Chris Pennings appears a slightly fastidious man. Well groomed, all that jazz. I guess first impressions count in his business. Chris is a digital printer and director of JCP studios. He makes digital files, the currency of contemporary photography, real and tactile. It’s quite a lovely process really.

Its also very reassuring if your printer is a talented photographer. If you trawl Chris’s blog you can sight some of his own personal work. Graphic and well executed with a personal understanding of how color affects composition. He most likely knows more than I do about photography and he is well connected to some of the Australia’s premier artists. It seems he’s a bit of a go to guy for those serious about quality printing. I may not be a big name artist but I am looking forward to watching Chris prepare a show for me very soon. In the meantime I will endeavour to dress as well as he does.

Explain what you do in one sentence: I help people print pictures.

Most useful piece of equipment in your studio? No one piece in particular holds precedence over any other really. Printers are obviously important but so are the mouse and the bookshelf.

Summer or winter? Autumn

The morning brew of choice? Coffee

Has the quality of digital print surpassed the old ways of analogue printing? That’s like comparing apples and oranges. I think that, whilst the former is obviously the evolution of the later, both processes also coexist independently of each other. People were concerned about the death of painting after the initial invention of photography. There are elements involved in both forms of printing that retain their own inherent qualities and to say that one has surpassed the other is very difficult.

Most liveable city in the world? I’d have to go with the majority and say Melbourne for me, though I do have a particular soft spot Bangkok and Istanbul.

Papers aren’t papers. What makes an exceptional stock? Again that’s difficult, weight, texture feel, nerdy things like dmax and no optical brighteners. Often different works suit different papers too.

How important is the final act of printing to most artists? It can often be something that is overlooked until the actual time for it arises, we spend a lot of time these days looking at images on screens of various shapes and sizes, so that can actually mislead people in terms of what to expect with a print. Part of the process involves attempting to resolve those differences.

What’s the best way to spend a long weekend? I can’t remember the last long weekend I wasn’t actually working. I try to save them up and get away for longer breaks if I can. Otherwise drinking wine and cooking of friends and family would have to rate highly.

People argue that ‘print is dead’. What do you believe? There will always be a market for things that people can be passionate about. Mp3s haven’t killed vinyl, digital hasn’t killed off film, and Kindles won’t kill books. Things evolve and change but they also stay the same.

Log cabin or beach hut? Can I have both?

Your worst vice? Everything enjoyed in moderation

Living or dead, who is your favourite photographer? I don’t know that I can attribute that title to a single individual. Todd Hido, Philip – Lorca diCorcia, Stephen Shore, Ed Ruscha, Trent Parke and Ryan McGinley are names that spring to mind.

Is the art of digital printing more or less complex than traditional colour chemical printing? Computers can be a real pain in the ass, but again two very different processes.

Can you judge a man by his shoes? Indeed

What is the most recent job you have worked on that really inspired you? I wouldn’t single out any one specific project; being afforded the opportunity to work with so many different people is great. There are elements of all jobs that I would take inspiration from.

Have you ever rejected a client? Never.

Has anyone ever told you that photography wasn’t art? If they did I’d find it difficult to take them seriously.

Best and worst habit? Being a control freak and being in denial of being a control freak.

Name 3 publications every photographer should read. Blogs like American Suburb X are great. Sontag On Photography is a pretty good reference point. Then I’d probably suggest something a little less serious to lighten things up. There is nothing worse than people who take themselves too seriously.

Most frequently asked question in your studio? How big can I print this?

Most lust-worthy camera you’d like to own? A great image is a great image, no matter what it’s taken with. Having said that an alpa body with a Phase One IQ180 digital back (would settle for a P65+) and a Rodenstock 90 mm f/5.6 lens would be fun to have a play with. Skies the limit really.

Best piece of advice you’ve been given over the years? Be sure to make time for yourself.

Do you have a signature dish? I quite enjoy the entire process involved with cooking, it really is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things I can think of doing. There is no one thing jumps out specifically but I do think I make a pretty mean Spag Bol.

Do artists ever rely on oversized prints to make average art more impressive? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that artists rely on it, though I do feel that sometimes it is not something that is wholly considered upon initial conception. There are quite a few things to consider when contemplating scale. Things always look smaller in a gallery. Staring at screens for too long doesn’t help either.

And finally; Stones or Beatles? Beatles.

On a stormy day in Gowanus Brooklyn, Joel made time , in a hectic schedule, for me to document his skills . A real indication that Joel is as passionate about the craft as he is sharing the love with like minded souls. And as the rain literally poured into the basement of Cut Brooklyn, we sweated and chatted in what felt like a workshop turn sauna and I came to realise the true artisan craft of knife making. The way a knife cuts, moves and even feels in hand are as scientific as they are instinctual for Joel. I had never considered the importance until Joel explained patiently to me the process of creating the perfect knife.  Needless to say, life at home in the kitchen seems a little less glamorous now that I’ve felt a real knife in hand. Here I give you a sneak peek into the world of an American knife maker. And to be honest , I am a wee bit jealous .

Nicknames: Mose.

Current weather report: 26 degree F, snow.

From where are you answering these questions? A beat-up ski lodge in Vermont.

