As part of a therapeutic practice during this recent tumultuous period of my life, I painted my 4th skateboard deck. saying goodbye and thank you to the best housemate I’ve ever had.
I moved to Bristol just over 4 years ago, I knew barely anyone and as it was during covid-19 lockdowns, it was really hard to meet people and make friends, but then I started skating at skateparks, mostly rollerskating, but dabbled on a board too, and it contributed to about 90% of the friendships I made, even the people I lived with. I started painted skateboard decks with postcodes on them, they signified home. The first was made for my first home in Bristol where I only lived for a year, it wasn’t the cleanest of paint jobs, but a learning process for sure, much like the relationship and time I spent in that first home… I then moved into a home that I stayed up until my recent eviction, this was my personal favourite home and again reflected in the skateboard. It was my first attempt at gold leaf and it turned out pretty great! My third deck was made as a gift for my partner at the time of his childhood postcode in his requested favourite colour pallet, rainbow!
I grew up in a pretty messy family dynamic and have always had a challenging relationship with this idea of ‘home’, so saying goodbye to the best home and relationship I’ve ever had at the same time, was immensely challenging, but I feel in doing this project and dedicating time, effort, and thought to the grieving process, it’s made it somewhat more bearable.
It also reminds me of the first skateboard deck I ever designed. It was pretty different to these, a digital illustration, professionally printed rather than hand painted, of a nude female figure, with plants growing out of her head. This was done way back in 2018, and a few years later I got a simplified version of the design tattooed on to me. This has acted as a reminder, that home is in the body and mind, rather than 4 walls. It’s where I am, and I forgot that for a while. Sure a base is nice, support and a safe place, and my first ever skateboard deck has come with me to my new home whilst the rest sit in storage, but change is always inevitable, and the only place I’ll every truly be pat home, it within myself.