Practical creativity has stood somewhat on the back boiler over the summer months while I enjoy the company of my three children, home on their summer hols. Instead, a time of gathering matter both visually, aurally, mentally and subconsciously.
The purchase of two sit on kayaks has led to much fun and exposure to parts of the local Looe River which are predominantly unseen by human eyes, or at least by my own. When I was 10years old my parents owned Trenant Point Cottage, a property with an acre of land standing between the fork of the Looe River. The only access to it was via a small orange rowing boat from the Millpool at West Looe (this orange colour still impregnated in my mind stands as one of my favourites within the colour palette). It was the most wonderful home a child could have. Pirates, smugglers, Swallows and Amazons and a weak seagull chick that I restored to good health became my world. It is a pure delight to return to these memories as I kayak with my daughter of 11yrs and son of 16yrs, around the jetty, my jetty. The bird life beautiful with white egrets, herons, curlews and swans to name but a few. The collective sounds of paddle, water, bird and breath forming a contemplative composition. The kayaks, a purchase that has paid for itself tenfold.
Walks along the Cornish cliff path have offered no less than a multitude of flora, plus a curious fox cub, whilst looking downwards towards the turquoise and jade crystal clear waters of the south coast.
The sky has been the most active I have ever witnessed. Mass formulations of cloud pattern fighting for dominance. I look to the left, a clear blue cirrus clouded sky, I look to my right a tumult of bellowing cumulus, stratus and storm. Utmost confusion and juxtapositioning.
Now an enthusiastic trainee in Gig rowing, I have been able to escape to the previously unaccessable waters of Looe Island. The bopping, bopping, bopping and slushing of the waves against the bowside and sternside of the gig, hovering above a dark void below. It is the most wonderful feeling - and equally reassuring with five other crew members and coxman. I have a strong desire to document this, but first I need to focus on my rowing!
