The Dance
As I was looking through a portfolio of my previous works I came across this charcoal drawing……….. Title : The Dance
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The 500th Post
Today is my 500th post.
Thank you for your support because without it……… I probably would have given up long ago.
Hopefully I have contributed something to your life……..as you have to mine.
Wishing you all the very best of blogging…….and life in the future.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
I wrote the following poem as a direct response to seeing how young people are behaving badly after much drinking late at night.
Blue skies delight but not at night
For they take flight
before midnight
The way is clear
except with much beer
for then the fog descends
Obscuring reason and lighting up stupidity
But like all things
the day begins
anew.
Feelings are clear
without much beer
and light the day and night
for all is good
without
the…. could
the… should, the ….would,
and fogs appear only at our choosing.
A Poem by R. J. Burgess
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
Three Bags Full On The River
Person/s unknown have made an effort to dispose of their rubbish in an orderly if unusual manner.
Here was a photo opportunity for me.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Taste Of The New In Nerang
Many artists are drawn to rundown places because of their cheap rents and large spaces. This environment stimulates creativity and allows the artist to focus on what is really important in life…… deeper values and meaning.
Then, as many artists move to this less desirable area they work their magic introducing trendy looking coffee shops art galleries, boutiques etc………and prices rise. Soon the area is “the place” to live.
The irony is……..many artists are forced to move on and find another place to develop.
This was my experience in New York.
Arriving in the 80’s and setting up residence in a SoHo loft/studio in lower Manhattan.
The area was changing and by mid 90’s it area was being referred to as a “Mall” environment with most of the galleries moving to Chelsea on the lower West side.
I moved to a large loft in an old factory at the sleepy less known area at Long Island City just across the river from Grand Central Station at 42nd Street.
Such is…… The Artist’s Cycle Of Renewal
Now I find the same process at work where I am now…….they are advertising…..The Changing Face of Nerang.
Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The Greatest Distance
Today I post a quote…….my own quote….(apologies if someone else said it)
“The greatest distance we will ever travel is between our two ears”
Original artwork by Burgess 2011 (c)
and always remember
The greatest painting is still to be painted
The greatest artwork is still to be made
The greatest photograph is still to be taken
The greatest book is still to be written
The greatest love is still to be expressed
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
Death of Constable Scanlon 1946 – Sidney Nolan
This post introduces you to one of Australia’s most famous painters……Sidney Nolan OM, AC (1917 – 1992).
During his lifetime he became recognised as one of the foremost international modern artists.
In his youth during the 1940’s, Sidney painted his famous series of paintings inspired by the life of the Australian bushranger…. Ned Kelly.
He was knighted in 1981 and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1983.
Also he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, elected an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
and a member of The Royal Academy of Arts.
There is a permanent exhibition of his art at The Nolan Collection Gallery in Canberra.
Little Boy with a Hat
I would love you to meet this…………”Little Boy with a Hat”
Maybe a child from my childhood…..maybe not.
Could he be ……….me……when I was a little boy?
Who knows……
He has no name…..unless you give him one.
Still he might win your heart….as he has mine.
Just a simple drawing……..using compressed charcoal.
Could his image be etched on your soul…as it is on mine.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Magical Place
Recently on a morning ride I made this discovery………… “A Magical Place”
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The Flower
In my artistic journey of discovery look what I found…..
“The Flower of Perpetual Youth”
It is a very rare species……. in fact this is the ONLY one in the world.
Did I hear an offer of……….what….. $1,000,000…..$2,000,000….$10,000,000
Sorry, this is getting out of hand.
Looks like someone will pay anything……. to live forever!
Maybe a rare limited-edition print at $1,000? ……not perpetual but…… long-lasting youth.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Resting Moment
Photographs reveal themselves. This one did.
Titled : “A Resting Moment”
An alternative title was …….. “Cathedral.”
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
“The Key” – Burgess 2013
Another new painting.
Titled : “The Key” (after Pollock)
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The Storm
Another new multi media work.
Title : “The Storm”
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The Drummer
Came across this photo of me in another time …… “The Drummer”
Just shows how much I really love rhythm. It is in my blood.
We had the idea of growing our hair and calling the group ……. The Beatles…
but a group in the UK beat us to it.
They sounded just like us.
The Trojans ……. the name went on to bigger things.
The Drummer….. played in various groups including jazz. Still loves all music.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
The Emancipation of Women
This is a new multi-media artwork which evolved from a life drawing.
As I searched for a title is seemed to reflect how modern women are obtaining their freedom
by casting off and being cleansed of the past and looking to the future.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
This is a Reblog of The Journey……No 10 originally posted June 24th 2012.
It seemed like eternity as I fell.
My life flashed before me……. I demanded I can’t die now. I have not done what I set out to do.
Then SPLASH….I hit water. It was warm as I sank below the surface.
I opened my eyes and found I was immersed in a purple sea with suggestions of red rocks appearing far below.
Quickly running out of air I was amazed to find I could breathe. This liquid was not like anything I had ever known before.
I could turn freely, and breathe easily and still be supported. More like colored air which behaved like water.
This was something completely new.
Each step of my journey was changing my previously held beliefs…. now anything was possible!
As I tried to take all this in I was jolted by another awesome vision …..
a huge multi colored, patterned sphere appeared…
View original post 104 more words
Dianne Arbus in My Studio
When I studied photography as part of my Fine Arts studies back when…. I was introduced to Dianne Arbus by my teacher.
