Insights: Four Things I've Learned From Two Big Creative Projects

Lessons learned from a summer of stretching myself creatively and practically.

Post surf and interview stoke while working on The Announcement, Ventura, February 2023.

I’m currently working on two large extra-curricular projects.

The first is a new three-part audio documentary I’m making for Patagonia about the recent changes to the company’s ownership, called The Announcement.

A new career in a new town.

The second is the new house we’ve just bought in Normandy, which is a full-scale renovation and landscaping job which is probably going to take most of the next decade. (And I’m not even joking).

Despite the fact that both projects adhere to vastly different timescales, they’re stretching me in different ways, both emotionally and creatively.

Taking these two things on in addition to what I already do with Looking Sideways and

All Conditions Media

(as well as - you know - trying to have a life) has made for a nourishing yet mentally challenging 2023 so far.

As is my wont, I’ve been mulling this over for a few months now - and this blog is the result. So read on for the four lessons I’ve learned about creativity from both of these big old projects…