Why knives? Because a knife is a tool of entropy, and also of creation.

Where did you grow up as a child? Schenectady, NY.

What song reminds you of your parents? ‘Me And Bobby McGee’.

Favourite  smell in the kitchen? Onions and Garlic in the pan.

What artist gets repeat airplay at Cut Brooklyn? Bruce, Langhorn Slim, Steve Earle.

Coffee of choice? Crop to Cup’s Uganda Sebei.

Best and worst element of living in New York? Best: the people. Worst: the difficulty getting away.

Given your deserved success, where do you see yourself in 5 years? In my shop, making knives, loving my wife.

Favourite place to eat in Brooklyn? Vinegar Hill House.

At what stage does a skill or craft become art? When you’ve mastered the physical language of your craft you may attempt to make art with the skills you’ve earned. But the craftsman does not always have the artist inside. The craftsman has a calling, the artist has an itch.

Stones or Beatles? Stones.

How many times a day do you cut yourself? I cut myself just a little when I finish each knife, to see that it’s biting right. But that’s on purpose. I grind off a knuckle now and then, but don’t cut my self accidentally very often.

Describe Australia in one sentence: Sun, surf, local fare, women glowing, men plundering… that’s a shot in the dark, I’ve never been.

Would you ever swap knives for paper and pen now? I hope to be able to craft with both some day, but I’m a knifemaker for life.

Worst habit? Chewing tobacco

Will Obama be re-elected? Yes.

Is it possible to create the perfect knife? Yes, and no.

A world without computers would be? Quiet.

That being said, it is important to recognise the people who continue to create demand for their tattoo art in an oversaturated market. Cue, Andrew McLeod: co-founder of Chapel Tattoo and very much a gentleman.  I stopped by Andrew’s peaceful mid century pad in the hills just outside of Melbourne for some great chatter and a cuppa’ tea. If it wasn’t for the weather we could have been in Palm Springs. He plays a mean slide guitar too. If you are looking to be tattooed by Andrew expect a lengthy wait. He’s a good man and his art speaks for itself, which explains the high demand. Read on and enjoy!

First up lets hear the nicknames: Never had a nickname.

Years as a tattoo artist? 18 years.

Have you always tattooed in traditional style? No, but I’ve always had an affinity for it and from the first time i did one (traditional tattoo) I knew that’s what I wanted to focus on. But having said that I feel its important to be able to tattoo in different styles.

Coffee of choice? Latte from Dukes.

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? Seeing stuff in American tattoo magazines in the early 90′s with Guy Aitchison, Freddy Corbin, Eddy Deutsche etc.

Do you have children or pets? Both. A daughter named Violet. And two dogs: Inky and Vance.

Three movies everyone should see before they die? Easy Rider, Beyond the valley of the dolls and Ghostworld.

How important is having passion in your chosen career? Very

Desert or Ocean? Ocean I guess, but I am partial to cactus.

Have reality TV shows commodified the art of tattooing? Yes, I’m not a fan but it has been good for business. They have completely killed all the “mystery” from tattooing though.

What elements make a great tattoo? Outlines, simple colors and a skull or rose in there somewhere.

Messy or organised? Messy.

You play guitar very well, including lap steel and slide; would you trade tattooing for a career in music? Never.

Describe the current state of tattooing in Australia: Really good. Check out Bugsy’s “Done with electricity”, there’s also a heap of crap out there too but that’s always been the way.

What’s your worst habit? Potato chips.

Does the permanence of your art form ever stress you out? Only when i think about some of the stuff I did in the first couple of years of tattooing.

Favorite food to cook? Green mango

What album gets high circulation in the tattoo shop? Black Lips- Arabia mountain.

Has a book ever changed your life? Not really with regards to a novel but those ‘Tattootime’ books and some early tattoo magazines inspired me to change career.

Do you find your home and work space affect your creativity? At home I can’t really draw when my daughters running around and playing and stuff. So I usually wait until she’s gone to bed or she’s at school to draw or paint. At work I’m around people who inspire me everyday. Although I do most of my drawing at home because its quieter and there’s less distractions.

Dream location to reside? Palm Springs, USA.

Where would we find you at 11pm on a Friday night? At home probably doing my drawings for Saturday.

What local Australian tattoo artists have given you inspiration? Matt Cunnington, Trevor McStay, Jane Laver, Jakob Morley amongst others.

Two or four wheels? Four,  but lately I’ve been more interested in two.

What does it take to become an apprentice these days? Drawing, getting tattooed, to work hard and be willing to tattoo all different types of subject matter. Not just traditional stuff. Hanging around tattoo shops and luck.

First thing you think about when you wake up? Tea.

Best piece of advice you have ever been given? Don’t bag out other tattooists, as it’s a small world and it’ll end up biting you on the ass.

Can you judge a person by their tattoos? There are plenty of dickheads with cool tattoos and plenty of cool people with shit tattoos . And visa versa.

