MUSIC TO MY EARS

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR EXCEPTIONAL SOUND QUALITY THIS SUMMER WHETHER ITS LOUNGING ON THE BEACH, BY THE POOL, WORKING OUT AT THE GYM, RIPPING UP A SUMMER GLACIER OR SKATEPARK OR SPINNING SOME TUNES IN YOUR BEDROOM OR THE DINGIEST UNDERGROUND CLUB, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN AERIAL7. 

I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE BRAND A WHILE BACK AND IT HAS BEEN GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND TURNING A FEW HEADS IN THE PROCESS AND ITS SET TO BLOW UP.

THESE LATEST RELEASES, ADDING TO AN ALREADY IMPRESSIVE LINEUP IS THE ROYALE. THESE BEAUTIES ARE THE WHO'S WHO OF HEADPHONES. CRAFTED FROM THE FINEST QUALITY LEATHERS INCLUDING SUPER COMFORTABLE EAR CUSHIONS AS WELL AS BOASTING INCREDIBLE SOUND QUALITY POWERED BY 50mm DRIVERS THESE ARE GOING TO BE A VERY SORT AFTER ACCESSORY BUT AT A COOL $400 THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE EVERYONES CUP OF TEA. THEY ALSO, LIKE ALL AERIAL7 HEADPHONES, COME WITH A BUILT IN MIC FOR SKYPE CHATS WITH THE MISSUS, AND COME IN TWO COLOR OPTIONS. CHANCES ARE THOUGH THAT WE WILL NOT SEE THEM MAKING THEIR WAY OVER TO EUROPE SO YOU WILL HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER AFIELD TO GET YOUR HANDS ON A PAIR.

I AM AT PRESENT ROCKING THE SUMO FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN INDICATION OF AERIAL7 QUALITY, I ACCIDENTALLY LEFT MINE IN MY POCKET AND PUT THEM THROUGH THE WASH BUT DESPITE EVERYTHING THEY ARE STILL SOUNDING PERFECT.

CHECK THE WHOLE LINE OUT HERE

POLAROID LOVE

IN THE EVER INCREASING TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD WE LIVE IN, SOMETIMES ITS NICE TO TAKE A STEP BACK ONCE IN A WHILE, THE SAME GOES FOR PHOTOS. SOMEDAYS ITS ALL ABOUT MEGA PIXELS AND SUPER CRISP QUALITY BUT OTHERS ITS ABOUT THE GRAINY, GRITTY, SCRATCHED FILM AND IMPERFECT LOOK OF CAMERAS SUCH AS LOMO, HOLGA AND HASSELBLAD. RIGHT NOW I AM TOTALLY LOVING THE LOOK AND FEEL OF POLAROID. THE STYLE LENDS A SORT OF THROWBACK TO OLD SURF MOVIES SHOT ON 16mm AND CAPTURES LIGHT SO WELL, ITS DEFINATELY A NICE LOOK FOR SUMMER SO GET INVOLVED PEOPLE. IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO TRACK DOWN ACTUAL CAMERA OR FILM YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF APPLICATIONS TO CONVERT YOUR DIGITAL IMAGES TO GIVE YOU THE DESIRED EFFECT.

SHEPARD TEAMS UP WITH JASON JESSE AND A-TRAK

SIMON FROM OBEY UK HAS JUST GIVEN ME THE LOWDOWN ON SHEPARD FAIREY'S LATEST COLLABORATIONS, THE FIRST IS WITH LONG TIME AND ICONIC SKATER JASON JESSE. ALTHOUGH IN MY OPINION THIS IS NOT HIS BEST WORK, IT HOLDS SOME SENTIMENTALITY WITH ME AS JASON JESSE WAS THE FIRST SKATEBOARD I EVER BOUGHT ABOUT 17 YEARS AGO WHEN HE RODE FOR CONSOLIDATED AND SKATE BOARDING WASN'T COOL YOU WERE LOOKED AT LIKE A BIT OF A DROPOUT. I REMEMBER THAT BOARD SO WELL IT WAS A WASHED OUT TURQUOISE WITH RED ROSES RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE AND MAN I LOVED IT. BACK TO THE POINT THESE LIMITED EDITION DECK AND PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE NOW SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED, I'LL BE TRACKING THEM DOWN FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS.

THE SECOND BIT OF NEWS CONCERNING SHEPARD IS THE RELEASE OF A FREE DIRTY SOUTH MIX FROM A-TRAK. A-TRAK IS NO STRANGER TO MIXTAPES FOR CLOTHING BRANDS AS HE PRODUCED A NUMBER OF TAPES AND CDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANALOG BACK WHEN THE BRAND WAS FIRST LAUNCHED BUT THEY WERE VERY HARD TO COME BY. IF YOU WANT TO GET LISTENED AND ITS YOUR KIND OF MUSIC CHECK IT OUT HERE

WORK IN PROGRESS

HERE IS A LITTLE SNIPPET OF SOMETHING I AM WORKING ON RIGHT NOW BUT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME I AM NOT 100% SURE IM TOTAL FEELING THE FACE SO I MAY TAKE IT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REDRAW THIS SECTION AS I HAVE HAD A FEW PEOPLE KEEN TO BE INVOLVED, I THINK THE OVERALL IMAGE IDEA WILL WORK WELL.

