"10 Feet"
Watercolor - 12 x 24" - $875
On Dec. 9, 2006, Blacks was going off again. The waves and conditions were great. Not as big as the year before on the 21st, but still beautiful. All year I have regreted I didn't get more pictures from that one day because I spent too much time surfing. So this time, I just shot photos. I regret doing that too, because it looked so fun out there. This shot shows how good it was. The wave looks perfect. It was glassy and grinding. And the crowds were small because of the size. The Butthole Surfers say it is better to regret something you have done instead of something you haven't done. Thats true, because I wish I surfed this time more than I wished I hadn't surfed last time.
"On Top"
Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $425
This is the first shot in a sequence that I have already done two paintings from. I think I got like 6 or 7 shots of this wave, and I may end up painting every shot I got. They are all different, but all cool. I love the sun is reflecting off the face on this shots - and the three guys on the shoulder watching. I know exactly what they are all thinking - that they wish it was them on the wave. It was such a good wave.
"Taking Off"
Watercolor - 14 x 22" - $625
I wish the pictures I took made the waves look as big as they felt out there. But I guess this wave is almost triple overhead to the guy taking off. This day was all about surviving big waves that we are not used to in San Diego. In fact, after this day, I had to go and buy a new board, because the one I had wasn't working. I took it out after this day, on the 22nd but the waves weren't as big, and it was too foggy to even see the cliffs. Not the same.
"Dec. 21, 2005"
Watercolor - 16 x 22" - $850
This is the second to last painting of the sequence, and my favorite painting of the wave. It was really fun to paint. I like the water in the foreground, and how green it is, reflecting off the lip that is all lit up from the sun. Truly a unique wave on a great day.
"Hiking"
Watercolor - 11 x 15" - $375
I had this shot for a long time now, but I painted it now to help celebrate the waves we have had there in Dec '05 and Jan '06.
"Big Left"
Watercolor - 9 x 22" - $525
Another shot from Dec. 21. What a great day it was at Blacks.
"Call Box"
Watercolor - 14 x 18" - $625
This wasn't the only casualty of the day. There was one wave alone that I saw snap 2 boards and one leash. But what is more interesting about this painting, is that after I finished it, the next time I surfed, I snapped my board out at Sunset Cliffs, of all places. It was only like 4 - 5 feet, and I couldn't believe it. There is some weird energy about that. It is like that episode of the twilight zone where the camera took pictures of what was going to happen in the future. From now on, I only want to paint pictures of me - getting spit out of huge barrells - if that is going to happen.
"Morning Rinse"
Watercolor - 14 x 20"
It is hard to explain to people my whole philosophy of what I paint in a few seconds. But, basicalll,I love painting surf culture. I guess its not that hard. But, that may be using trash cans to hold boards, hanging out at the beach after a surf, or using the sprinklers to wash off. Like this little guy here.
"Michele"
Watercolor - 12 x 18" - $625
These next few shots are of the lovely and talented Michele Pauly. She is a lifeguard for the city of San Diego, and a very smooth surfer. She was nice enough to let me ride along with her and get some shots as she walked to the nose. And again, I'll say it is hard to get good water shots. But it was fun to ride backwards and try to manipulate the camera. I'm glad I didn't run someone over
Watercolor - 15 x 22" - $925
I stole this composition from Andrew Wyeth. Well, borrowed the idea. He had a painting called "Trodden Weed" and it shows a guy's boots on some weeds. It seems like an unlikely subject, but the painting is as great as all of his work. I do have to admit I like this painting better. I'm not saying it is better, I just like it more.
"Floating"
Watercolor - 14 x 16" - $725
I like how peaceful this one looks. Paddling out on a warm glassy day is so great. It makes me wish it were summer all the time. I like the way the water came out on this painting.
"Knees"
Watercolor - 8 x 12" - $425(framed)
Another shot paddling out. I could paint this forever, and not get tired of it. I think knee paddling is cool.