Sir Timothy Rogers is what I like to call him.  Guardian of Australian rock and roll , lead vocalist of You am I,  solo artist in his own right, honest and gifted lyricist. A convict , born during the summer of love , with a quick wit and a colloquial twang.  I am sure you all know who he is. So read on and enjoy the fruits of my labour.  (a very excited) Mr. Blanc

Nicknames? “Jolly”. Or “That guy in You Am I”

If you could sing only one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? “Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichel

Coffee of choice: Satanically strong flat white. And a smoke.

Last movie you saw and score out of 5. “Gainsbourg” :3 and an ‘arf.

Complete this sentence. Without my daughter; my bum would be a bike rack.

What should ARIA stand for? Another Rogers Idiosyncrasy Awarded

What makes Tim Rogers an Australian? A lopsided grin and days of silence.

Have you ever owned purple sneakers? Why yes, still do. The originals were bought by my dad and I was ridiculed wearing them through Year…3? Adelaide.

Most important book you have read? Nine Stories by JD Salinger.

What exhausts you? Anger. I do anything and everything to exhaust myself otherwise.

Is pleasure possible without pain? Bad timing to answer, but yes I’m in the pursuit of pleasure without pain.

Sea or mountain air? Mountain. I adore sea air but mountain air clears my synapses. And makes me think anything is possible.

What legacy would you like to leave? My daughters perennial happiness and wonder.

Favourite  venue in the world to perform? Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given and by whom? “You’re a very capable person”. It sounds like a compliment, but i took it as advice. From someone who has a strong, silent regard.

Worst habit? I have a plethora of cleaning habits that swell and abate in times of sadness and joy. I don’t like em.

Pizza of choice? Anchovies, Olives and thin crusts are my only demands. As a former pizza maker/deliverer I ate pizza two times a day for years.

Describe ‘You am I’ in five words. Stoic. Flaky. Excitable. Romantic. Potential.

Song that reminds you of your parents? “Tug Of War” by Paul McCartney.

What drives Tim Rogers? The ecstatic moment a song begins to crack open in writing, and a fear of being the guy at the bar moaning about “music today” bitterly. And the feeling after a good show. Nothin’ beats it.

Have you got a signature dish? A secret, but the cooking of it has a shifting soundtrack and the chef quaffs wine or whiskey and is ecstatically happy.

Who is the biggest inspiration in your life? Apart from Ruby? The biggest inspiration is the possibility of being a person of substance.

Last person you sent a hand written letter to? The last person who sent me one. And it meant so much to me to receive. To imagine they would feel the same thrill left me… thrilled.

Where might we find you on a Sunday afternoon? If not in a tavern of some ill-repute, reading or listening, I’ll be wandering.  Walking with no purpose but cognition is a simple, necessary delight. If in Melbourne, it’ll be post footy training, so the aches will be sweet. If elsewhere, the gaze will be the same, bemused.

Best Prime Minister this grand country of ours has endured? Joseph Lyons had a lovely smile. But i trusted Bob Hawke.

Favourite summer aroma? A companion.

Can you judge a man by his shoes? Yes. And it has nothing at all to do with the cost.

How much is Enough? Regularly and furiously.

How do you know when you’ve become a man? I stopped apologising for myself, and apologised when I did something wrong

Describe your mot memorable “rock star”  moment? In a London hotel with Anita Pallenberg and Patti Paladin, both politely refusing my offer of Class A refreshments, but they were wonderful company. And i was, to be sure, out of my depth but i couldn’t have cared. It was funny, and cheeky. I think I know what you mean by “rock star” moments, and I gotta say, I get em a lot on stage. If it looks like i’m enjoying it, your damn right.

If you weren’t musically inclined what would you do for a crust? A gardener.

Stones or Beatles? Stones. They were my conduit into so much. And playing with em and meeting them was, well, it reminded me.

Nicknames? Robbery, Chopman, Cords or Kooooorrdooo (ironic footy name). Someone called me Bobby Digital once. That was cool.

Please explain what you do: Graphic design for print, publishing and whatever else crops up. Manage PARTS – a shared art studio housing exceptionally great people doing nice stuff. Every Saturday the front room of the studio becomes PARTS & CRAFTS, a one stop shop for zines, pubs, editions and other goods I believe are worth sharing. In addition to this I’m producing RISO zines with friends, old and new, under the banner of SMALLTIME BOOKS.

On that note, what’s your favorite nut? Pistachios are good. My mum recently told us that when she met Dad the floor of his car looked like a Pistachio shell depot.

How long have you been interested in zines? Only about six years or so. Although, my interest in all things printed goes way back.

Snow, surf or street? All three are fun but street had me at hello.

What is the difference between a zine and a magazine? The lines are definitely blurred but you might say page count, barcodes, advertising and a targeted readership are common differences.

What is your favourite city to visit and why? They’re all good for something. I’d love to visit our sister store in Amsterdam soon.

Most lusted after ZINE? Nieves has a stack of bangers that are out of print. The Kevin Lyons and Fergadelic stuff is particularly gold.

Where did you take your first steps? Staggered across a crowded room on a family holiday, keeping my balance with a half empty wine cask. True story.

What exactly is a RISO printer? A screenprinter trapped in the body of a Xerox machine. Originally created for rattling off church newsletters,recently finding favour amongst indie publishers for it’s ability to produce a unique, tactile print for about the price of a photocopy. Add to that a drumload of quirks and you’ve got yourself a RISO!

