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on the road

27/9/2013

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Earlier this week I did a reasonably long drive, about 900kms, from Sydney to Mullumbimby. I have a pretty basic car; no luxury, no stereo, auto windows or the like. So it was a bare bones driving experience. Just the wheels on the road and my mind and eyes. 

A couple of things I observed on the trip are worth noting. 

1.) My job was to safely make it from point A to point B. To do this I had to pay proper attention to the coniditions and situations around me. It was very beautiful in some spots and visually a great pleasure to be taking in the wonderful, morphing Australian landscape. I thought about some of the people in global hotspots like Egypt and Syria and thought about how removed I was from those kind of situations - and any other drama unfolding anywhere. My job was simple and confined to limited parameters. I did not have to worry about other dramas - global or personal - because my attention was in demand. It was a reminder of the liberating sensation of travel. The time between your departure place and your destination is reserved for that activity. It's like you have a pass from the everyday issues. It's at once, somehow magically, cathartic and nourishing.

2.) Even though I was giving 100% attention to my driving, a few times I would get on a pleasant or rewarding stream of thought - about a new creative idea/project or a mental recount of a recent series of interesting poker hands - and at the end of the sequence I would realise that ten or twenty or thirty minutes - and 40 or 50kms had gone by. Fully functioning on a couple of levels at once. It reminded me of a few times in my 20's when I used to smoke hashish and drive. Similar. But these days I don't need the drugs.

3.) I don't mind travelling alone. I get on with myself well. I take care of myself and enjoy my own company. This is obviously a good thing. It has always been true to a degree, but now after having done it for many decades, it is even more true and more apparent. There is plenty of world out there to interact with. Having said that, on arrival, I was delighted to see my dearest friends and spend precious and rewarding time together. It's about a healthy balance. I do acknowledge, though, that as an artist, quiet time/alone time is an essential and important aspect to the creative living process.

4.) This trip is not just a visit for me. I am moving from the city to the country. It's a reasonably big change. Before I have resettled, I will have stayed in and moved out of three or four different abodes, some familiar, some new. There has been plenty of box packing, lifting and loading already and more to come. It is a time of change and transition. It is packed with highs and lows. Because you are destabilised and dealing with new surroundings, boundaries and situations, experiences and emotions are heightened. Amongst the turmoil it becomes a little easier to notice one's essence. The un-changing. It is interesting to observe. Life never gets easier. You just get a bit more used to being around the process, challenges and demands of change.
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my first meeting with death

23/9/2013

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The painting on paper which serves as the background for this piece is a large drawing/painting that I did way back in the 80's sometime. It is called Childhood Memories, no. 1. It depicts the view of the hill I ran up towards our house after I had been bitten on the toe by a deadly funnel web spider. I remember feeling something on my bare foot as we were digging in the dirt down by the creek. I flicked my foot to shake it off. It was then I felt a very distinct bite. Shit.

We all knew that funnel webs were killers. And back in the sixties there wasn't even a proven antidote. As I ran up the hill, my friend, Dom, shouted 'It's a funnel web!' Just to clarify fully the urgency of the situation. My little heart was beating, pitter patter, as I ran inside and told my parents. They got me into the back of the VW beetle and we headed towards Hornsby hospital. I remember looking at the leather seats closely and seeing great detail. And the green of the leaves in the trees as we rushed past - they were glorious and alive. I knew I might die. It was strange. I wasn't panicked but I had to consider my own early demise. It stretched by perception to a new level completely.

Everyone at hospital was really nice. I was put into a bed and kept under constant observation. It turned out that, luckily, it had been a not-as-poisonous male - and that also I was bitten on one of my toes - so the poison didn't fully enter the bloodstream. I was released the next day. Alive. It was good to still be around.

Today, I added Death himself, sitting there smugly, over the top of the photo of my original art.
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undefined somethings

20/9/2013

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There's so much obvious, so much clarified, cleaned up, well presented. So much 'on the nose', easy to access, made to order, instant and available. 

So it's nice to stumble across things with a bit of restraint, some mystery, an air of uncertainty about them.

It can be a person, an image, the end of a song, the flash of a conversational segment as a duo walk past. 

