inspire…

Following my speil yesterday, I believe everyone should have a heroe or a mentor, someone to guide them along their chosen path in what ever field it may be?

I have had some great teachers, in my short time, who have taught me things from how to use design applications to chopping wood, but there is one man I look up to, in an obsessively, romantic, stalker like way. I have never met him, so I guess he is not a mentor, only a superstar in my puppy dog eyes.Â I was first exposed to him when I was 17, in the lowdown magazine featuring Ed Templeton and the likes from “Beautiful Losers” fame. I remember being instantly captivated by his fluid style that seems so simple. Since thenÂ I have followed him with stalker like passion, and everything he does seems to be whatÂ I want to do!!!

Blog readersÂ I present you “Thomas Campbell“.

You may be familiar with him, from his album cover designs for his mate Jack Johnson, or possibly his artwork? Maybe even one of his surf movies? And the “soon” to be released “the Present” which I have been waiting two years for.

The man is a painter, photographer and filmmaker. An entirely self-taught artist, his work directly reflects his life and draws from his experience traversing around the globe on surf trips. During his short breaks between adventures, he has been known to lock himself in for days on binges that produce literally hundreds of fresh drawings and works on canvas. Campbell has mounted solo exhibitions at galleries in worldwide. His feature length surfing films The Seedling and Sprout have been avidly embraced by the surfing community worldwide. He is also creative director for a small independent record label, Galaxia.

So in the words ofÂ Tibor Kalman, “Arenâ€™t we finally our best when we find and follow our passion.”