Surf Art

Recent paintings inspired by my passion for surfing.

Working from either my own, or my surfing friends' and acquaintances' reference photos, my goal is to capture with paint and brush, the essence of a moment in time, never losing sight of the fact that what I'm creating is a painting, not another photograph on canvas. Bold brushstrokes reinforce that basic fact throughout these works. Unless otherwise noted, all original paintings are for sale, priced at $1,200 each. I also do commissioned paintings from photos you provide to me for reference. Fees negotiable, based on size and complexity of composition. If interested, please send me an email for more information on this service.

Click on thumbnails below for larger versions.

Pier Pressure

Acrylic on canvas, 30" by 10"

Strolling around the Imperial Beach pier one morning with camera in hand, I was looking for a shot of a surfer I could get with the I.B. pier as the backdrop. As I shot a surfer riding a left , I wasn't aware at the time that another surfer was riding the same wave, but going right (in towards the pier). When I checked the recently-taken photos in the viewing screen archives, I was pleasantly surprised to see two surfers "sharing the stoke" of one wave. That was originally going to be my title for this painting, but as the painting process progressed, I realized the real star of the composition was the pier itself. I thus combined the feeling of peer pressure between two surfers catching the same wave, with the overbearing presence of the pier in the background, to arrive at what I believe is the best name for this piece, "Pier Pressure."

Shredding Robbins

Acrylic on canvas, 24" by 18"

Malibu Surfing Association photographer Holly Trosper's shot of MSA rider Cole Robbins shredding at their 20th Annual Classic, Surfrider Beach in 2007, had all the dynamics I needed to spur me into turning this photo into a painting with plenty of splash. As the editor of the Coalition of Surfing Club's newsletter, Coalition Chronicles, I also used it as the cover photo for the Summer/Fall 2007 issue.

Paying Homage

Acrylic on canvas, 24" by 18"

The Malibu Boardriders Club and their 2008 "Call to the Wall" contest was photographed by La Jolla Shores photographer, Matt Branco. Two things about one of his photos I really liked and promptly contacted him to request permission to turn one of them into a painting were: the graceful cross-step and up-stretched arms of the surfer gliding across the wave; and the surfer paddling out on his knees in almost a reverent position, as if paying homage to the nice ride the waverider was having as his past by.

Ron Takes a Walk

Acrylic on canvas, 18" by 24"
(Not for sale)

The photo for this painting was taken by Matt Melin of Ron Greene walking the nose at the PB Surf Club's "Summer Longboard Classic" in 2007. The challenge of capturing the foreshortened surfboard just right coming towards the viewer made this a fun painting to tackle. I liked the image so much I made it the lead photo for the club's "Team" page on their website. Click here to see that.

Number 4

Acrylic on canvas, 24" by 20"

The inspiration for this painting came from a photo by Matt Melin during the Malibu Boardrider Club's 2007 "Call to the Wall," at Surfrider Beach, Malibu. The photo was also incorporated into the PB Surf Club's 2008 "Summer Longboard Classic" contest program, also created by me (see Print page for a look).

Rocky Entry

Acrylic on canvas, 24" by 20"
(Not for sale)

The photo used as reference for this painting was taken by my wife, Karen, of me (green jersey) entering the water at Steamer Lane, for my heat during the Santa Cruz Longboard Union's 2007 Memorial Day Classic. The contrast between the ice plant on the bluff in the foreground and the ocean-weathered rocks in the background is what drew me to this image.

Rincon Longboarder

Acrylic on canvas, 24" by 20"

Ron Greene took the reference photo for this painting at the Groundswell Society's 2008 "Sharing the Stoke" event at Rincon as a surfer emerged from the water after his heat. The slippery rocks in the foreground, as well as the slant of the surfboard under the surfer's arm mirroring the receding shorline in the distant background, provided the creative impetus for turning this shot into a painting.

Illustration

During the 1980s and '90s, I lived in the Washington, D.C. area, working as a magazine art director (Governing) and moonlighting as a freelance illustrator. I was a member of the New York Society of Illustrators for many of those years, receiving an award of merit in the 26th annual juried show for my book cover illustration, "Mary Andrews." As the years went on, I developed a distinctive editorial style and became known as the illustrator who "did those people with the pointy hands and feet." To see a very small sampling of my work during those years, click here.