"Cross Step"
Watercolor - 15 x 22" - $750
I got a sequence of this whole wave with Michele walking to the nose, and like three shots of her perched up there, but there was a big water drop that ruined the pictures. It covered her feet, and the water below her board, and made it so I couldn't use them. This was the only one where the water spot wasn't in a critical spot on the picture. I was bummed to see the other shots, but was glad this one worked out. Because it is nice.
"Red Toenails"
Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $475
Michele Pauly"s feet balancing on the front part of her 9' board so gracefully. So nice
"Mandy"
Oil - 9 x 12" - $675
This is my second favorite oil painting I have ever done, and probably the best painting I take with me when I go to the art fairs on ocassional weekends. It worked out great with the brushstrokes, and colors, and values. I wish I could paint like this all the time. I'll be sad when someone loves it as much as me, and buys it. But pleased with their good taste.
"Last Look"
Oil - 9 x 12" - $925
This is the third painting I have done of this girl. Below are the other two, which were in watercolor. I think I like this one the best. I am proud of this painting. I saw her out surfing a few weeks after I did the watercolors, and told her I did the paintings and to check them out on my website. She said she would, and we chatted a little. Then, on my very next wave, she snaked me. She didn't see me, and she apologized, but I knew I could get her back online. So, this is my revenge. I just wish I didn't forget her name.
"A"
Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $450
I had completely run out of things to paint one morning, so I went to South Mission for a surf. I was lucky enough to get there in time to see this girl pearched in the barricade, looking so cool. And she was there long enough for me to get my camera out and snap a few shots. This is one of my favorite subjects to paint.
"Jetty morning"
Watercolor - 12 x 16" - $625
prints available
I love this image. Sometimes painting is a struggle for me, especially when I'm not that into the subject. But this painting developed in front of me, and I was suprised to look at it, and see it was done. I enjoyed working on it, and I enjoy looking now. It is fun to see cool things at the beach, and be able to capture them to show others. I hope others appreciate it.
"Shoreline Dash"
Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $425
I was lucky enough to take a small trip to Hawaii in Oct (right during the fires in San Diego so I missed some of the best surf in SD in a long time) But I got some cool shots. I"ll be able to do paintings from that trip for a long time. So many cool things are happening over there all the time. I was sitting at Pupekea one morning and like 10 girls paddled out. These girls rip. What a great time to be a surfer.
"Back to Class"
Oil - 9 x 12" - $525
I think surf P.E. class was over when about 15 teenagers left the water at the same time. I took a shot of this girl, and think it looks pretty good with oils. Maybe I'll do it with watercolor next to see what that painting would look like.
"Roxy Girl"
Watercolor - 8 x 12"
This is one of the Roxy girls staying at Pupekea. I took this shot before she paddled out on the day I was there in Oct. I love the feeling of a warm sun on my back, and that is what this painting makes me remember.
"A New Session"
Watercolor - 15 x 22"
I sometimes find the time to sneak in a painting that won't go in my book. This is one of them. Back to Pupekea in Oct. I saw a picture of Kassia Meador surfing from this session on one of the photo features on surfline.com. about a month after I was in Hawaii. It was fun to see a photo of her surfing from the same day I saw her walk down the beach and paddle out. She must feel like a celebrity with all these people taking her picture, and doing paintings of her wherever she goes. Thats what you get for surfing so smooth and with such grace.
"Decks"
Watercolor - 14 x 20" - $475
The idea for this one came after the painting of the wax. I love surf shops. I would like a wall in my home to be filled with cool looking decks. And an endless supply of everything else the shops have. I know this painting isn't really surf art, but I didn't know where else to put the image on the website, and it is to cool not to put on.
"Woodies"
Watercolor - 13 x 17" - $775
People ask me a lot if I ever paint Woodies. I used to always say no, they were before my time, and I rarely see them around, except at car shows, and I try to not paint nostalgia type paintings. But then I went and painted one. Actually I painted the bird of paradise plant (flower?) and the woodies just happened to be in the background.
