Contemporary Artist
After completing Doggerland, which took months of work. I decided to do some quicker projects before launching into another large boat. So over the last few weeks I've done a bunch of stuff. From starting kayaking lessons, to meeting with mentors, to making a miniature dug out canoe, and building a new studio space to … Continue reading Concrete Boat (after Bob Smith) PART 1
I've not updated this blog nearly regularly enough the last couple of weeks because I have been so busy fabricating the carton canoe, and making an authentic Greenland paddle with the help of a mentor and hand tools. I have a deadline to get it the boat finished as I'll be using it in a … Continue reading Sick to the Stomach
I spent a few days wildcamping around Loch Lomond in early February. This was intended to be a kind if retreat, a time to isolate myself. A time to think and refill my creative reserves. This was possible due to the funding I received from ACE, but also because Alpkit Foundation generously donated some equipment … Continue reading Retreat video
I'm not gonna lie, the last two weeks have been a chore. I still haven't quite finished prepping the large sheets of plastic required to start the build, despite days upon days of monotonous labour. I have even been able to read nor keep up with other aspects of the project. However I am hoping … Continue reading Milk carton canoe update
In an exploratory project such as this there are naturally a lot of tangential directions of enquiry and investigation that run the risk of taking one off task. It's important to keep the destination in mind. Yet, if I am to learn to keep a momentum in my practice and grow as an artist beyond … Continue reading How best to love a tangent.
I read most of 'the Edge Of The World' by Michael Pye which talks about how the north-sea affects the cultures that surround it. That was interesting but I don't have much to say about it beyond what I've already written elsewhere on the blog. What Pye demonstrates is the powerful political effect the sea … Continue reading Reading – January 2019: why I’m re-reading Moby Dick
I did some maths this week, RE: the milk carton canoe. The design will need up to an eye watering 841 four-pint milk cartons to complete. And so the call for donations will have to go wide... At the same time some other developments have been occuring. I have discovered that some supermarket plastic bags … Continue reading LATE NIGHT DIARY 2 (Answer The Call)
Today I met with Glyn Hall-Edwards deputy Harbour Master in whitstable and builder of several cedar strip kayaks, including designing and building the unique kayak for Adam Chodzko's 2010 work Ghost. I was interested in hearing more about Ghost, not least because I did some work for Adam back in those days and remember following … Continue reading Meeting with Glyn Hall-Edwards
It's the 11th today. Feels odd that I'm still less than two weeks into the project. I guess I've been waiting for it to start so long. I spent most of December just wishing the year to be over so that I could officially start this project. Now I continue to be frustrated because I … Continue reading Late night diary 1
