thinking further of their return."

THE SERIES COMPLETED

Here are the two last drawings in the series:

SPIRIT OF THE WILD

This is the eighth in my series. I had a definite plan for the picture, but the result still was a surprise.

NUMBER SEVEN

I surprise myself with every new picture!

NUMBER SIX

BARON SAMEDI

IS NUMBER FIVE:

NUMBER FOUR

FINALLY FIRING

Two and a half months into the ceramics class the first glaze firing happened and I saw the results of my experiments. Only about half of them were satisfying - oh, well!

NUMBER THREE

My friend Georg from Denmark was here recently. He is a painter and naturally we talked shop. I complained that I had a hard time getting started, now, when my setup in the new house is perfect. He told me that to get going he gave himself the task of painting ten pictures like a series. I have taken the idea up in a series of ten drawings in pencil. I bought some very soft black pencils when I went to Costa Rica and there I made a drawing that is kind of a forerunner for the set. I have already posted that and recently the two first of the actual series, and here is the third.

HERE'S A NEW ONE

NEW DRAWING

THE LIVING SPACE

RAKU

Raku is a Japanese firing technique that takes only about an hour. I had two bowls fired today and that was the first things finished this semester. I haven't been too happy about this class but today's result made me feel better.

PAINTING AGAIN

This painting is called 'Summer Things'. That was the badly translated title of a French movie that I didn't particularly like, but it fits the picture better.

PARANOIA-DIALOGUE

I tell myself I’m so lucky – within the frame of the possible.

Do you know the possible - or the impossible for that sake?

Well, I know one thing that’s impossible! – You cannot live forever.

So, within your slow descent towards mortality, you are lucky? That’s what you’re saying?

Yes, I know I am lucky – but I do not always feel it.
And then I feel guilty for not appreciating my luck.
There are also assaults of negative moods that must not take root.
And then sometimes I feel that I should not give in to the pleasures that accompany my luck – like I’m using up my good karma.

You complicate things. Just live your life and keep your heart open.

But I’m kind of misanthropic. I mostly just tolerate people.

Oh, you are just too focused on young male beauty.

And so what? It doesn’t hurt anybody - au contraire!

What do you mean?

Well, I mean it could help someone – it could be my natural way to be positive.
I think openness is positive. And I just do open up towards young men - like a flower turns to the sun.

But you always sit and gape at their beauty.

Just live your life, you said – and now you want me to cramp my style. I think you are the one who complicates things.

We are just driving each other crazy!

Shit, no! We are just passing the time.

Are you actually going to post this?

What do you think?

It was you who said openness is good.

But it can be boring.

ALIEN FRIEND

My friend, whose name is Ned Lap Ehsey, comes from a parallel universe where he is in fact something like my alter ego. Because of our super-universal connection he succeeded in transferring himself to our universe for a short visit and this is how I am able to present you with this authentic photo of a being who is truly alien.
Ned says: "What do you need two eyes for? To have one is like only having the 'Third Eye' - I can see things with mine that you can't even see with your two eyes . And what do you need nostrils for? You can breathe through your mouth, just keep it open!"

ANOTHER DUNUN VILLAGE

This Gathering was small and sweet. Early September Indian summer weather.
Wadaba, The Great Panther, blessed us with his presence thanks to Aaron who raised money for his transportation. For those who don't know: Wadaba is a master drummer in the traditional village music, right at the source of African drumming.

The blogger with Wadaba

Peter and Nathan

Wadaba dancing Dununba, the Strong Men's Dance

The Dunun section

A perfect tomato

Cooling off at the swim hole

Mister T

Nuyma

Ronin and Madu

FLOWERS

In the evening the house on the other side of the street reflects the rays of the setting sun:

STARTING UP AGAIN

I lent Shawn a book on Daoist art and seeing it inspired me to try out my Japanese brushes:


My next experiment resulted in this minimalist drawing:


Tony didn't think it was finished. Looking at it he took a paper and drew some lines with a ruler and said I could use that. Since he had used a ruler I thought I would continue with the templates used for curves in technical drawing, but in the end I drew over it all by hand:

THE PARTY

The house-warming party was great. The house is ideal for party and we drummed for hours without any complaints, which is promising for the future.

HOUSE WARMING

The best part of moving is when the boxes are unpacked and the rooms are taking shape. This is the creative part, finding a place for each thing you brought and making new things where needed. Our old kitchen table has got new life with white paint and wood finishing:

Here are two pictures from the living room, my work table transformed into coffee table:



And two from my room; so far only my thanka and Lama Yeshe on the wall:



Tomorrow is the house warming party and everything is clean and ready - that is almost clean and almost ready - but who will see the difference?

IT'S COMING TOGETHER

For almost three weeks I was without connection to the net, but anyway I was too busy moving and unpacking to want to post. I took some pictures of the living room and my room: