Venturing Onward | Meeting Christian Watson of 1924us

📖 6 min. read

Dear Reader,

I'd like to tell you about an adventure I went on recently. I trekked over mountains and hills. Rivers and fjords were crossed with vigor. It rained. It even stormed and many a tree were torn down.

We were heading up to Manchester. Rain is non-negotiable there.

While we may not have been navigating fjords and mountains, by the time we got on our delayed Transport for Wales carriage, it certainly felt like it. The remnants of Storm Boelo from the night before had everything turned upside down and even slower than a usual Sunday.

"But why Manny?" I hear you ask.

Because once in a while something wonderful happens. You see, I've been following Christian Watson online since about 2014. He built up his brand, 1924us, online primarily working in graphic and brand design from his studio in the States. Christian has a wonderful eye for all things creative and he really (although probably inadvertently) encouraged me to take up photography and posting on Instagram. Now, when I say photography, I don't have any fancy kit; I've only ever used my mobile phone camera. Posting online hasn't ever been a game of counting likes or gaining popularity for me. It's just something I really enjoy and I firmly believe that if you get the basics right, you don't need snazzy equipment. (Despite being asked over the years what camera I have because surely my photos must've been taken on a professional DSLR!)

It's about how you use the tools you have.

Meeting Christian was wonderful. He had a free book-signing of his book 'How Lucky Am I' in Waterstones on Deansgate. The queue curled all around the event room upstairs. The books on architecture, cooking and art were inspiring enough; books on Brutalism reminded me of my Architectural Tour of the Barbican. The Rembrandt books took me back to Amsterdam. The Jamie Oliver books I grimaced at. (As a Millenial, I was victim to him banning Turkey Twizzlers from schools in the early 2000's. It's still a touchy subject.)

But seeing someone from the internet I'd been following since I was 18? Unreal. I had a similar feeling when I saw Taylor Swift in concert. "She's real? She's there! I've only ever seen her on a screen before!" It's always a strange feeling to see that person is actually-properly-really-real. Even better to find Christian was just as kind and polite as he is online. I stumble over my words at the best of times and needed a coffee by the time it was our turn to see him, so I think I mumbled something about the weather. (Typical Brit!)

For those unfamiliar with Christian's work, his most recent works usually includes Mr Skelly. See what a handsome chap he is?

A lot of people ask "why use a skeleton?" something that most people relate with death. It's because deep down, we're all skeletons. It doesn't matter what we may look like on the outside, we all go through the same life moments, emotions and adventures. Mr Skelly could be me or you or the neighbour down the road who potters round his garden without a top on in the summer. Mr Skelly could be any of us. The best kind of art makes you think or feel something you maybe hadn't before.

I've included a couple of snaps of 'How Lucky Am I' but I think it's best if you follow him on Instagram yourself. (Link here)

Thank you again for dropping by and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day.

To quote Christian, "Venture Onward"

Bryony.