Stones or Beatles? Beatles got it all sewn up there.

Do you believe a man’s shoe choice is important? No doubt ‘a-boot’ it.

What was your first ZINE? Pretty sure it was HYPE or Blitzkrieg

Coffee of choice? Latte. Real fluffy like. Served with pace. My mate Seb summed it up well recently “Less yappin, more frappin”.

You share a studio with a bunch of artists. Does this help you stay inspired? Being able to share the day with like minded folk is amazing. Whether it’s talking through a project, seeing a piece evolve from rough to final, learning of a previously unknown artist, a software shortcut, a simple tea break or epic ping pong battle, it’s hard not to be inspired.

Who do you Barrack for in the AFL? Penrith Panthers are pretty good right? Actually for the sake of controversy let’s roll with the Pies.

Do you have a 5 year plan for life or business? Nope. But I’m working on that right after this.

What’s your signature dish? Prawn Linguini. Pretty good at making Tea also.

Summer or Winter? Winter is better for work, better for clothing and better for headphones.

Parts or Crafts? PARTS all day.

Nicknames? Luma, its easier than Lumalasi

Why bees? We didn’t think we had enough room for chickens so I suggested that a box full of stinging bees.

Dispell the top 3 Bee misconceptions. 1: All bees you see foraging in your garden are females.  2: Bees only eat pollen and Nectar . Only wasps hang around at a BBQ. 3: Smoke distracts bees, it doesn’t pacify them. They think a bushfire is coming and they prepare to flee the hive, ignoring us tending to them.

Coffee of choice? Romcaffe or Jasper.

Where would we find you at 8 am on a Sunday? After my dawn rowing session I am usually jogging home from Sth Melbourne to Heidelberg. No, I’m usually just having a coffee and reading something from the Internet.

Do you ever call your partner Vanessa “honey”? Ha, nah. She’s my “baby”, not my honey.

In a couple of sentences explain why bees are so important to humans: Bees play a very serious role in the pollination of plants and are responsible for 1 out of every 3 mouthfuls of food that we eat. There is a lot of industry that is totally reliant on bee pollination like almonds and cherries. The famous quote comes to mind from Albert Einstein: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination. No more man”.

Are you a sweet-tooth? Definitely.Chocolate firstly, Ice cream, confectionary. Dessert before mains.

What can bees offer city folk? We are really excited about a true local product coming from the heart of the city, Im not sure about any other produce harvested from the CBD. We have really distinct flavours from each hive which people can get behind and support, like Melbournians and their footy teams. Go Heidelberg Honey! We have also noticed that the bees attract other wildlife back into the city like dragonflies and birds, which have also been pushed out of the urban jungle.

In your wildest dreams, which building in the world would house your rooftop Hives? I think it would be a really cool experiment to see if bees would survive in a giant glasshouse in Antarctica during the summer. They could pollinate the crops for food at the Antarctic Station and then be taken back to Australia once summer is over.

Do you have a personal culinary specialty that is inspired by honey? I make a mean Honey Ice cream with only 4 ingredients. Simple and tasty.

“ Without the help of my partner Vanessa, I ……“ don’t think such a project could have ever happened. Her passion for gardening and cooking led us to bees. Together we are a really dynamic team and I couldn’t imagine trying this venture with anyone else”.

Is it true some hives can have an evil queen? We have had some experience with an evil queen. This can be general bad behaviour like with all animals, but we have also been told that it can be a result of inbreeding.

11 important bee/honey facts we should all know? 1:Bees don’t eat meat, wasps do. 2:All of the bees in the hive eat bee bread (pollen/nectar) except the queen, she eats royal jelly. 3:Drones/Males are only kept for the “honey” season. They don’t forage, clean, nurse or heat and they are kicked out to die in Winter. 4:There can be up to 80,000 bees in a large hive. 5:The honey is their food supply for when it is too cold and wet for them to fly. 6: Bees recognise our scent and recent studies claim that they can even recognise faces. 7:Bees don’t like getting up early. 8: Apparently 10AM onwards is good for them. 9:A bee loses its stinger when it stings and ultimately dies, therefore they only sting when their life is in immediate danger. 10:A healthy queen can lay up to 2000 eggs a day in Summer and can live for as long as 4 Years.11: Bee stings have been used to treat Arthritis, M.S and Muscular Dystrophy with ongoing studies to scientifically prove the benefits.

Ocean or mountains? Oceans for sure.

Dream escape? Driving around the world in my Land Rover Defender.

If you didn’t live in Melbourne where would you live? I like the idea of buying an island and setting up to be totally sustainable. We will be neutral like Switzerland.

Please use this opportunity to explain what a “swarm” is. A swarm is a massive cluster of bees with a queen at the centre, which have left the old hive. A swarm usually happens because they have run out of room or the Queen has become too old and been overthrown by a new young queen. A swarm is generally very passive and only interested in keeping the Queen alive until the scouts find a suitable place to make a new home. Apparently you can pick up a swarm with bare hand. I haven’t tried it yet.

