desert works, about don hill, a sound like rain and kathmandu taxi 

                                                            "Red Ochre Land'  Number Two. Mixed media on board 80 x 60 cm 2025



                                                                   "Red Ochre Land'  Number Three. Mixed media on board 60 x 60 cm 2025



                                                                                "Blue Sky and Red Ochre Land ' Number One.  Mixed Media on Board. Detail 2025. 60 x 60 cm






                                             "Black Sky Red Country' Mixed Media on Board. Detail 2025. 120 x 80 cm


                                                              " Desert Reflections Lake Mumbleberry' Mixed media on board 60 x 60 cm

                                                                                       "Stick Country' Digital Print on Archival Paper 61x34 cm 2025 Signed and Numbered 


                                                                                                                       "Black Sky Red Country' Detail

                                                                                         "Blue Sky and Red Ochre Land ' Mixed Media on Board. Detail 2025. 60 x 60 cm
 






ABOUT DON HILL

Don held his first Solo Exhibition in Brisbane in 2000 and has held more than 20 one man shows. He is described as a  modernist literary and has been involved in the contemporary Art movement known as "The Recyclers' which focuses on environmental issues and uses found or discarded debris and objects to create works of Art. Don has an extensive history of Associate Shows in Australia and Overseas. He was tutored in the early 1970's by Frank DeSilva, Arthur Evan Read, Mervyn Moriarty and Ipswich Water Colourist Arch Gratton. Don's Art is Visually Descriptive and is associated with particular episodes in his life and many travels.He is an Australian based Multi Disciplinary Artist as well as a Creative Director and Writer.Over the past few decades he has been developing his writing skills and has just completed writing his new novel Kathmandu Taxi (Copyright) as well as working on the script to Tittenhurst 2004 till current.From early childhood he has had a love of Art and been involved with many notables and projects over this time in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand.Don has just published his 10th book which is concurrent with a showing of a series of works with the title "A Sound Like Rain".

"A Sound Like Rain' is now available in its first Limited Edition. It is a collection of Short Stories, Poems and Paintings of Don Hill's adventures in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland.  Beautifully finished in a Gloss Cello cover. 

                                                                     With Glen Smith at West Bremer Radio Ipswich 

A SOUND LIKE RAIN
A Sound Like Rain Overview and Foreword 
ISBN979-8-89660-983-4  ReleasedWhen I came to start these works and writings I had no idea of where to start except the fact I could look at the image of Queen Elizabeth on my wall and feel inspired. She always encouraged me.Art and writing is not an easy pilgrimage although when ideas, words and paint start to flow in the congenial direction it is difficult to halt the process and take a rest. So you may find yourself looking up to the clock at one or two in the morning and wonder how you arrived at that point. You and me are different as we have lived different lives with different outcomes that never collide. I am not of the mortal and moral courage to lay back because of the places I have been in my life, some good, some bad, some threatening, some desperate, some sad although there were happy times in between. I have survived all these years dressed in a coat of a loner, vagabond and tramp. I used to think Art was easy in the fact I could paint a portrait or still life and feel happy with it as I thought people would like it and relate to it. Now it is different as I like to write it's story along the way to explain the purpose of the paint as well as the pen.Please read on and discover my story of the Babinda Boulders, Bartle Frere  and Far North Queensland.




Yella-Hell. Digital Sketch and Limited Edition Print run of 100 Numbered. 62 x 32.5 cm on archival paper.  A Sound Like Rain 2024

                "At the Boulders.' "Figure in Landscape.' Oil, Acrylic Paint and Leaf on Box Board Frame. 81 x 61cm. 2023 SOLD

                  Detail from a "Pool' Study. Oil and Acrylic paint with Gold Leaf on board.

