bentenlaughing

  My love of art began as a small child; where I would copy favourite characters and enter into Sunday Paper competitions. My dream was to be a painter but life took me in another direction into the music industry.   Over the years I've dabbled away with drawings and photography and slowly gained more confidence.  I love taking photos on my walks in the Blue Mountains.  Here is one from a few years back but reminiscent of now as we head into Winter in the Southern Hemisphere.  When you can have a look at my work on Saatchi....and thank you for doing so! https://www.saatchiart.com/janicepslater

Janice:  John: I first became aware of your work as an artist through your sharing of your visual diaries.What outlets do they provide for you.  John: I have been keeping my journals since 1981 and their function has gone though changes as I have. Initially they were notebooks to keep ideas I had from disappearing into the ether. These included visual ideas, musical ideas, recipes, quotes and even short stories. As i moved on in my life they became a fun place to go to draw and write lyrics and artistically experiment with a view that the works were now just for the journals. After I had children they became much more reflective and a space where I could work through ideas about life in all its new challenges. Re-reading those pages now is partly embarrassing (what a serious young insect I was!), partly quite touching (I really sweated the small stuff!) and also unintentionally funny. Prior to the pandemic I found I was using them mainly in visual and literary experiments with...

  https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-i/1460423736 https://vimeo.com/388703047 https://vimeo.com/244443380

  Thank you for the beautiful music Vangelis.  I know Sammy would wish you well as you journey on as do we all.   Unfortunately I don't have a photo of Sammy with Vangelis but above with members of The In People. The late Teddy Toi (bass) Anthony Gaha, (drums) Peter Martin (guitar).  https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/rarecollections/2013-12-15/5147626 http://vangeliscollector.com/music_gaha.htm https://youtu.be/zKOLERn3Bmo

As I'd done an interview with Australian singer/songwriter Judy Jacques sometime back exploring her deep and mystical musical escapades, I was intrigued to read #99 A studio by the sea, a wonderful interview from The Tasmanian Tuxedo on her husband; jeweller, artist, musician Sandro Donati.  "Sandro himself was born in Friuli, a small Italian province sharing a border with Austria and Slovenia. “It’s primarily an agricultural area,” explains Sandro, reflecting on his far-flung hometown. “But quite distinctive in its language. I was just four years old when I left, but I still have a sense of those early days and a connection to them through music. A Friulian folksong is a happy celebration of life on the land.”  Please follow the links to read the full story. Enjoy!          https://www.thetasmaniantuxedo.com/ http://www.wilddoghill.com.au/judy_jacques/html/bio.htm

During these times of great uncertainty one can also lose track of where one has been. A friend has reminded me of the joy of rediscovering the journey. Here is a link to a story I wrote many moons ago about a young girl searching for her self expression. Whilst the photo is not of a swing...it nonetheless describes the heights one hopes to sail to when in experiencing the exhilerastion of feeling free to soar to unknown vistas! I hope if you take the time to read it that you will enjoy reading it. https://www.hackwriters.com/theswing.htm