What is the most important lesson in manhood you have been taught? I suppose it was my father that taught me that if you want something, its up to you to go out and make it happen. No one else is going to do it for you.

Last but not least, Stones or Beatles? Beatles

Ray is a gentle, yet somewhat charismatic, individual. His positivism and love of life is infectious. Unlike a lot of other artists, Ray doesn’t believe he does anything out of the ordinary. In his words there is “no mystery” to what he does. I am sure he understands the artisan nature of what he does, but he refuses to embellish or glamorise his skills, which is an endearing sentiment. For a person like me who cant even sketch a human, its impressive to watch his precision. A gentle mix of technique and innate skill.

Basically he gets on with making stunning hand made signage and his gold leaf work is sought after by all and sundry. It really is a pleasure to watch. Especially the bit where he rubs his brush on his head creating static charge to attract the gold leaf to his German brushes. Odd, but it’s part of the art he reckons.

Have you acquired any nicknames? No. Explain your occupation in one sentence: Sign writer, gold leaf gilder and commercial artist. Favourite city in the word? Hobart,Tasmania. It’s gentle, quiet, clean and safe. Is it important to have children? Not necessarily! but it’s a privilege to have children and observe some of your characteristics displayed as they reach adulthood. Even more so to have grandchildren. Your art form of hand sign writing is becoming more rare. Do you think it will ever be extinct? No! Discerning individualist’s will always appreciate and want handcrafted items including works of art, no matter what the cost. What’s your coffee of choice? Macchiato or double shot café latte. How many years have you been sign writing? About 40. Artist and song that makes you smile? Ry Cooder , ‘Maria Elana’ and ‘Statesboro Blues’. Who taught you to sign write? Frank Kingman. Where would I find you at 9am on a Sunday morning? It’s party time! Eggs on toast and cup’s of tea with my wife. Ocean or mountains? Mountains. More specifically Mt. Deception, Bentley’s Plains. I once got seriously lost catching wild Brumbies there. Do you have a signature dish? Yes, Crumbed cutlets. You use squirrel hair on your brushes. Please explain why? Squirrel is a natural fiber, perfect for lifting pure gold leaf and traditional. Plus it enables the crafts person to produce beautiful long flowing brush stocks when lettering. Most important piece of advice anyone has ever given you? My mother in law who survived the ‘Great depression’ and hard times often said ” expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed”. What makes you feel sentimental? Harry Nilsson singing “As Time Goes Bye’. Your Pizza of choice? Romana : Thin base, mozzarella, hot salami, Spanish olives, anchovies, capers ,chilli. “Wow” Describe yourself in just a few words: Creative dreamer. Is it true that you can tell a lot about a person by their choice of shoes? I think so. Anyone can wear rubber thongs or white runners. Do you have any pets? Yes! An Australian cattle dog named ‘Ally’. Worst habit is? Grinding my teeth. Probably too much coffee. You have some incredibly lux gold leaf in your kit. Is this a finite resource? The older gold leaf is, because it is 24 Karat and has a magnificent color when reverse gilded on glass. It looks amazing. Is there an ultimate job you would love to carry out? Yes, I would love to teach one of my Grandchildren some of my skills. I quote you as saying “never pretend to be something you’re not”. Have you ever pretended and what did you learn? We all have to pretend some times but “You are what you think you are”. So if you pretend make sure no one knows. And finally, Stones or Beatles? Definitely ‘The Rolling Stones’.

Describe Rhys Lee in a few words: Really, really sensitive. Any nicknames? Rice. If you had only one medium to work with forever what would it be? Ink. Lover or fighter? Lover. Ultimate piece of art to add to your collection would be? There’s not an ultimate piece out there. I need lots of different pieces to be satisfied. Worst habit (refer to girlfriend if necessary)? Being too honest. At what age did you create your first piece of  ‘Rhys Lee’ art and what was it? Can’t remember. Favourite plant or tree? Mangroves. Has moving close to the ocean changed your body or mind? Yes…healthy body, healthy mind. Summer or winter? Summer, but I like jackets. Does digital technology play a part in inspiring your work? Research. Favourite coffee haunt? My kitchen. Any new mediums on the way that we should know about? Ceramics. A little word association: Bike: Hill Pasta: Linguini Purple: Brai Grin: Rotten Rain: Hail Hurt: Sorry Fluorescent: Pink Gold: Arms Fame: Who? Album on repeat at the moment? Beach House. Do you support a carbon tax? Yes. What’s your signature dish? Baked snapper. Favourite time of the day to work? Anytime is good. If your house was burning down, what would you grab first? A banana. Last but not least, Stones or Beatles? This is a stupid question… Beatles!

It’s about 30 degrees in Currumbin when I head out to Jesse’s Gold Coast shaping bay. Upstairs feels about 45! Luckily for me Jesse’s got the most organised, categoriesd , and climate controlled shaping bay I have ever seen. His background as a “firey” is what he reckons made him so regimented. He informs me that half the time wasted in shaping bays is usually locating lost tools. Not in this bay. Jesse’s a perfectionist. A true sculptor of the surfboard. One that feeds inspiration from the halcyon days of surfing, bottles it, shakes it up and adds his own elixir.