In the Beginning (A Sound Like Rain 2024) Day OneThe Turquoise sky had fallen in and down to Earth melting like butter into the depths of the forest pools. Green tree ants ran wild up and down lianas to known and unknown destinations hunting food for their tribe. They had a history and could make use of any scraps that were left in the green verge and turbulence of leaves and vine. Writing their own script and future Anywhere, Anytime, wherever and whenever they wanted. Vibrating with life and being. Further down reptiles moved upstream further and further as they had no predator or fear anymore just the hunger for territory, survival and sustenance. The arteries of the rainforest hum to the sound of the Riflebird as it displays a notice and muse to a new mate and the sound of Cassowary walking on. Day flying moths flew to the call of the boulders while Ornithoptera displayed size and beauty a thousand times more than what was required and sought in this green mixture of life and abundance and stated that Priamus was King and Queen. So this is what this place is. An encounter, a mixture of green colour and uncluttered noise. This is what this place is.The snake makes a stretch along the tree as if to be a branch then slides effortlessly upward to find a fresh egg or something else to eat. Its glistening armor sparkles rainbows in the speckled light of the rainforest. God lives here or maybe God doesn't. It doesn't matter how it manifests itself as all that counts is that it manifests and conquers with its beauty and surprise.The turbulence of sound, running, crashing water and the rustle of the leaf completes the poetry of noise. A noise that only Nature can make.Once out of the blue the Paradise Kingfisher swoops down to the lower canopy with it's white tail dipping earthward the fluttering wings prods the leaves into a rhythmic almost operatic movement. Leaning forward there were strange sounds in the forest and also footprints in the mud.Footprints in the MudThe day at the pools continues with carloads arriving for their swimming lessons to hear the call of the princess beckoning them to join her at their leisure forever.

"Tropical Low' Oil, Acrylic Paint and Leaf on Box Board Frame. 77x 150cm.

Day ThreeThe Sun sank behind the trees at the West of the beach as Starfish made tracks and circles in the sand. The Triton hunted them when daylight stirred and started to dim. Hammerhead was now on top of the Apex game just observing, cruising alone and along in his Grey suit. This is how we are. AloneThe pools start to call once more as the Darkness comes to the Oasis.Today it was not Ulysses that danced in the sky although Ornithoptera flew onward and fluttered by in Metallic Green and Brown coats. My name is Birdwing it sang as it did. It was now the Sun high above my head that danced as I had thoughts of the clear blue and its freshness with a giant stride and bubbles exiting from my aqualung as I sank down into the depths of the Coral Sea. Just dreaming. Just dreaming as the Fish buzz filled my ears to the hiss of the BCD.This time I had set out early to reach the top of the peak before the heat came.As usual I was lost as I had been so many times in the past.It was as if Genesis had been reborn and came to visit me on this Earth in a dream as I walked further into the lush green of the Wet Tropics. Further away from the Pool of Souls where the princess waits for those she calls and beckons to join her forever. Who will be next? Who will wear the Number 22?I stumbled on heroically trying to keep composed even though my legs were bleeding from the attacks of leeches and lianas. I still went forward. Luckily I brought treatment for those injuries although not for the ones in my heart.

 Pool. Digital Print on Archival print paper 61 x 33 Limited Edition Signed and Numbered 2024. Available
 Number 22. Digital Print on Archival print paper 61 x 33 Limited Edition Signed and Numbered 2024. Available.

      Among the Stones  Detail. Oil and Acrylic Paint, Silver and Gold Leaf  on sized Ply Board 80 x 60cm

"Moonlit figure at the Boulders' Gold and Silver Leaf, Oil and Acrylic paint on box board stretcher 81 x 81cm 2024 From a Sound Like Rain.

"Oolana Calls'  Legend of the Pool (Detail). Gold Leaf, Oil and Acrylic paint on box board stretcher 81 x 81cm 2024.  A Sound Like Rain Series and Book

Day Six (a time to run)It looked like a storm was on the Summer horizon in the East with the possibility of a Tropical Low forming in the Coral Sea.It was now time to descend the summit and head South before turmoil was unleashed . All that is paradise can be undone. This can happen in seconds and minutes. There is however renewal at the end. The path of previous storms still visible in the lush green with groups of trees stripped bare like reeds in a pond. Their grey trunks still standing as a testament to the past and nature's fury. An urgency started to spring from the Cicada noise as there was a movement in the air and a feeling of impending doom. Cumulus Nimbus was coming forth and upright, its billowing white and grey puffs stretching up to the Stratosphere. The Coral Sea was once again brewing its teapot unbeknown to the human counterparts who thought they were smarter than the rain forest incumbents and inhabitants.

"Oolana Calls' Legend of the Pool. (Detail). Gold Leaf, Oil and Acrylic paint on box board stretcher 81 x 81cm 2024.  A Sound Like Rain Series and Book

Happiness at Last The rain clouds penetrated deep into the mountain side making the walking harder and harder. Slipping was a concern in that if one broke a leg who would come to look for you especially if you didnt let anyone know where you were going. As a human I was nothing special just skin and bone with some meat in between. I had proved this many times but I just had to keep going regardless of how hard the rain became. Further on I could see some sunlight and comfort at the end in about 300 metres which meant that I could dry out and take some rest. Stepping over Lianas in the wet were not the most ideal result that you could wish for but there was no other choice. I was still energetic and I felt that soon I would be taking a long trip overseas possibly back to Nepal. I remembered that one of my previous encounters had moved to Gangtok in Sikkim and had a baby. Being a smoker she looked tired and worn out when I saw he last on an Insta page. On this trip was the princess of the pools still travelling with me and guiding me with her hand hopefully to join her?
 

