Waterfall

 

Blue, just blue

watercolor on paper

Los Angeles 2017

Akae Beka - The Earth is the Lord

The island we live on has so many waterfalls.  This one is near our home.  The cold mountain water is a delight to bath in.

I like to stand under the raging falls and scream.

In the evenings we eat Filipino foods.  Chicken cooked in coconut milk.  Locally grown rice.  Fresh fruits.

We have internet otherwise it would be easy to forget there is an outside world.  I read all the news and I thank God I'm here.

Am I hiding?

You know it.

These are some watercolor paintings I made a few years ago.  I was deep into ancient megaliths at the time.  And Blue.

The Earth is the Lord

watercolor on paper

Los Angeles 2017

Into the mystic

 

Natural progression

watercolor on paper

Los Angeles 2019

When I become artistically lost, I draw circles.

There is something deeply satisfying about a circle.  It conveys, at least to me, the completeness of life, the circadian rhythms of nature, the endless hope of rebirth.

I draw and I feel the metaphysical ambiance.

But I know it's all an illusion.

Hailu Mergia - Endegena

Yesterday we went on a road trip up to the north coast of our island.  We traveled through the Philippine outback and along the way we stopped and bought road side foods, which were delicious.

We traveled as a group.  My wife and myself along with our two kids.  Some friends came along as well with their kids.  

It was so beautiful.

We drove for several hours through the countryside and all the while, even though I knew it was all an illusion...

I had to admit it was a beautiful illusion.

It's an illusion

watercolor on paper

Los Angeles 2019

Seriously why not?

 

"Dad? What do you call a solar system without a sun?" my son Sean asked me.  He was trying to make it sound like a serious question, but I knew better.

It was evening time, and we were walking down to the docks to watch the sunset.

I thought about it for a moment and couldn't think of a fast comeback, so I said, "I don't know.  What do you call it?" and braced myself.

"A system!" he said and looked up at me grinning.  "Ya get it?"  he asked laughing.

Got to admit that made me smile.

It's about four blocks from our home to the waterfront.  Our city has a long docking area where fishing boats and water taxis dock.  It's really beautiful especially at sunset.  Along the way I stopped off at an ATM to get some cash.

When I got the money Sean said to me in astonishment, 

"You mean you can just get money from a machine???"

"Yah," I said putting the bills in my pocket.

"Then why don't homeless people do that!!!" He exclaimed.

I started to answer him and then I remembered that that is basically what the government does...

So seriously folks, why not?

I stopped walking and looked up into the sky.

Waiting for an answer that didn't come.

Calbayog City 2024