This very special feature is a tad self indulgent I will admit. To shoot such a classy shaper and have him shape my very own custom “Mini Simmons Deluxe” for “MrBlanc” was a real treat. For those non surfers out there, unfortunately I cant really find a parallel to explain this. So instead, grab a cuppa’ and see below for more info on what Jesse is all about.

Nicknames? Pigeon . First thing you do on a Saturday morning? Head to the farmers market and buy as much fresh squeezed sugar cane juice as they’ll give me. What makes Black Apache Surfboards special? Love and obsession. That makes them what they are. Is the Gold Coast a good place to make a home?  The Gold Coast is a million things all rolled into on. Its not where I’ll see my days out, but its good for now. Coffee of choice? Sugar cane juice. Given that your lovely wife is a Bikram Yoga instructor, what’s your downward dog like? My downward dog had to been put down because he went lame. Is it really possible to attain modern performance in a surfboard that has its roots in superseded retro design? Define modern performance? I think it is possible because what is considered to be “modern” is changing. We’re taking old ideas and making them relevant. They have flavours of the past but feel like the future. This is the true future of surfboard design. Design in general and surfboard design in particular doesn’t just move forward, it goes sideways as well. We take an older concept and we refine it out in all directions till we find a higher level for that design. We make it relevant again. Surfing is often quoted as being better than sex. Discuss. I don’t think they’re doin’ it right. Do you believe in competitive surfing?  I believe in fun surfing. And if they wanna make it competitive, sure fine go ahead, doesn’t bother me. I actually thought about designing a new tour a while ago. Back in the day and in surfing history a lot of world champs and surfing elite shaped their own boards. Guys like MP, Mark Richards, Terry Fitz’, Gerry Lopez. The list is endless. Anyways imagine a tour where you had to shape your own quiver, maybe even glass it too, and you had to have all types of boards (no thrusters) and on any given day either voted on by the surfers or pulled out of a hat was the type of board ridden for that event! Points would be judged on style, length of ride and stupidity. What d’ ya reckon? I just need a sponsor. Ultimate surfer you would like to shape a board for? Myself – I always want more boards than I have. Or maybe Mr Blanc? I hear he rips. What are you reading at the moment? 65 signs of the times, Gerry Lopez – surf is where you find it, earth – the beginning, Nick Carroll’ s guide to improving your surfing. And the bible… I like to read a lot, and I’ll read 5 books at once. Rugby or AFL? Neither. Surfing instead. Lets say I offered you a time machine for a day, where would you go and with whom? Id go back to Indonesia in the early 1970’s. Imagine all those waves with no one around? HT’s, Nias, Macaronis, Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Canggu, man that’d be awesome. I would go by myself too. I would have every set wave to myself. The best words of advice you have been given? “You can either have the rug pulled out from under you all the time or you can learn to dance on a shifting carpet. Should surfing ever be an Olympic sport? I’ll make that decision when they give me a start on the Olympic committee. Favourite surf break in the world? HT’s or lances right to the old fellas (in indo). It’s the most perfect wave I have ever surfed. I racked up 6 months worth of barrels in 1 day last time I was there. What’s the first board you ever shaped?  A red rocket. Geez it was ugly and asymmetrical as all hell. My sister used to call it “lefty” because it looked like it would  only go one way. People would go into fits of laughter at the sight of it, but dam it that little ginger step child gave me the best waves of my life there for a time and made me want to be a shaper. Is epoxy an evil word? Greed is an evil word, epoxy is a noun. Last but not least, Stones or Beatles?  Going to run with Mick and his huge lips and gyrating hips.

When I thought about shooting Greg a while back, the story was simple. Relaxed kinda guy that makes amazing furniture and a true artisan of timber and stone. Man stuff. What I soon realised however, was that this story was leaning towards the renovation of what Greg calls “Butter-Land”. So, two stories became one.

I will revisit this property as time goes on and I am sure it will be come an integral part of the Newstead community and also a great destination to view Greg’s work. Keep an eye out for his sidekick, “Skinny”. This place isn’t a one man show by any means. She’ll be the one eating a chip sandwich.