The drawings describe the "Bend in Time' at the pools of the Boulders and show the Figure (Oolana) or whatever it is welcoming the new arrivals to her abode. There are three pools which the Legend revolves around and these are "The Washing Machine'. "The Chute' and the "Devil's Pool'. Overall to date there has been 21 known drowning deaths in recent times of young males with one female fatality. The Warning signs are Omni Present and cannot be missed but individuals still cross over the fence line and sometimes bath in the pools.  This practice is highly dangerous and if you are dragged under there is no chance of saving yourself.  On occasions one slip will be fatal with rescue not possible only recovery. When you walk the tracks of the Rain Forest here there is a persistent presence.


"The Bend in Time 2'. At the Devil's Pool. Digital Print on Archival print paper 61 x 33 Limited Edition Signed and Numbered 2024. Available. 

   "A Depth of Presence'. Gold and Silver Leaf, Oil and Acrylic paint on box board stretcher 61 x 61cm 2023. A Sound Like Rain 2024

As time past I came to the realization that I was living in the Oasis The more I thought about this the more the idea became truth.I was far away from the Southern crowd and finally doing my own thing without restraint and human interference.This had proved and begun my release from Urban Sprawl.Somewhere in my psyche I was free at last in my last ditch to be me away from the mass dictatorship of constant upheaval and power struggles.I had once again found somewhere to call home without a Litmus Test from anyone.The next day I was on the water again with the new 17 Foot tinny heading out to the reef to catch some much needed sustenance.There was a game plan and that was to find and navigate one of the Wonky Holes where the fresh water springs pop up into the salt water.This is where the fish would be and feeding.As I moved along doing about 30 knots the outboard on the back sounded like it was actually idling as there was much more it could do at the click of the throttle.I set my sights on going southward to the Barnard Islands and Lindquist Reef for Brunch and then find some territory that wasn't fished too often.I had finally made it to John Coburn territory and my age no longer mattered, just my health.

My Paint Box sat idle on the sideboard cupboard as I could not bring myself to paint anything anymore at present.  My energy was spent and even though I had not created many works this time these were enough to progress to the next stage whatever that was and whenever it would happen.  The energy of the rainforest was still present in my mind and I had seen many things some good and some not so good.  That adventure had come to an end for the time being. I had an urge to go diving again in the Coral Sea in the underwater rainforest so I started to get my BCD and Regs ready for that next step into the Abyss. Wall dives on the edge of the Shelf held some promise as the vis was always 30 metres plus sometimes 70 metres. Encounters here were usually big and tangible with the likely hood that a tiger might drift up from the depths to investigate who came splashing into their domain. 



Extract from "Kathmandu Taxi'  ISBN 979-8-89443-911-2  Release Date 2025 (Fiction).
All text and Images are copyright and the property of Don Hill. No text or images may be copied or used without the express permission of Don Hill. Copyright 2024.
Any references to people living or deceased is only coincidental. Images by Don Hill and Palbar Ngawang (Pema Ts'al Sakya Monastic Institute, Pokhara Nepal) All rights reserved. 




Don Hill was interviewed about Kathmandu Taxi on the 24th of June 2024 by Noosa Radio. Interviewer Maxine Stibbe Broadcast Live Australia Wide


Night Train to Nepal

So which village are you from.
Namche Bazar.
Sir now my parents and family live in a village just outside
of Pokhara.
Would you like to visit?
I would love to.
But maybe not at this time.
You would love Pokhara as it is very beautiful Sir.
In which way is it beautiful?
It is warmer than Kathmandu with views of the mountains
up close.
The air is fresh and clear as it is not in Kathmandu.
You would love it there as it is so clean as opposed to this place.
So if you could give me your details we can catch up.
What do you think?
Yes that would be wonderful.
I have many sisters that are looking for a husband.
That's ok I am not looking for a wife at the moment
But thank you anyway.
I am sure your sisters are beautiful and worthy of any man.
Yes they are Mr Stanley.
They are all young and eager to raise a family with the
right man of course.
What are the most interesting things about your village apart
from your sisters.
My village is at the top of a ridge where you can see all
of the Himalayas.
We can collect wood there for our fires, cooking and heating.
It is easy to do because our women are strong and resilient.
They can chop wood all day.
The older ones smoke but the young ones look for a husband
and a family.
The view is unbroken so this means that is our life is complete.
Of course there are issues with the snow and in the winter
it is hard to find enough food for my family but
we always survive as we store things in preparedness for the
Winter.
Sita my sister would like to meet you.
Why is that?
She is a widow, her husband was killed in an avalanche
last year.
She has become so lonely since his passing and she needs a
man.

