Lieuran-Cabrières, houses almost eternal

Lieuran-Cabrières, houses, I have been painting so many houses. These warm ochra yellow walls become magical around nine in the evening when the sun has just disappeared behind something, when the atmosphere gets filled with thym and rosmarin, when les cigales play their mechanical never ending tune. Houses that have not changed except a window more or less, and that will not change anymore. Never. Calming, consoling. And let me dream for a while that life is like that – always here and I'm in the middle of it.

Stockholm, in the studio

Stockholm, because the rain is still in the air and because since yesterday the evening arrives one hour earlier than before, I enter my studio looking at some almost forgotten unframed paintings on paper. Hello studio, hello paintings! When focusing at this one, some details step forward and have something to say, so I take a photo. And I publish it in the blog. That's all.

Stockholm, Autumn, Colors and Photoshop

Stockholm, dull weather, rainy. Darkness says hello in mid afternoon. And the worst of all: this is just the beginning. I enjoy the beautiful colors of nature. The splendour of summer is changed into yellow and red. The camera creates copies which can never compete with reality itself. I try some painting in Photoshop. The upper picture is the result of the filter 'dry brush' and the lower one is the original. Printed out it looks quite good. Still for one or two weeks the original is out there, so carpe diem and enjoy!

Tikitere, hot water falling the Blog Action Day

Tikitere, Hell's Gate, New Zealand, it was some years ago. Looking for a picture inspiring me to write something about Climate Change, the theme of this global Blog Action Day.

Climate Change is about rising temperature. Tikitere is a hot place – more exactly, the soil is hot. This is the hottest water fall of the world. All around here are hot, bubbling pods. The air is thick and sulfur smelling.

But this is quite natural, it's about thermal facts. So the connection to Climate Change is not logical. But it's like that. You think about something, trying to find good things to write down. Inspiring pictures is a help, but not the whole trip.

Please read this which really is about what it should be about!

Stockholm, urban peace

Stockholm, Up there in house number two I spend my days. The most urban area of Sweden. In front of the first house and close to the rotary are some park benches surrounded by a heather plantation. There people enjoy their lunch break and the maybe last sunshine for a long time. Relaxing!