Nicknames? “Twiggy”.  First concert you ever attended? Hoodoo Gurus, Some dude pulled a knife on me and tried to steal my wallet out the front of festering hall. I used my secret weapon against him. Saw them again a few years ago at the prince and noted that the crowd was all balding, fattish and tired looking, have dissociated myself from them since. Haven’t listened since mars needs guitars. Coffee or Tea? Both but not at the same time. Have you ever crashed a car? Tipped a land rover on its side and also backwards onto the back door, both at about 5 km/ph so no real damage done. Just pusher her back onto her wheels and away we go. Why do burger rings taste nothing like a burger? Dunno don’t eat shit. Favourite timber to work with? Sugar gum. The first thing you do when you wake up? Morning job then shower to wake up. Was Kevin Rudd a better PM than Julia? Equally bad. Think they have the same advisors and speech writers as she is beginning to sound as dull as Kev. If she starts saying therefore every two seconds that will prove my theory. Favourite city in the world? Melbourne. Rolling Stones or The Beatles? Mum and dad had good collection of Beatles but I prefer The Stones. First piece of furniture you ever mad and for whom? Chair from a fallen tree in the backyard for me mum, age 14. Who makes you smile and why? Charlie my neighbour across the road. He’s a champ and has a good turn of country phrase. If you were the lovechild of two celebrities who would they be? Kevin Bacon and Jerry hall. Can manhood be measured by the roughness of ones hands? Hopefully, I can exfoliate and massage at the same time. Defining moment in your career? Getting a large stone wall job down the Mornington  Peninsula and making the gang I was working for work for me. Did you know the word “Internet “ required a capital “I” ? Do now. Does working with your hands make you content? Very. Start with a pile of stuff and turn it into something. Very rewarding. Explain what you are currently doing with your recently acquired butter factory. I’m trying to create a versatile space that allows for creativity and energy to flow through the building and those that use the space: firm grip on penis. Best local place to swim on a hot day? Under the bridge at Newstead, I did however pick up a nice dose of Ross River fever there. Can one judge a person by their shoes? Yep, I once advised a girlfriend to ditch her bloke because of his shoes. Married 2 months later actually. Nice bloke but still has bad shoes.  Bad shoes are unacceptable. Mountains or Ocean? One next to the other would be nice, I’m thinking south east coast NSW or Mallacoota. What reminds you of your parents? Native orchids and birds. Creation you are most proud of? St. Kilda garden for Craig and Leigh. Great clients to work for and great taste. Made a shit, dog excavated garden into a nice place to hang out.

In particular, Ben’s own labour of love , his 1930’s Ford makes me salivate. The depth of the ebony paintwork dripping off those panels is liquid like. And the scent of the leather inside is a beautiful contrast to the oily smell of a flathead V8. Pop down to Rancho Deluxe on a Saturday for a coffee and peruse Ben’s world. It’s truly intoxicating.

Given Nicknames: Many given, none taken. I’ll put up with Benny if you’re a girl . In Layman’s terms explain what Rancho Deluxe is: A workshop specialising in 1930s Ford Hotrods,building cars with love and vintage parts, and a passable café, on Saturdays. On a daily basis what inspires you? My roadster just sitting there,waiting. The stuff I surround myself with becomes my muse. Do you ever wake up and feel like you are living out a childhood fantasy in your very own workshop? I don’t think this was a childhood fantasy..but about ten years back I spent some time working out what my future would look like,and it pretty much came true. Coffee of choice? Genovese. Good wog coffee, no fair trade marketing guff here. Some very quick word association: First word that comes to mind when I say , Mod: Grind Fuel injection: fidget Holden: apologetic Croissant: je ne sais pas Motorcycle: commit V8: torque Pinot Noir: sour grapes Cigarette: boat 1990’s car design: regret . Do you have any pets? MAX , the only ginger I ever liked. He hates the workshop though, so he leaves this world each day and comes back when the grinding stops. What was your very first car? Mini moke. Of course I lowered it and put twin carbs and straight out exhaust on it. Bright yellow.The eighties. Ughh Is there a bygone era you wish you had been part of? Sure. I really wish I was born in 1900. And was dying about now. Who taught you the craft? My Dad, all my childhood BMX’s, my apprentice master Jim Young, the rest I read on the internets. Record that gets most action on the Rancho Deluxe Turntable? Motown-the first 25 year Worst habit you can’t kick? Solitary tendencies. Leaded or unleaded? I build engines to use unleaded these days, I don’t trust those additives. On a Saturday at 10am where might we find you? At the shop, tidied up ,ready to serve coffee and muffins to the locals,and the hotrod curious alike. Who are the Kardinals ? My car club.a bunch of friends who love the same stuff I do, My Hot rod brothers. Dream build for dream client would be? Im actually kinda doing it right now! It’s an old California hotrod that was built in the fifties, Im refurbishing it and making it safe, but keeping everything as it was..a time machine in a way. Dream client? One who trusts my judgement and understands the time and thought that goes into this job. How do you feel about Top Gear Australia? I don’t have a television, so I cant really comment, the English one is awesome, but my guess is the local version would suck. What’s more important, how it looks or how it goes? How it looks. Fast is fun, but fast can be ugly. Dream date? Warm night, great food, roadster, whimsical destination, appreciative company. Did you play with matchbox cars? Yeah that and lego. I remember all these big drawers of lego, with matchbox cars in amongst it. That was all I needed to be happy. If you could give one word of advice to aspiring builders of fine automobiles what would it be? Research history. Learn from it. It’s all there. Every mistake, every beautiful car, every reason for the proportions. Let all that stuff become intrinsic to your work. Summer or winter? Usually I’d say winter, but damn that last one was tough in an unheated workshop. Current book of choice? “the ford V-8 cars and trucks” Victor W. Page 1937 edition. Because Knowledge is lost in time. As I am.

