The last edition of the Kick-About was prompted by the idea of a ‘treasure trove’—a phrase that could just as easily apply to this week’s anniversary edition. The big number is the total number of weeks in five years—marking how long The Kick-About has been up and running (you can explore all 129 previous editions here). The Kick-About began as one of those ‘lockdown things’, created to stop us twiddling our thumbs and fearing the worst. Since then, it has evolved into a space for experimentation—encouraging us to try things we wouldn’t normally attempt, and to create new work in response to prompts we might not otherwise seek out or encounter. Enjoy this showcase of works from the KA community, produced during this fifth year of sustained playfulness, spontaneity, and happy accidents—long may it continue.
Graeme Daly
The Kick-About #109 ‘Chinelos’
“I decided to go with ‘Chinelos’ because I particularly enjoyed the creation of this Kick-About. I loved scouring through old costumes to find pieces that I could alter and pair with other pieces. I loved setting up my camera and doing the makeup that I had from a previous Beetlejuice costume. I adored prop-styling the scene using throws and mirrors and lighting it with a cheap but powerful sunset lamp. Making all those plates spin—using what I had to make the most theatrical output possible—was such a joy and I want to do more of that. I really felt like a Chinelo!”
@graemedalyart / vimeo.com/graemedaly / linkedin.com/in/graeme-daly / twitter.com/Graeme_Daly / gentlegiant.blog
Tom Beg
The Kick-About No 110 ‘Paradisaeidae’
“I’ve provided an updated version of the images I made for the Paradisaeidae prompt back in July 2024. I submitted the original images in a weirdly unfinished state. At the time, I was struggling to find a satisfying way to resolve the feathery floral-like things I had made, although the answer would indeed end up being quite obvious. A few months later, I went back to the original files and gave them a spruce up with some fresh eyes to make them a bit more dramatic and three-dimensional.”
Vanessa Clegg
The Kick-About No. 125 ‘The Rorschach Test’
“My choice is the Rorschach Test—not for the resulting artwork, but for the process, which I enjoyed for its unpredictability. It threw up some surprising results—not always successful, but (to me) interesting nonetheless, and it gave me the chance to mess about with pen and ink. It reminded me of that old life-drawing exercise: not looking at the paper, only the model… and then the shock and surprise at the strange alien creature that’s appeared—legs merging into chests, features floating away from the face…!”
vanessaclegg.co.uk / vanillaclegg
Judy Watson
The Kick-About No. 111 ‘The Mad Potter of Biloxi’
“The prompt was the Mad Potter of Biloxi, a nickname for George E. Ohr, a most excellent American ceramicist who lived from 1857-1918. His wonderful glazes and crumpled shapes, along with the seemingly weightless and wandering curlicues he attached to some of his pots, are deliciously attractive. (So was his moustache). I had only a couple of hours to do something with this, and although Kerfe had spent time, thought and energy exploring a range of processes to stunning effect, I brazenly ripped off a fast and cheap imitation in my own style. Sorry, Kerfe. Love your stuff.“
www.judywatson.net /Instagram.com/judywatsonart / facebook.com/judywatsonart
Francesca Maxwell
The Kick-About No.105 ‘Mark Rothko’
“I have been reading Rothko’s book on art, ‘Artist’s Reality: Philosophies of Art’, and I agree on lots of his ideas, too many to mention here; but I like what he says about painting being action and being an idea – and an idea that is always personal and a far reaching single impulse ‘that can effect the course of society more significantly in a single minute than a thousand other stimuli’. So I see his work as powerful and textural and a portal to other spaces. Here is my “idea” for this week.” Soft pastels on khadi paper.
Gary Thorne
The Kick-About No.126 ‘Iridescence’
“I’m partial to a weave, and this free-warp style allows for a great deal of happen-chance. Glad to say it’s moved on a bit since KA126. A big thanks to Phil for this brilliant initiative and keeping the corral and its wild horses in order.”
Marion Raper
The Kick-About No. 115 ‘Negative Space’
“I remembered that I did an embroidery some time ago, which involved a sketch of the spray from Niagara Falls—would you believe? I drew the enlarged shapes in pen and ink and found a suitable design. The technique is called Carrickmacross, and it is usually done with white thread on a black background. You make a three-layer sandwich consisting of your pattern, then some net, and finally fine cotton fabric on top. You then outline the pattern with couching thread and cut away the excess fabric. It’s very tricky! The history of this lace goes back to the Great Famine in Ireland, when women were probably paid a pittance for this skilled work to earn money for food.”
