When I started to collect mineral specimens, I collected just about anything as long as it was a rock. Fortunately I've managed to narrow this down more and more so that today my collecting philosophy is Southern African Minerals, only when aesthetic and the closer the locality is to where I live, the more important the specimen becomes to me. The specimens must be aesthetic so that it'll be worthwile painting them.
Kalahari Manganese Field is one of my all time favourites. There are few localities that can match the fresh and crisp overall color of a Kalahari collection. In contrast a Tsumeb collection has a rather mouldy appearance (mine at least) because of all the greens.
Another big favourite of mine is quartz of course. There's just no end to the antics this mineral gets up to.
Then a personal speciality of mine is petrified hearts! Well not quite petrified but rather "hearts of stone"- or heart shaped rocks. For some or other reason I'm blessed with the ability to find lots and lots of heart rocks on my many hikes. Some are small, some are too big to carry home (what a pity) - so I only photograph the biggies.
Something else I collect is people. Friendly sincere, honest, no nonsence people of integrity I cherish as highly desirable collector's items.



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