Stradling then and now

Every day is a creative process. Whether it be through my work, hobbies, or the day-to-day necessities of making dinner, lighting a fire or repairing something, I've long since realised it's how I need my life to be.

I live on the Isle of Eigg. The lifestyle here is stuck somewhere between the 20 and 21st centuries - we have broadband internet but no mobile phone signal (on my side of the island at least) we have the world's first fully renewable off-grid power system, and yet only 15 years ago our family house was lit with gas lights and the evening's entertainment, the radio, was powered by AA batteries. If there is a power cut my dad will light the gas lamps as a grim reminder of how dingy (and sooty) things used to be. I love it.

During extended trips to the mainland it is amazing how quickly complacency slips in and one becomes presumptuously reliant on the conveniences of modern living. Central heating at the touch of a button or app, 4G everywhere, 24 hour supermarkets stocked with anything and everything. It is important to me to feel at least partially self reliant - I know how our home is heated because every day I have to light a fire. I know where our drinking water comes from - if the pipe coming out of the spring freezes we fetch water out of the burn. If there is bad weather and the boats don't come there'll be no fresh veg or meat in the shop. I try to catch fish and hunt rabbits and grow whatever will grow in this climate. I choose to live in an awkward place where every day there are inconveniences - inconveniences which make me feel vaguely worthy of existence and remind me of the reality that I'm a human animal.

The other thing that makes me feel worthy is the almost compulsive need to create stuff which is why I'm always either designing, photographing, painting, building something or making music.

I decided to start this blog to encourage myself to keep a record of what I'm up to. This post is an introduction to myself and my philosophy. My subsequent posts will hopefully be a little less rambling and more to the point. This is a photo the beginning of a painting I did recently for my band's album cover. My son is inspecting my handiwork after finding me painting in the morning when he got up. I had been up since 6AM to get a start on it.

#painting #themassacrecave