Copyright Don Hill 2024





KATHMANDU TAXI INTERVIEW 2024
Interview with Bronwyn Holm about Kathmandu Taxi 2024

Tell me about Kathmandu Taxi.

Yeah sure.

I wrote the first very brief draft in 2008 after my second visit to Nepal but it obviously
needed a tidy up and a haircut.
I am happy with it now.

What is it about?

It is about adventure and encounters with other cultures with the main character
being a chap called Owen Stanley.

What is Owen like?

He has spent the last few years in the UK working at anything he can get an
income from and at long last he has enough money to go travelling further
afield.

Where does he go?

He has this dream of traveling to India to buy a Sitar, learn to play it properly
and meet his idol Ravi Shankar but he is disillusioned when he arrives as the vibe of the
Sub Continent does not suit him and Ravi is actually living in England and
California by that time and is very old.
He finally gets to Nepal but realizes that Kathmandu even though it was one of
the main Hippy trails of the early 60s and 70s has totally changed.
So what happens next in his story?
Nepal has really changed and it is not the same and welcoming as it used to be.
In fact it is highly dangerous for locals, foriegners as well as men and women
alike.
He arrives in Nepal in the middle of the Civil War with the Marxists which is a
little bit daunting but he realizes that if he does not take the risk or chance he
might as well have stayed in England out at Ascot in the safety of Tittenhurst
Park.
He prefers to meet and converse with locals instead of people from Europe and
his own country as they could influence his thought.
He couldn't be happier to get away from this crowd although he has made many
friends along the way.
The locals know how to get around and also converse and get out of most
trouble.
Especially people carrying guns.
Obviously he meets women who help him and become his guide and sometimes
he falls in love with them and even though it may seem like brief encounters he
still continues to be in contact with them even after he leaves as he does still love them.
You know money doesn't last forever.
One girl in particular has taken his fancy.
She convinces him to travel back to India and go to Darjeelling and Gangtok
which she says will adjust his negative thoughts about the sub continent. He
asks her to go with him but she refuses as she has to look after her mother's stall in Dubar
Square in Basantapur.
He travels to Darjeeling which he loves and this is the start of a new journey of
finding out about himself.
His true inner self.
There is in no need for mediation on top of a mountain or finding a Guru to help
him discover the truth.
Only him. Only Owen can do this. Although he still meets up with locals.
Finally he becomes self aware of who he really is even through the haze of alternative practices
and finds reality and not just a fake world that predominates human society and is structured by money and greed.
He realizes that humans are here for a higher cause, not just being involved in useless controlling ideology that is put upon them by those in high places.
It is still a Cast system whether it is in India or everywhere else around the world.

Yes go on.

On his journey he doesn't take any friends with him as he does not want to
influenced by anyone into their pack mentality or preconcieved ideas about different places.
He just wants to experience what it is like traveling alone in a places where he will see few Westerners.
One day he might even get married to that girl in Kathmandu but he loves his
freedom more than marriage.
The girls that he meets love him but also hate him at the same time knowing that
they could not convince him to marry them and he will depart and probably
never come back even if he says he will.
So this is his adventure during a time of Civil unrest with a lot of risk and
pressure on the local population.
It's a story about his encounters at the Roof of the World.

And how did Owen Stanley come about.

Oh that.

Yes.

He was always on a quest to find his true self even in risky situations.
There were places that he would not travel to but given that he wanted to
experience what it was like to live among locals, eat their food, feel their
emotions and live (even briefly) like they did.
His mother and father lived in New Guinea and Richard his father was a world
authority on insects especially Lepidoptera and worked for the Australian and
Papuan Governments in that capacity.
He was friends with Ray Statham up at Kuranda and that Garry guy up in the
Atherton area.
Oh ok.
Thank you Don and we all hope the book will be incredibly successful for you.
Bronwyn Holm