She was an amazing American photographer and writer noted for black and white photographs of deviant and marginal people.
Recently I discovered an excellent book on her art in the local library and while searching images I took this and other photographs in my studio.
So here she relives in my studio………I hope she would like this image of one of her photographs……a Puerto Rican woman with a beauty mark 1965.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
This is a Reblog of The Journey……No 8 originally posted June 21st 2012.
UPDATE: The twelve items were identified allowing the doors to opens.
You are welcome to add more if you see them.
No sooner was I inside the truncated pyramid when I found myself contained in a small tomb-like room where I could hardly move.
It was just high enough to stand up and turn around with arms extended.
I managed to light a match which revealed another rock surface full of symbolism.
I was able to see what looked like a snake, a helicopter, a falling man and the initials…. j a l or j a i.
Then I looked down and discovered a piece of parchment with the following inscription ……….
…..when you find twelve objects on the wall the doors will open and you can proceed.
At that moment my match went out and I sat in the dark wondering what to do.
The hours went by….then I decided… I NEED YOUR HELP!
Can you search the surface to find the 12 objects I need.
I am desperate…
View original post 82 more words
The Perspective of a Deep Breath
Another new work in mixed media.
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Painter’s Room
I was experimenting with some of my paintings recently and look what emerged…..
Could this be the “perfect” Expressionists Painter’s Room?
Paint, paint, paint!….
Painters love paint.
I think Vincent Van Gogh would have approved.
Hard to live in…….yes.
But a Painter’s Dream………….paint everywhere!
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
Riding Waves of Grass
This magnificent old steamer is now riding waves of grass.
There was a time when she proudly sailed up and down the nearby Nerang River.
Now she greets me on one of my morning walks.
Her name…….”Maid of Sker”
Her favorite movie……Titanic……. without the sinking.
Her dream……the love scene on the front of the Titanic.
So I decided to fulfill her dream.
Here is the “Maid of Sker” love scene……
Maid of Sker – Love Scene
We all deserve to have our dreams come true…..
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Sugar Bowl Astronaut?
The Sugar Bowl Cloud Watchers were at it again recently and they got me thinking…..
One thing for sure in this world is we are all different…..
with different dreams, different things that make us happy.
Imagine a world where we all wanted to be the same…… Astronauts, Artists, Accountants or whatever.
The world would never function.
So,………..just maybe….it has been designed to be perfect just as it is.
Just a thought…..
More Sugar Bowl Cloud Watchers….
Approaching Sunset for the Sugar Bowl Cloud Watchers
Sunrise……. and Not a Cloud in Sight
The Cloud Watchers Make a Friend
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
A Common Thread
Here is an acrylic painting I did some time in 2012 and have had hanging on my wall.
Title is “A Common Thread” and it measures 107 x 150 cms.
Over that time I have come to like it.
So here it is for you to see.
If you want to offer an alternative title or make any comments you are welcome.
Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
Tony and His New Leg
Life can test us in many different ways.
But our ATTITUDE makes the difference in our acceptance of these tests.
About a year ago a friend Tony has his leg off above the knee.
He faced the whole experience with humour and never complained on the huge adjustment this required in his life.
On a recent visit he quietly reached forward and suddenly re-adjusted his leg.
He termed this…..”an ice breaker.”
Tony has a website at http://www.tonyprance.com/index.html
Copyright Burgess 2013 (c) All rights reserved.
Memories of When I Could Draw #3
Another in the Series…..Memories of When I Could Draw. This is number 3
Mixed media on 300 gsm cold pressed paper.
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
Memories of When I Could Draw #1
New Series beginning….. Memories of When I Could Draw. This is number 1
Mixed media on 300 gsm cold pressed paper.
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
December Magic
Seven Days of Magic – Day Seven….”December Magic”
This magical image has appeared in book form to end the series just before the end of year.
Sometimes images appear from nowhere. This is one.
It began with a new gouache painting……..
then morphed into………this image.
It is even in book form.
No it is not published, and in fact it is the only image in this book.
But who knows what can happen in the future.
****&%#_& Sorry….Image is UNSTABLE
Unstable Image 2
Something is HAPPENING
The Magic is going MAD
Unstable Image 3
December Magic 5
Oh …look what has happened…the original image has returned…BUT it is now a film strip.
AMAZING…what MAGIC can do!
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
Untitled Painting
Thinking about light and color reminded me of this painting I made in 2010.
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
Let There Be Light No 1
Let There Be Light No 2
Let There Be Light No 3
Let There Be Light No 4
I was driving at night recently and saw these homes completely decked out with Christmas lights. All four homes were close to each other.
To me light has always been magical especially colored lights in the dark.
Also, we all need some light in our lives after recent events.
So…let there be light….to lighten up the darkness.
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
A Personal Revelation
Today you were probably expecting to see Day Two of Seven Days of Magic…..so was I.
Instead look what appeared…………A Personal Revelation.
To me this image is magical.
The ways of the “art” of magic are deep and mysterious.
You just experience it and are amazed and in awe.
Magic has its own agender…..not ours.
But it is always there at exactly the “perfect” timing.
The Magician never reveals their magic.
We must learn to trust and be patient……for the magic WILL HAPPEN.
Life should be just like that for all of us………and it is
….if we let go of ALL expectations and fully experience the NOW.
Wow….could this be a Personal Revelation?
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
