Paul

My boundless curiosity has taken me to some places that haven't seen a westerner. The farmers seem as curious about me as I am of them. They are always happy to sit and attempt communication. This gentleman asked if I was a high-ranking officer! I told him I was only an artist and somehow he…

What do they call Chinese food in China?……….well, Food! Actually the Chinese word for food sounds a lot like "shoe". Some of the things I have eaten tasted like I imagine a shoe would, but some has been awesome. The Guilin area is the breadbasket of China. They grow everything in abundance here and are…

The fishermen on the Li river have trained Cormorants to fish for them. I just had to see this up close, so I hitched a ride with this kindly old man. He asked me to sing to his birds for luck in fishing. Apparently "you are my sunshine" works for cormorants too!

That's just what my shirt says. How could anyone be unhappy in a place like this?! I ran out of dry clothes and this was the first thing I could find.Who needs beer? Well, ok, the beer is probably safer than the water to drink. For some reason people keep offering me beer today! I…

I must have been summoned to this place. Something about it has been calling me for a long time.

My first contact in China was Ping Long, vice president of the Shanghai Watercolor Society. We had a language barrier, but worked hard to overcome it. I greatly appreciate his patience and effort to make me feel welcome. He is an outstanding artist and a great man.

Tai Keik Hock on the left is a gallery/museum owner In Malaysia. He says he doesn't paint, but he seems to be the glue that brings all of us together. Next is Low Puay Hua from Singapore. I liked him at first sight. His work blows me away and it is riveting to hear him…

This is Ismail Kadir from Malaysia, one if the best watercolorists in the world and one of my new great friends. We were immediately drawn to each other through our work and personalities. I hated to leave without spending more time with him.

Who Knew? Yangshou is a very out-of-the-way international hotspot. Many ex-pats and palefaces in the crowd here. Lots of bars with wireless too! The scenery is probably the most dramatically beautiful on earth. The two hour drive from the airport in Guilin was jaw-dropping. So far I have only had time to check in to…

I had no idea beforehand what events would await me in Lu Mountain, nor did I expect to make so many great new friends. Had I known I would have made arrangements to be here much longer. I must return next year. My speech was a big hit, and they made me feel like a…