Momentary Mojo

A few days ago it was the beloved, big fella's special birthday. I wanted to give him something from the heart that was not about us or the offspring, just him and his journey so far. Whilst visiting a renovating friend a few weeks back I picked up these VJ offcuts, fully intending to trim them and remove the tongue from the side.

Life is not as tidy as that though so I left them a bit uneven and meandering and liked how the VJs slotted together, decade into decade, one part of life linking to the next.

I love the lushness of black gesso as a primer and used Anna's lovely Golden sample pot which just made my mouth water.

I collaged little cut components on then worked into the background with layers of blues and a bit of sandpaper. When the sandpaper was inadvertently thrown out, I used emery boards. One learns to be versatile, no?

I fiddled around with them for a couple of days as I didn't really have a plan for this one. It was about boats as his family comes from a small Scottish fishing village and he has had a lifelong fascination with little boats.

The first block was about the liner his family came here on.

The next was one he sailed on belonged to a family friend.

Then he grew up and bought a tiny catamaran.

He sailed on a famous replica across the Irish Sea and worked on it for a while. He wore a great costume!

Now he is in quieter waters, sailing with his own boys into the future on our little lugger.

I think he liked it.
Happy Birthday, big fella. x