These things spark our imaginations. They are like starter guns to our mental sprinters. We go with it. We make it our own. We don't want everything processed, damnit! We have our own inbuilt supercomputers after all. 
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sickly sweet sugar rush

16/9/2013

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Everybody wants to be recognised, it seems. And just as equally, be seen to be seen with the recognised. People clamour just to brush up against celebrity, record their existence in a moment of real time and space with their phone cameras, grab an autograph. What does this increasingly frenzied need say about modern existence? And why is it so pervasive? 

As the world's population bloats, and billions of radar blips get on with their daily struggles, select individuals are nominated to be our front persons. Actors who play out our fantasies - not just on screen anymore, but in their daily lives, too. The pressure is on in the cult of  celebrity - not just on them but on the fans, as well. Enough is never enough. 

Because it is all superficial and surface - with little substance - it's like mental junk food. No nourishment is occuring, just quick, addictive sugar rushes. 

What it points to is an inner emptiness. People seeking to fill a vacuum. Through lack of meaningful interaction with life - come about from too much time consumed by internet, TV and consumerism, many are failing to find fullfilment - which can only be achieved by diving in to life and facing it head on, getting your hands dirty, having real world adventures - and not being overcome by the pursuit of money/materialistic trophies.

It's sooooooo easy in this day an age to be a passive absorber. But it's not good enough, people! It's not a life! Forget the world presented to you by the powers that be. Make your own! Make your own! OK. You can watch Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. But that's it! Then - outside!
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zereniti

14/9/2013

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I realised yesterday that as you get older, because of accumulated experience, thought and understanding of life, your perception shifts. Things that used to seem worthy of your interest/attention are no longer and new things - bigger picture things - yet often more subtle - come into focus. This is something that makes the experience of the sixth decade and beyond quite exciting. Your being, your entity has endured much, seen plenty, done significant things. You have ridden the emotional  roller coaster of relationship that many times that you can now freely elect not to even get on it. You are slowing down physically to a degree but mentally and spiritually it's just starting to get interesting. It truly is remarkable and not something I ever anticipated or expected. You don't just get old. You cook in your own juices. You become a tasty morsel, indeed. A hearty meal. You're a valuable asset to yourself and others - if administered/accessed properly. You might even be called wise. But you will scoff at that. You know too well, we are all just fools. Beautiful, glorious, messy, crazy fools. You can smile more often now. You've endured.
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what's cool

12/9/2013

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When you are young

You think it's cool to wear sunglasses
You think it's cool to pull pranks
You think it's cool to act heartless
You think it's cool to sleep around
You think it's cool to ignore people
You think it's cool to pilfer
You think it's cool to drive fast
You think it's cool to act superior
You think it's cool to break the rules
You think it's cool be irresponsible
You think it's cool to be unthinking
You thinks it's cool to be me me me

But when you get older
You realise that none of that is cool
Not cool at all

You come to understand that what's cool is

Acting with care
Being compassionate
Showing love
Teaching
Listening
Contributing 
Helping others
Being of service
Kindness
Sharing
Truth
Honesty and trust
Empathy

These are the things
You come to realise
These are the things

That are really cool


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serenity now

11/9/2013

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After doing a couple of hours of new art creation (including this picture above) at Atlas Kiosk, I walked up to South Bondi and sat on the hill opposite the Tratt to watch the insanely beautiful and mesmerising sunrise. 

I can get right into the world of my image creation and then if I go out and sit and observe nature's beauty and creation I am totally blown away. The sun was giving a last lick of yellow to the hodge podge abodes on Ben Buckler. The waves were placid, rhythmically caressing the silky shore. 

People - actual humans! not the 2D images I've been playing with - were taking their dogs for walks, carrying surfboards. Tailored bodies were jogging in fluoro shoes and fitting apparel, a couple of dudes lit up a spliff over there, kids were amped - the whole place was alive with existence. 

