Kewpie Doll

One of 12 giant kewpie dolls created for the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, this six-metre tall darling is now for sale at Village Antiques in Bungendore.

Designer Brian Thompson was clearly inspired by 1930s Hollywood. With pencil-thin eyebrows, red "cupid's bow" lips and golden hair styled into finger waves, his "girls" imitate the likes of Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.

As for where to put a doll that towers above the average single storey building ... I'd put her in the outdoor eating area of a cafe or, if I was daring, in my courtyard, surrounded by sleek and sumptuous plants.

Here fibreglass and steel body would certainly stand up to the elements.

Marian Grotto

The simple Marian grotto at Mt Carmel School, Yass

The Red Hot Chair

This soft, grainy image is my first attempt at using a Holga Micro indoors. I’m continually amazed at what can be achieved with what is essentially a small piece of plastic; a camera that has no back and no real viewfinder.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the grain at first, so played with a couple of Photoshop filters. As you know, I’m not a big fan of the cheap gimmicks this part of software offers, but found myself getting quite excited over the “median” option.

Let me tell you why….

Berry's Bay by Roy de Maistre (1920)

Back in April, I was enchanted by show at the National Gallery of Australia called Misty moderns: Australian Tonalists 1915-1950. Neither big nor showy, the works seemed like spontaneous sketches, seemingly created by a few quick, bold brushstrokes. The resulting slabs of tone and colour put atmosphere ahead of detail, making for images that give a rough, yet simple and, ultimately, emotional impression of the subject.

Hawthorn Tea Gardens by Clarice Beckett (1936)

Pushing the “median” option a little too far reminds me of this effect — the subject is reduced and blurred until it appears as shapes filled only by tone and colour.