MORE PIECES REVOLVING AROUND WOMAN AND THE CONCLUSION OF THIS IMAGE TO FOLLOW AS SHE IS FINISHED, KEEP CHECKING BACK TO SEE WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. 

THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH MY WORK IS AS I COLLABORATE WITH BRANDS AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON IMAGES FOR PIECE SO FAR IN ADVANCE SUCH AS 2011 I CANT SHOW MY WORK UNTIL WAY INTO THE FUTURE WHEN AT LEAST SAMPLE HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND VIEWED, BUT I WILL TRY AND GET STUFF UP AS SOON AS I CAN.

AND SHE IS DONE.........

AFTER A BIT MORE WORK AND A FEW FINAL TOUCH DETAILS, I HAVE NOW FINISHED THE MASCARA WOMAN IMAGE. I THOUGHT ABOUT ADDING TATTOOS TO THE ARMS AND POSSIBLY A WATCH AND A NECKLACE BUT THEN I REALIZED IT WOULD TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM THE SIMPLICITY OF THE WOMAN, AND HOW FRAGILE SHE IS, BECAUSE GIRLS WITH TATTOOS TEND TO BE A BIT MORE KNARLY THAN THIS.

I THINK THE SLIGHT DARKNESS OF THE IDEA AND THE FACT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO IT REALLY WORKS, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS FELT LIKE THIS AT SOME POINT, AND I HOPE YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL HER PAIN. I HAVE SENT IT OFF TO A MAGAZINE WHICH REALLY SUITS THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE IMAGE SO I HOPE THEY FIND SOMEWHERE TO USE IT BECAUSE I AM STOKED WITH THE OUTCOME, THATS ALSO THE REASON THE TOP LEFT IS A LITTLE BLAND BECAUSE IT IS FOR THEM TO DRAG AND DROP IN THEIR LOGO.

I HOPE PEOPLE LIKE THIS PIECE AN I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ANY COMMENTS. 

WORK IN PROGRESS

A BROKEN SCAFOID MEANS YOU HAVE ALOT OF TIME ON YOUR HANDS TO JUST GET STUCK INTO WORK AS SO MANY OTHER THINGS ARE OUT OF BOUNDS. SO I DECIDED TO PUT SOME OF THE IDEAS I HAD HAD FLOATING AROUND IN PROGRESS. I HAVE BEEN DRAWING ALOT OF IMAGES LATELY OF GIRLS, BUT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WAY MORE GRITTY AND WITH A BIT MORE MEANING BEHIND IT, SOMETHING WITH MORE OF A STORY TO IT, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO IT.

HERE IS A LITTLE GLIMPSE INTO A WORK IN PROGRESS OF A MASCARA WOMAN, IT IS IN NO WAY CLOSE TO COMPLETE YET AND SO MUCH CAN CHANGE BUT I WILL POST THE PIECE UP WHEN IT IS FINISHED. 

MARIACHI PERSONALIZED DECKS

THESE ARE LITERALLY HOT OFF THE PRESS, I HAVE ONLY JUST FINISHED THEM AND AM AWAITING A THIRD PHOTO TO COMPLETE THE SET. THIS PERSONALIZED DECK SERIES WAS COMMISSIONED BY CHRIS LAVENDER TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THEIR NEW SON ROCCO WHO'S DECK IS STILL TO BE FINISHED. CHRIS WANTED THE PIECE TO BE GUITAR INSPIRED, SO I WENT DOWN THE ROUTE OF THE MARIACHI. I WANTED A ROSEWOOD GUITAR LOOK AN FEEL WITH INTRICATELY CUT WOODEN ORNAMENTAL FLOURISHES AS WELL AS TIE IN SOME GUITAR IMAGERY. I DECIDE TO PUT THE NAMES ON WOODEN PLECTRUMS ON THE TAIL TO MAKE IT MORE SUBTLE BUT GIVE IT SOME ALMOST PEARL INLAY STYLED FLAIR. I AM SUPER STOKED ON THE OUTCOME I THINK THE OVERALL IMAGES CAME OUT AS I HAD HOPED AND I THINK THE MARIACHI FEEL IS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN THESE.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY.....

YOU ARE SURE OF A  BIG SURPRISE.....