"Exit and Entry Spot"
Watercolor - 11 x 15" - $375
This was the best day at La Jolla Cove. Not only did I catch some really big waves, but I got all these cool paintings to do. For me, being an artist is just a way to keep a journal of all the cool things I see in life.
"Reading"
Watercolor - 9 x 16" - $425
This shot looks so luxurious and even decadent. Who has time to surf, and then lay out on the beach, just reading and enjoying the sun? I always feel like if I do surf, it is just squeezing time away from stuff I have to do. But I look forward to the day when this was possible - guilt free. I am afraid those days were when I was in college, and they are over now. The dumbest thing I ever did was graduate from college.
"Going Right"
Watercolor - 10 x 14" - $350
I did this painting on a day when I didn't feel like painting. It was more like a time to visit an old memory of mine. I miss living at Sharks Cove, with this view of Waimea Bay out my kitchen window. That was a great time.
"More 5"
Watercolor - 10 x 18" - $425
The next two shots were taken by Bill Harris. They are of his son, Billy, who I have painted before. I am glad people are letting me use some of the great shots they have taken. If anyone has tried to take surf photos, they know it isn't easy. But these are more great shots of Billy.
"The Cove"
Watercolor - 16 x 22"
December 5th, 2007 was called Big Wednesday again in San Diego. There were thousands of people all up and down the coast enjoying the unusually big surf. Only a small percent were actually riding the waves, though. I first went to Blacks, and there were more photographers and video cameras on shore than surfers in the water. One guy even brought down a huge scaffolding to the sand to get a different perspective. I surfed for about 3 hours, and was completely spent after that. So then I went over to the cove to see what was happening there, and this was the first scene I saw. The sun was shining, and the surf was big, and people were enjoying the free show.
"Going Left!"
Watercolor - 12 x 16"
Out in the water at the Cove, it was crowded. Hundreds of guys all spread out going all the way to Devils Slides. Not everyone was riding waves though. I'd guess thet only a handful were actually out to surf. I saw some guys walking up the cliff with their 6'2" thrusters. Not the size board you need to catch a 20 foot wave. Some people had the right equipment though, and caught some really fun waves. I wish this shot showed how big this wave probably felt to the guys paddling for it.
"The Walk"
Watercolor - 10 x 16"
After this day, I thought about all the people who paddled out to challenge themselves with the huge surf. I added that number to with the people who went to take pictures or video and then added those who just went to watch the big waves. There were a lot of people involved. Even though there were hundreds of people involved (maybe thousands at Swamis) with the waves, the commitment to catching and riding one of those set waves at Blacks is purely singular. I was completely alone while taking off on a wave, and completely alone when I scratched to the horizon trying to not get cleaned up by the rogue set threatening to break on my head. This painting is dedicated to that feeling.
"Evening Session"
Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $325
Its nice to be able to paddle out for the last half hour or so before it gets dark. Its just a cool way to end the day.
"Stroke"
Watercolor - 11 x 16" - $375
More paintings from under the water. I really like these images, and it is a great challenge to get them. I really have respect for the guys who can go out in the water and come in with the shots that are good enough to be published in surf magazines. Water photography is hard!
"The Drop"
Watercolor - 12 x 17" - $750
Riding big waves is a completely different sport than riding small waves. They are both surfing, but anyone who has done both can tell you. This picture was taken by my friend and photographer Nathan Petty. I can stare at it all day. This is the greatest shot.
"White Water Mountain"
Watercolor - 12 x 16"
This is the next shot Nathan took in this sequence, so it is good to know the guy made the drop from the previous painting. When Nathan said I could paint these shots, I was grateful, but also a little nervous, because sometimes when a picture is so good, it is hard to try it is watercolor. I hate to have a painting turn out worse than the picture it is based on. But these images are strong no matter what I did. They make me love surfing.