Given nicknames? Daz, Hendo, Spendo, Dendo Bold, Man Mountain.  Have you ever googled yourself, if so what do you find? I have. I’m a Scottish footballer. Favourite medium to work in? Spray enamel, shellac and acrylics. And any pen or marker. Lets get this one out of the way, Beatles or Rolling Stones? Stones by far.  Most ridiculous design job you ever had? There has been a few. Ridiculuous (as in bad)…retouching Ian Thorpes penis was a funny one. I had to make it look smaller in his trunks. Ridiculuous (as in good)…doing the illustrations for a Moonlight Cinema Campaign with Studio Pip & Co. You’re cooking on a first date, whats your culinary specialty? Hahha…Mr Blanc!…It’s Garlic Prawns. Who was your last hug from? My niece Lola. Bribery! Where did you spend your summer holidays as a child? Rainbow Bay/Snapper Queensland.  Is the owl your only muse? Owls are a good Muse, close to my heart…but not the only one. New ones are on the way. Worst Vice? Season 1 episode 5 when Crocket and Tubs pose as drug dealers and hire a plane to Columbia…oh…umm… smoking.  Ultimate piece of art to acquire? 8 x 6 foot José Parlá canvas. One day Mr Blanc…one day. Any memorable haircuts we should know about? Of course. When I worked at Coles I had a killer mullet that went well with a striped shirt and a thin black leather tie. Wish I kept the tie.  How many surfboards do you own, and which one is your current favourite ? I own 9. My current favourite would be the 6″4′ JS…my overall favourite would be the 6″2′ South Coast Fish with glassed in red fins. Can artists ever “switch off”? No. Song that reminds you of your mother? George Benson – On Broadway. Mum…i still have the vinyl at my house. ‘Dendo Bold’ : please explain? I worked for an ad agency from 1998-2000. One of their clients was Coles. The campaigns used a a lot of hand writing which was my own.  I used to call it Dendo Bold. I had to write every part of the campaign, print and TV. It was everywhere when you walked into Coles. My favourite was Banana’s 99c. Favourite surf break in the world? Lances Left (OS) / Magiclands (MELB) How does your process of creation differ from others? I get to paint in Hendonesia. Have you ever inhaled? Yes. Of course. At 8 am on a sunday morning where would i normally find you? Reporting on the surf (coincidentally to MrBlanc) at Hendonesia or at Batch getting a coffee.
Three words the best describe your personality? Passionate, creative, grappy. (Balance of grumpy and happy). Hard or soft towels? Soft…but it has to be a good towel.

Do you have a nickname? Yes, Bambi. Best thing about being the lead singer of Children Collide? Not being the lead harmonica player of Children Collide. If you could exist as an animal for one day only, which would it be and why? A fire-breathing unicorn with wings. Beatles or Rolling Stones? Mind. Blown. Sweet or savoury? Swavering. How many times have you had your hair cut in the last year? Either once or not at all. I can’t remember what happened yesterday. Favourite book of all time? Pickle, Pickle, Pickle Juice. What is your pizza of choice? Something with pineapple and chilli on it. Does what happens on tour always stay on tour? The smells of tour follow you home until you do your washing. Has ‘itunes’ changed the music industry for better or worse? There is no better or worse, there is only i. Do you have a favourite guitar at the moment? I just bought a Red 1965 Gibson Firebird III non-reverse. I tried sleeping with it but I got a bit tangled up. If you could swap jobs with someone , who would it be? Whoever pulls the strings. Coffee or tea? Coffee, although never after the sun’s gone down. Your house is on fire, what are you running back in to save. The clothes I forgot to put on when I panicked and ran out of the house. Mountains or Ocean? Preferably both at once. What is inspiring you at the moment? This questionnaire. Vegemite or Promite? They both have their place, I guess that place is on toast. Do you have a secret skill? Yes. What artist and song make you smile if you are shitty? Rock Lobster. Always with the Rock Lobster. I don’t know why. Summer or winter? SUMMER! Although I do love a good coat.What was the last movie you saw and with whom? It was Predators with my now ex-girlfriend. I think it may have given her ideas. Will the weather be good tomorrow? Looks doubtful. The best city in the world is? Today I’m feeling Tokyo. Tomorrow it might be Darwin, but it will probably still be Tokyo.

Star sign? Aquarian.Otherwise known as ? “Grumpy Mal” .Explain your occupation in one sentence? Purveyor of fine cycling wares. Country of origin ? England. Whats going through your head at 6am most mornings? In winter, nothing! I am asleep. Coffee or tea? Coffee, always strong and in a cup. How long have you been riding a bicycle ?44 years. Can one judge a person by their shoes ? yes. Ultimate destination for free wheeling ? Ride up Mount Buffalo and free wheel down. Your most prized possessions ? Mates and my dog. Favourite pizza ? Oosso bucco from Pizza Farro, Thornbury. Who are your celebrity parents? (ie you could be the lovechild of) Michael Cain and Mrs.Slocombe (are you being served). Lover or a fighter ? Both. Kilometres ridden per week ? 400-520. If style could be purchased would you sell it ? No. Too much responsibility. Ocean or mountains ? A bit of both. Artist and song that makes you smile ? Elvis presley, Burning Love. Favourite piece of clothing ? Elwood Jeans. What motivates you to get out of bed every morning ? My Staffie ‘Sparky’, who needs a pee and a walk.Vegemite or Promite ? Vegemite. Can one person change the world ? No. Most convenient item of fruit and why? Banana. Easy to eat on the bike. Favourite city in the world? Melbourne!