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE FOR MY DAD WHO LAST SUMMER WENT WALKING WITH OUR DOG INTO THE BOURNE WOODS JUST NEAR OUR HOUSE, WHEN HE STUMBLED ACROSS A SMALL SAXON VILLAGE IN THE MAKING AND A WHOLE HEAP OF SCAFOLDING BEING SET UP AND WORK BEING DONE. UPON ASKING ONE OF THE WORKERS WHAT THEY WERE UP TO THEY WERE INTRIGUED HOW HE HAD IN FACT WALKED INTO THE MIDDLE OF A FILM SET IN THE MAKING FOR THIS SUMMERS BLOCK BUSTER ROBIN HOOD. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO INCREASE SECURITY AROUND THE SET BUT WE STILL HEADED THAT WAY A FEW TIMES TO SEE THE VILLAGES AND CASTLE TAKE SHAPE. THIS LITTLE BAND OF WOODLAND IS NO STRANGER TO THE LIMELIGHT THOUGH AN OBVIOUSLY A FAVORED LOCATION OF RIDLEY SCOTT, AS IT WAS ALSO THE SETTING FOR THE OPENING SCENE IN GERMANIA OF GLADIATOR WHERE A FEW OF MY UNI FRIENDS MANAGED TO BAG PARTS AS EXTRAS AND PRANCE ABOUT ALL DAY DRESSED AS ROMANS IN THE MUD. 

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE THIS MOVIE, I'M SURE IT WILL BE ANOTHER EPIC, BUT MAINLY TO SEE THE LOCATIONS THAT I SAW GROW OVER LAST SUMMER.

THE FILM IS SET FOR RELEASE ON MAY 12TH.

THE SCAFOID SAGA CONTINUES

OK SO AFTER MORZINE WHERE I HAD SEEN A DOCTOR WHO DIDN'T DIAGNOSE THE BROKEN BONE ON MY FIRST VISIT ONLY AFTER MY SECOND SET OF X-RAYS A MONTH LATER, I CAME BACK AND TRIED HARD TO GET A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT SPEAKING TO SECRETARIES WHO PROMISED TO GET BACK TO ME BUT NO JOY, BECAUSE I WAS WILLING TO PAY OUT AND GET EVERYTHING SORTED. SO THEN AFTER MUCH CHASING PEOPLE UP SUCH AS MY GP I MANAGED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ROYAL SURREY HOSPITAL TO PUT A CAST ON AT LONG LAST, ONLY FOR THEN TO PUT IT ON SO LOOSE AND NOT SUPPORTING MY THUMB WHERE IT WAS LITERALLY DOING NOTHING FOR THE STABILITY AND REHABILITATION OF MY BONE. SO TODAY ON TUESDAY I MANAGED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIVATE DOCTOR IN LONDON WHO AGREED WITH ME THE CAST WAS WRONG BUT REFERRED ME THAT DAY TO LONDON BRIDGE HOSPITAL FOR AN LATE EVENING APPOINTMENT. SO I WENT THERE WAITED AND THE DOCTOR HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME AND WAS LOCKING UP TO GO HOME WHEN HE REALISED HE HAD FORGOTTEN. SO HE MANAGED TO SEE ME IN THE END AND BUT SAW ME ONLY TO TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW, TELL ME THE CAST WAS WRONG AND CUT IT OFF AND I'M BACK IN THE SPLINT I WAS IN BACK IN MORZINE ALMOST A MONTH AGO! I WAS TOLD IF IT DOESN'T SET AN HEAL PROPERLY I HAVE TO HAVE A BONE GRAFT IN 3 WEEKS, ALL BECAUSE OF A LOT OF SCREW UPS. I AM HOPING MY LUCK WILL CHANGE SOON.

IT'S WEDDING SEASON

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, AND COMMISSIONS HAVE ALREADY STARTED COMING IN FOR CUSTOMIZED SKATEDECKS, WHETHER IT IS FOR WEDDING GIFT IDEAS OR THE BIRTH OF NEW ARRIVALS INTO THE WORLD. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL CHECK OUT MY FROM THE HEART COMMISSIONED PERSONALISED SKATEBOARDS ON MY WEB SITE BY CLICKING HERE. THE DECKS ORIGINATED AS AN IDEA TO GIVE SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL TO THE ONES I LOVE IN MY LIFE AND I DECIDED TO OPEN IT UP AND GIVE OTHERS THIS OPPORTUNITY TOO.

PIN UPS

I HAVE JUST FINISHED DRAWING THESE PIECES UP, I WANTED TO GO DOWN THE TATTOO STYLED PINUP ROUTE BUT TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH THEM ADDING THE WOOD GRAIN AS IF THEY WERE A SORT OF PAINTED PIECE ON A BOAT OR ON THE FRONT OF A 1950'S AEROPLANE. I GUESS I DREW MY INSPIRATION FROM A GIRL WHO I ONCE HAD THE PLEASURE OF DATING AND FALLING IN LOVE WITH, WHO IS IN WITH OUT A DOUBT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN ON THE PLANET AND FAR BETTER LOOKING THAN ANYTHING I COULD EVER DRAW. SHE IS DEFINITELY A KEY ROLE BEHIND MANY OF PIECES FROM THE RECENT YEARS ALTHOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY TATTOOS.