Diolch Ionawr (Time, oh thee!)

I feel like embarking on a series, or, a mini-series, sort of detailing artists, photographers, possibly writers, musicians and filmmakers too (though for the moment I only have actual envisaged plans for the first two categories of creators) whose ‘work’ I really admire, enjoy ‘spectating’, and occasionally love. I’m feeling kind of inspired to make things again, and a big part of that is getting excited when I see certain types of artworks, read particular books, watch beautiful films etc.,. I’m three months free of mind-altering narcotics (in strictly pharmaceutical terms at least!), I sometimes have energy and the desire to expend it well, since Christmas I’ve run several times and been on a few 20mile+ cycles, I’m reading bits, and in love with music again. The wheel is turning slowly, but it seems in a favourable direction, the ride is mostly fine anyway.

So, this series, (I’ll hopefully grapple with that in the next few days) I’m thinking it might spur me on properly to start making things with the frequency and fervour of my adolescence. I’ve made some drawings, there are plans for light-boxes, and the little book (started waaaaaay back when!) is approaching 50 pages (I think) and is sporadically pruned and spreading… If none of that is achieved, at least there’ll be a place in the internet with all the things I love in one place, and I’ll get to share some pieces of my visual-art-love.

What is this then you exclaim, not merely another nod to things I’d like to be doing but aren’t presently, surely?!!? Alright calm down I’ll tell you, part of it is me wondering what this ‘blog’ has become, is it now just a place for “I did this, I went there, I feel happy, I feel sad” (which, isn’t necessarily bad…)? I had intended it to be a sort of art website initially see, reader, and that it certainly is no longer. My recent zeal for making again, has me thinking I could do with having a place for all my makings, past and future. I’m thinking about saving a place for my ramblings (usually mood related and supplemented by snapshots) and another space for my (ramblings of course, and) ‘creations’- pages, bits, photomontage, assemblage, paintings and drawings, you know the drill…

For today the decision remains unmade, but I will leave you with some bits of recently, it’s been a crazy few weeks. I met a fellow human who plays no small part in my inspiration’s re-ignition. I feel excited, finally here is someone who cares about making things, photographs, graphics, who wasn’t just one of those people who went to university to make things because it afforded them money and the ability to not actually work. A person I can talk to about art’s idiocies, beauty, and why we need to do what we do. It’s good to know someone who is as excited as I am, and who is as excited to see what I make as I am to be wanting to make them again! Somebody to go on adventures with, to escape our little valleys, and voice our lofty dreams to. On a beach or a mountain, near a fire, with vegan milky cocoa, and adventure-fuelling tasty snacks…

Monday January 13th; documenting Alien invasion, Y Barri.

Sunday, January 19th; elemental explorers, Llyn Y Fan Fach

Monday January 20th;twisted fire-starters, Pembrey beach

Sunday January 26th; Hail! Snow-blind, Trecastle Road (en route to the Usk)

Monday January 27th, Birds and the beach, Mumbles

Water No Get Enemy

It's true, for clear water (and warm sunshine), especially so...

None of these photographs (taken with a kodak instant waterproof camera) have been extra saturated with blue-green-yellows, it was just that way. Having had a blue day today, of a far less beauteous variety, I yearn to be enveloped in goodness again, the heat of that sun, and that soothing saline solution.

Here is a little fish

Here is a beautiful underwater-space-volcano, made of me.

Finally, shark-eyed but warm blooded for once, basking.

Wallowing...

Used to Be

Yes, of course, lucky 13th.

Nostalgia, sometimes you drug me with your beauty..

A year and a week...

It's been quite a whirlwind, this last week and a bit, I've certainly been caught up in something (more to follow..), but, that's not why it's taken me some 380 or so days to post these photos from J.

Back in January last year I was in Abercastle in Pembroke, for my father's 50th birthday. Isolated, chilly, watching films, walking and reading, I conversed with J trans-continental-style, via iMessage, about a possible project to keep me busy creatively, whilst on the tedious job-hunt.

I first floated the idea here , and again mentioned it in another hopeful, surprisingly chirpy post here.

Since I'm here again, a year later, job-seeking in the Swansea valley, and he is still where he is, I thought about them naturally, those 8 photos he shared with me, before doubtless getting bored of my inability to post things in a timely manner!

Nevertheless, it was a joy to receive a little bit of an alien continent each day, a look into the life of someone I care about deeply. Thanks J and thank you for the captions too.

January 8th (2013)

January 9th, The sun setting on a shopping mall in HK.

January 10th, To ride the ride MTR to work. It costs roughly 47p ($5.9) in British money.

January 11th Over looking the shops in Tsim Sha Tsui (or nick named TST for short) in Hong Kong.

Janaury 12, Shoppers from the Chinese mainland make a early morning queue outside the IFC Apple Store. There are easily over 150 people waiting to get their hands on the latest Apple toys.

January 13th, Pollution is a concern for some in Hong Kong. On a good day you can see Hong Kong Island, today, only the IFC tower. In front, construction proceeds with a high speed rail link that will take people directly to Beijing from Hong Kong..

January 14th, A cat amongst the Dragon Fruit. Cats are seen as good luck here in Hong Kong, so most shop keepers will own a feline friend.

January 15th, My converse collection have started to hurt my feet. I switched brands to Adidas

January16th, Salon Films packing up their camera REDs after a shoot on Hong Kong's Temple Street.

I'll be singling out my favourite soon enough...