Charly Skilling
The Kick-About No. 117 ‘Cobweb’
“I had a lot of fun – and made a lot of mess – with this one! We still come across the odd bead in far flung corners of my workroom.“
Phil Cooper
The Kick-About No.105 ‘Mark Rothko’
“I‘ve gone right back to the beginning of year 5 for my choice. The prompt was Mark Rothko and the reason I‘ve chose this one is that it got me to look at an artist I thought I was very familiar with and see the paintings with fresh eyes. This is one of the many things about the Kick-About I appreciate, I would never have looked at Rothko and then created my own response without the prompt. Thanks Phil and everyone for another year of fascinating and beautiful work. Also, as an aside, I had an exhibition in Berlin earlier this year and I included a piece of work that I made for the very first KA (a little articulated paper werewolf character). It was the one piece in the show that I could have sold five times over…”
Jan Blake
The Kick-About No.126 ‘Iridescence’
“I think I was about five when I first saw a dragonfly hovering over a pond in the local park. I was transfixed! I wanted to be one. My dream came true when I went dressed as a dragonfly to a fancy dress party with the title of ‘Live out your fantasy’ in my twenties… (a very naive one). I’m still playing with this magic of colourful layers on silk organza that is a bit like borrowing the dragonfly’s wings.“
Tony Reeves
The Kick-About No. 106 ‘Slime Mould’
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot about slime mould in putting this together! The thing that really stuck with me after watching some videos about slime mould was the regular ‘pulse’ as the mould expands and contracts. This gave me the idea for some kind of pulsating low frequency sound, and each time the sound peaks things grow out of it. This required some pretty heavy compression, with the bass compression triggering the compressors on other sounds.“
Itta Howie
The Kick-About No. 123 ‘Wu Guanzhong’
“I’ve only contributed twice this year, and of the two submissions the clear winner is KA-123, Wu Guanzhong. At the time I wrote, ‘I managed to let go of the idea of capturing a scene and completely immersed myself in the environment. The last two sketches are very much about being in a site and layering sensory experiences. I feel I’m discovering a new way of working and can’t wait to explore some more.’ Since then I’ve been exploring more and more, and by the time this KA goes out I’ll be setting up for a three day residency at Arts Mansion at Ashton Court, Bristol. In this research project, I’ll enter a conversation between the moving body, place and history, translating sensory perceptions and emotional responses into large-scale experimental drawings. This all grew out of Wu Guanzhong-style sketching in early January!”
Kerfe Roig
The Kick-About No. 121 ‘Solstice’
“I’m going to pick Solstice. Learning new things (in this case about Hopi Solstice and religion and the Kachina Spirits associated with it) and being able to translate what I learn into one of my ways of making art (collage, with the birdlings as inspiration) gives me a lot of satisfaction. And I love when the place I end up surprises me. Thanks for another great year!”
kblog.blog / methodtwomadness.wordpress.com
Phil Gomm
The Kick-About No. 117 ‘Cobweb’
For my choice, I’ve chosen Leonard Snell and the Spiders, written for the ‘Cobweb’ prompt. Writing short stories is the closest I can get to working with a huge budget to produce a movie; you get to envision complete worlds unimpeded by the realties of casting, and set design and special effects etc. You get to choose words that will produce all of these effects in the mind of someone else – and you can do it directly. This was a fun one to do; it’s macabre, it’s camp and it rhymes (mostly!). Meanwhile, thanks to all the Kick-Abouters—for your company, creativity and the accountability: you’re keeping me on my toes!”
philgomm.com / behance.net/Phil_Gomm
Jordan Buckner
The Kick-About No. 114 ‘Strandbeest’
“I really enjoyed this one. An exploration of the strange movements from Strandbeest….”
Ashley
The Kick-About No. 125 ‘The Rorschach Test’
“Using a set of ink-blot images, an expert can determine underlying perceptions and thought disorders. So, what do you think Mr. Rorshach?“
James Randall
The Kick-About No 110 ‘Paradisaeidae’
“Who would have thought that we would still be waiting each fortnight for another KA after five – did you say five years? “It’s alive It’s alive” (I love Young Frankenstein.) I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed playing with everyone. Thank you other participants – so nice to enter Phill’s community to find you lovely people and your crazy inspiring ideas.
I think Paradisaeidae (I still can’t spell this) was my favourite KA from the last twelve months – I very nearly completed the image and realised that I just hadn’t got it quite right from the get go. In the last few days I went back to the start and redid it knowing what I wanted it to be. May there be many more inspiring challenges for us ahead.”
Lewis Punton
The Kick-About No. 111 ‘The Mad Potter of Biloxi’
“It’s been a pleasure joining in on this past year of the KA!”
And, lighting our way into the as yet uncharted creative waters of KA Year 6…
Red's Kingdom 
Leave a comment