"The Morgans 2"
Watercolor - 8 x 12" - $225
I also did this one from the same session with the Morgans. I ended up doing three paintings for them to look at and decide which one they liked the best. I always get nervous when trying to paint for someone else. It is easier to hit a mark I am setting for myself instead of trying to hit a mark a potential customer would want.
"Del Mar"
Watercolor - 11 x 15" - $375
This is such a beautiful spot in San Diego. Its too bad all the parking is metered, and the waves aren't consistently better. I would still love to live here.
"Windansea Shoreline"
Watercolor - 9 1/2 x 13" - $325
Even when I want to surf a down the line beachbreak, I often find myself here. I am frustrated a lot, because I don't surf the wave well, or the crowd, or whatever, but I keep going back for some reason. Maybe its because it is often better and bigger than many other spots in San Diego.
"The Bike Path"
Watercolor - 15 x 22" - $550
There are some places where all you have to do is cruise down the bike path and be sure that there are great waves just waiting for you. What a great path.
"Rockpile"
Watercolor - 12 x 22" - $550
I have surfed out at rockpile with 5 other guys, and down the beach at Pipeline/Off the Wall, there were like 60 guys all scrambling for waves. And on this day, I was alone for like a whole hour. This particular wave might not show it, but it was really big out there. This is like a great secret spot here. Don't tell anyone about it.
"Stretch"
Oil - 11 x 14" - $550
In May '06, I got my oil paints out after not using them for 10 years. And I really enjoyed it. Oils are so much easier to use . You just put the color down, and it stays that way. With watercolor I build them up, layer upon layer, and it takes forever. And if there is a mistake, it is hard to fix, if not impossible. With oil, it is different. I liked the thick paint, and seeing the brushstrokes, and just the change from what I had been doing.
"Knees"
Oil - 9 x 12 - $625
This is the second painting I did when I got the oil paints out. I think on the screen, it looks the most similar to the watercolor version, but seen in person, the brush strokes are really dramatic. And again, the figure was so easy to lay down, it was almost a suprise. There were no layers to think about, and I really like it.
"Going Right"
Oil - 9 x 12 - $525
This is painted from my favorite picture I have ever taken. It was a small day at Scripps, the surf was crappy, but I wanted to walk out with my camera. Bruce Robbins, who directed me to an inexpensive waterhousing for a little digital camera, told me you can always get some interesting shots from the water no matter what the conditions are. I tested his theory, and came up with this picture. The painting isn't my most favorite painting ever, but I often look at the over-exposed shot of this girl paddling into a crappy right and smile.
"Windansea Shoreline"
Oil - 12 x 16" - $575
When the summer is over, it is sometimes possible to find times when the lineup at Windansea isn't packed. Usually it is packed still, but in the summer, there is no way to find it any other way.
"Haleiwa"
Watercolor - 10 1/2 x 15 1/2" - $375
Imagine just grabbing your favorite longboard and walking to the surf in Haleiwa. The sun is always shining, and the waves ae always perfect. At least that is the way I remember it.
"Rubber Duckies"
Watercolor - 8 x 12"
This is where I lived on the North Shore. I am afraid it is going to be the best place I have ever lived. In all the world, with money being no object, I would still choose to live here. You can't see where we lived in this painting, but imagine a couple of buildings a little to the left on the rocks, and that is the spot. There was cool snorkeling out the back when it was flat, and Waimea could be seen from our kitchen window. the best spot ever. Since I lived there, they tore down the apartments I lived in and someone built a couple of beautiful homes there. They are fortunate to have homes there.
'Kicker"
Watercolor - 12 x 19" - $525
On a sunny morning at Blacks, I got this shot with my new camera. I like the painting, but I hate when guys on surfboards kick to get into waves. To me, it makes them look a little frantic. And I especially hate when they are by me, and I get splashed. I guess everyone has their pet peeves.
"4 Boards"
Watercolor - 16 x 22"
My wife and I were walking along a beach in Carlsbad one day, and happened across these boards resting on the cliffs. It was a cool scene, and Michelle snapped a picture. So I painted it.