from the desk of the groomed man
Ghostpatrol Collaboration - Can you paint with shampoo and conditioner?
Recently we teamed up with David Booth (aka Ghostpatrol) and StudioAton to work on a project that was a little outside of the box. When we released our Hair & Beard Shampoo and beard conditioner we had wrapped up 14 months of product development, and to us it was a work of art. Sure, we could have just got some guy in the shower showing off the product, but we like to be a little bit different (like our products).
We put David to the test, to see if he could create a work of art with our products. Known for his aesthetically individual work, David has been producing a lot of great pieces for a variety of projects around Melbourne and the globe. You’ve probably wandered past some of his street works, or maybe ever seen it in the most unlikely of places. We sat down with David to ask him a few questions!
Tell us a bit about yourself and a bit about how you became an artist.
I was always drawing as a child. I liked drawing and making things all the time – though I didn’t have much exposure to ‘art’ as a young person. So I didn’t really study art. Whilst at University I started travelling more and became involved in making a lot more finished artworks and began exhibiting my drawings and paintings. I’ve been living off my art for more than 10 years now. I still can’t really believe it. My projects keep me pretty busy, travelling around the planet and working with great and inspiring people.
If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
Just floating around.
You travel a lot. Where is your favourite place to travel to and a must do activity in that destination?
I’ve been spending the last few European summers in Iceland, working towards an upcoming project. I love it there – the landscape is epic and beautiful. The highlight for me is really my great friends that I stay and work with. They live out of the city, I love wondering around the mountain behind their place with their dogs an horses.
I’ve just returned from Japan, and I’ve lost track of how many times I have been there. As well as reconnecting with good friends – the highlight for me is always food. I’m a sucker for good fresh Soba and crispy Tonkatsu!
What have been some of the greatest moments in your career? Any favourite art pieces?
I’ve been really lucky to have been able to pursue my art – My favourite projects are:
Painting the two turbines at Hepburn Wind Farm. These giant paintings combined a good set of passions and challenges to form a team and work alongside a motivated community. Hepburn Wind was the first community owned wind farm in Australia. http://www.paintinghepburnwind.com
In 2014 I travelled to Arnhem Land with Gotye to work on a feature documentary focusing on Djalu Gurruwiwi. The trip was life changing and opened up a new path of understanding of Aboriginal culture. The film is still in production, but is due to premiere later in 2017.
Do you have any advice you would have for budding artists who may be starting out in the industry?
Ummm, yes! The thing that has worked for me, is to keep busy and always be playing and making things. Also reaching out to people you admire and get to know them, volunteer to assist and learn from experience not books. Something else that has had the biggest impact on me, that no one ever told me growing up – TRAVEL as much as possible!
What was using shampoo and conditioner like as a material to work with?
Drawing with the shampoo and conditioner was fun. Like playing with food as a child. I liked the challenge of letting it drip and move around, working quickly.
Now you know more about our hair and beard shampoo and conditioner why not shop our Australia made range.