*A dancing girl at an open air free show common in NE Thailand.*

The singers male and female are huge stars and sing in the beautiful traditional style.  I will see if I can get a video clip to add to this.  There are distinct roles; a handsome lead male singer; a beautiful female lead; a man dressed up in sequins in a traditional style; a man dressed as a woman like a pantomime lady.  

In between songs they perform sketches which are very funny, even to me despite my not understanding a word.  There are lots of double meanings and sexual innuendo which the audience loves.

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

Visit our painting and photography artist retreat guesthouse in NE Thailand

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

#Thailand #painting #holidays

This is a painting of the Pilbara region of Western Australia in oil on canvas 30 by 61 cms.  It will be in my solo exhibition at Element's Art Gallery in Dalkeith WA.

At first you think the night is silent, then as your eyes gradually begin to see and darks shapes turn into deep reds you begin to hear. The moon is a cold white but somehow the trees in front of you are gold and the scratching scrabbling sounds begin, punctuated by shrieks and distant moans. You are not alone, but the endless life and death dramas of small creatures will not harm you. You are safe here in the Pilbara, enjoy the colours, the presence of the rocks and the sound of the night.

http://www.jeremyholton.com
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our painting and photography artist retreat guesthouse in NE Thailand
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author
#painting #art #jeremyholton

Our neighbour's farmhouse.  Most people have a house like this on the farm as well as in the village.  Often the men will stay there overnight.  I suspect this is to drink Thai whisky and get away from their wives.

We have an arts retreat guesthouse in NE Thailand where I teach painting and photography. My wife introduces our guests to Thai village life and local food.
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
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*'Abundance' by Jeremy Holton*
100 by 120 cms oil on canvas
#painting #art #jeremyholton
http://www.jeremyholton.com
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Early morning in the village of Ban Pho in Isaan NE Thailand, where we take our guests to see village life and meet Waree's family.

I teach painting and photography. My wife introduces our guests to Thai village life and NE Thailand cooking.  We provide full board and guided discovery trips limited to 4 to 6 people at out arts guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

'Deep Blue Day' 91 by 120 cms Oil on Canvas by Jeremy Holton http://www.jeremyholton.com

A friend of mine used to say that the sky is much bigger in Perth, and so it is. With our dry climate the stars are closer as well. Most of all its the Swan River that makes Perth the wonderful city it is. I have so many memories; of wading chest high at night trawling for prawns phosphorescence glittering in the clear water, of Saturday afternoon dingy racing, SCUBA training at Blackwall Reach, drunken noisy boat parties, wind surfing......Above all its Blue, the sky is Blue, the river is Blue, the whole world is BLUE.

#painting #perth #australia #art


Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

*Thai food* Insects

#Insects are a popular dish in NE Thailand, caught overnight in a bucket of water funneled by  a sheet of corrugated from a light which attracts them. In the morning we have a big fry-up.

Everybody should try them once at least, during your Thailand discovery holiday if only just to be able to say they have eaten insects.

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand

https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

#Thai #food

*Death of a flower* 57 by 57 cms oil pastel on paper

*Death of a flower*
57 by 57 cms oil pastel on paper

The Waratah Art Gallery asked me to paint a Waratah flower for their inaugural exhibition. I painted one Waratah with the exuberance of youth and one with the rich colours and subtleties of death and decay. Unfortunately the Waratah Art Gallery itself died in infancy to be re-born as Challen & Rafferty Gallery.  Which died in its turn as all galleries do. This painting reminds us that there is beauty as well as inevitability in death.

#painting #art #flowers

by Jeremy Holton 

http://www.jeremyholton.com

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand

https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Monk people and dog at the Wat

Whatever religion you have there is something magic about visiting a Buddhist Wat.  There are many wonderful temples in Phon Phisai and even the village of Ban Pho has three. 

They all have gorgeous golden decorations, serpents, dragons and of course Buddhas.  When you visit them, apart from looking at the rich ornamentation and wall paintings spend some time in contemplation.

You take off your shoes of course before you enter and kneel before Buddha, then wei three times bowing to the ground.  Putting your feet towards Buddha or others is a sign of disrespect in Thailand so you always sit with your feet facing away from Buddha. 

There are many activities associated with paying your respects to Buddha.  Lighting incense sticks and leaving them burning, lighting candles and offering flowers.  My favourite is letting small birds out of their cage so that they can fly away to freedom.  This is not only symbolic but deeply satisfying, despite the knowledge that they will probably be caught and sold again in another small cage.  Such is the circle of life for the small birds.

This is near the village where we will take you if stay at our art retreat guesthouse in NE Thailand

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

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'Bondi' 57 by 76 cms gouache on paper by Jeremy Holton

'Bondi'  57 by 76 cms gouache on paper by Jeremy Holton

I did this sketch several years ago in Sydney and discovered it again quite recently in one of my folios. I liked the freedom and movement in the work with the sense of space, of sky and the sea against the rocks so I had it framed.

#painting
http://www.jeremyholton.com
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Blessing during my wedding in NE Thailand

This is our wedding and show's my wife Waree's mother tying magic string around my wrist while she says words of blessing, which I can't understand as she is speaking Thai/Lao.

Waree supports my arm and I hold my left hand up.

This is a great tradition in NE Thailand and every time we return to Australia we have many strings around our wrists from the good luck blessings we have had from family, friends and neighbours.

 Visit our art and photography arts retreat guest house in NE Thailand

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author