Friday 12 July 2013

be inspired.

  

With the launch of 'Woodworking in a weekend' looming, I've been asked to give a few pre-review interviews. The questions put to me follow a similar line, "how long have you been working with wood, what do you like about working with wood, what is your favourite wood"? Some charmer asked "did you do the writing in the book too"? Obviously assuming the ability to use a hammer supplants the ability to use a pen. 


There is however one question I'm always asked either in interviews, at exhibitions, by clients or just at dinner party's, and that question is "where do you find your inspiration"? A simple enough question, but my answer is always an incoherent  ramble about street art, syfi books and films, films, books, music, talking to my kids, walking through my home town. As my list grows ever longer, I watch the eyes of my interigator glaze over, all they wanted to hear was "I'm inspired by nature". I know nature plays a big part in my designs, living out in the country and close to the sea as I do, mother nature will always get under your skin and covertly work her way into your creations. Personally I feel hitching a ride with her is an easy option, lets face it she has come up with some classic designs that when incorporated into any art form will rase its aesthetic value. 


It's something I fail at far more than succeed in, but my starting point on any idea will come from a man made astetic. It's a challenge, but there's a lot of beauty out there. These pictures are taken from my ideas board for a new book, I don't follow them in literal sence, but they help give me a feeling for where I want to go. 
As Philip Stark once said "why look for inspiration in an object, look for it in life".