The recent zeal for collage continues. Onto my third piece in 2023 now and it has been rewarding in many ways, one of them being further development in the process used with the ‘Lockdown Flowers’ made in 2020/2021.

There was a frantic nature to the way I made the collage paper that I printed, painted and drew onto - it was exciting and when it came together very satisfying. But the when it came together, was really an if it came together, and in-between there were several attempts that failed or nearly made it, only to be irrecoverably dashed at the last moment, leaving pieces to gather in a draw of doom.

There will always be an element of things not working out, but currently there is a more measured and paced approach, so there is time to make better material and composition choices. This in turn allows space to really enjoy the process, which I’d like to think will result in more completed final pieces.

I particularly like finding ways to use my photographs. I always did this, but now rather than making the collage paper before printing photographs onto it, the main element of a photo is printed, cut out and moved around to make a new composition or areas of interest all the while building layers to create depth.

I love a good photograph on its own, the moment, composition, light, an endless amount of elements brought together in a fraction of a second with the chance of printing onto a beautiful paper. However, using my own photos in this style of collage has allowed photographs to be considered for further creative use, not taking anything away from the original photograph, just letting it run a little further.

A short reel, along with other reels can be seen by visiting my blog.

Using two of my photos to provide the main elements in my second collage of 2023.

This was fun, moving pieces around like a jigsaw puzzle. For a while I just like to keep things moving, there is an idea of composition at the start but remaining open to unthought of configurations allows for something to click. On this occasion I had cut the ice cream cone out to move about, but almost by accident found the stencil that was left out of the paper it had been cut from was more appealing.

A short reel of the process can be seen by visiting my blog.

What About The Surfboards

Another month of spraying surfboards, it’s been alright! I’ve been taking my tripod in to work so I can take some photos and videos to edit into reels or use in this bulletin, blog or Instagram.

Video of surfboards being sprayed and painted can be seen at sleeplessink.blogspot.com

Spring into Summer

What a good run of weather. June was outstanding, so it may come as a surprise (well, it has to me) that I haven’t been out much with my camera, I’ve been enjoying the warmth and blue skies from the back garden, then going back upstairs to the studio and enjoying my work with collage and practising with iMovie. Not overly concerned, it may have something to do with not having much of an appetite for the holiday crowds that swamp Newquay for summer.

I’ve also been taking my sketchbook outside and just doodling away, keeping my hand an eye in with pen work.

I visited the Krowji open studios in Redruth, Cornwall, and meandered around the studios enjoying the creative hub. Along the way I had good chats with several artists, one of which was with printmaker Fijke Middendorp. She was inspirational and talked openly about her practise, one part of her routine was drawing in her sketchbook for at least twenty minutes each day, often more, but consistently adding doodles, ideas, sketches into her small, square sketchbooks.

I have attempted to do the same, haven’t quite managed every day, but more than I usually do, so heading in the right direction.

Hikkaduwa 36 years later

Excerpt from my blog dated 23 April 2023, soon after my return, so written with the experience still fresh in my mind. A short reel from Sri Lanka can also be seen at sleeplessink.blogspot.com

Amazing trip back to Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, after 36 years. The first journey was as a young surfer in 1987, along with a band of dedicated tearaways that saw and surfed a lot in the months we spent there.

I visited Dickwella, 80km south of Hikkaduwa in January 2022 and had seen some of the changes the island has gone through over the years. But this recent jaunt was a direct return to a place etched firmly on my mind, there was always a risk of being disappointed as places become unrecognisable as the world turns far from the time remembered.

Last years visit prepared me for some of the developments likely to trouble me, apart from difficult pockets here and there, probably the same that are found globally, it was fantastic, still a real jewel.