I observed from my comfortable vantage point on the grass and was reminded how satisfying it can be to do nothing but watch and absorb. It's all going on around us. We shouldn't have to worry as much as we do about whatever we do - status, money, relationships, time constraints -  it can be engulfing and so completely distracting from what is truly important. Just being. Without want or ambition - accepting and delighting in the simple, wonderful beauty within us and around us.
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grand entities

9/9/2013

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We are surrounded by them. But most go unnoticed. Some are microscopic, some are emotions, thoughts, others are everyday things that require re-examination.

What if I told you that if you try hard enough that you can extend your awareness/consciousness? 

Step one is to be open to it. Step two is to wonder. 

Ask yourself questions, look closer, think deeper, exercise your imagination without restraint.

If you think about it, your entire life has been conjured up anyway. What do you want to do with it once you break free of constraints imposed by family, society, bad experience, bad education.

Are you ready to fly? Transpose? Transcend?

Don't get distracted by the noisy, superficial touting of modern society. It is flimsy and corrupt. Go within. Discovery your own version, in fact, define your own version of reality. This is your option. It should have been encouraged from the start. But no matter. Begin now.

Just by reading this, something will open inside you. You will catch a glimpse of new, conceive a fresh notion, get a feeling of grand and open possibility. Go with it. Go with it. Go far.
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blow me (g rated version)

7/9/2013

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Went for a dip in the bay of the Rose this arvo and on the way back to my car I saw a few of these things in the grass. I haven't seen one for a while and I was happy to be reacquainted with them. I remember when I was very little and first discovered them I could hardly believe that such wonderful, whispish, joyful things could exist - and that they grew wildly and plentifully. You could pick them and blow on them and there'd be always more to play with. I was very happy with this bountiful discovery of mirth.
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3 bros

7/9/2013

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Did this artwork yesterday arvo at a corner cafe on Redfern Street. A slight departure from my 'usual' style (broad range!). 

It reminds me of wrestling with my brothers when we were younger. We'd all just get in there and twist and tumble around with youthful zest and exuberance; collapsing in a writhing pile on the ground, panting and laughing.

We shared a lot of love and had many great adventures together growing up in Tokyo. Sneaking into movies, playing pachinko (and winning), hanging out at game centres in Shibuya, Yurakucho, Azabu Juban and lying around reading the latest comics we scored for 10 or 20 yen each from the Roppongi second hand bookshop.

Both my bros went on to become varsity wrestlers in highschool. I didn't do sport back then, preferring to read, make art, skip class, ride my Yamaha 50cc or hang at Comos cafe with the girls from Sacred Heart. Different form of wrestling!
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the price of life

4/9/2013

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At times I think there has to be a master plan. The incredible way everything fits to together - the intricate workings of our minds and bodies, the perfect symmetry of nature and the world in general. 

Other times I am convinced it's a shambolic fluke. Full of chaos and coincidence, life and death at random and without meaning or result. 

And then there is a third option - that it is either both of these things at the same time - or neither. 

I am quite certain whatever the 'answer', it shall not be known to myself or anyone, not ever. For it must be incomprehensible. That is the nature of eternity.

And that, in itself, in it's own way, I find somewhat comforting and on occasion, thrilling.
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YOLO

3/9/2013

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You Only Live Once. 

I don't believe this for a second. My sixth class teacher, Mr Glauche, told us stories of reincarnation. About kids who have come back with full recollection of recent past lives. I was mesmerised and, also, more importantly, it struck a chord. It felt real to me. 

However, I think YOLO is a good motto. Especially if it encourages people to live more fearlessly. Life's all about exciting new experiences. And to the youth I say this: Cram them in there!

And while you are at it; LOL as much as you can. Those WTF moments are precious.

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    ART GETS ME HIGH

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    Author & Artist

    Lewie JPD 
    Blog Mission Statement: 

    "I am taking this opportunity to openly and freely express my simple truth in a relaxed, stream of consciousness manner, without self judgment or editing while transcribing and celebrating the process and practice of being an artist.

    My goal is that I will have some fun recording sentiments and thoughts as they come to me, coupled with my recent imagery. As well; to learn something of value and share something that may inspire/offer insight to other artists, creatives and sentient beings."


    Disclaimer: He's high!
    Er, obviously.

    Pass the paint brush!
    *no drugs required

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