Summer memories

Two surfer girls hand painted with acrylic paint evoke memories of easy, breezy summer days.

Paintings are just about finished and will soon be available here

The Art of Surfing

Surf Art Photography

To answer the question - What is "Surf Art"? - I love this quote by David Bogart - "Save the fancy theories and big words for the art appreciation class. Surf art is simply art focused on the act of surfing. In my mind, if you can look at the work and it makes you want to paddle out, it's surf art, period. If you're stoked, the surf artist has successfully done his job."

 Ocean Surf

Morning Surf

Surfer Boys

These three impressionist photographs of surfers were taken along the coast of Virginia Beach and later manipulated to look like impressionist paintings on canvas.  They are part of my Coastal Color Collection, fine art photographs of beach activities captured around my city and available here.

Paddle out and stay stoked.

 

Summer Art Camp

Surfer Girls

A  group of beach girls gather together for a week of surf related art.

 

Handmade pottery surfboards and surfboard wall hooks are first on the agenda.

The girls create surfboards and wall hooks from a slab of clay.

The clay boards and hooks are kiln fired and painted.

Fired hooks and surfboards ready to hang.

For our second project the girls designed a papier mache beach house.

Custom built colorful beach homes and cabana's ready to display.

 

 

 

Impressionist Beach Bucket Paintings

To create an impressionist style painting the girls add color to their canvas with dabs of paint from a warm or cool color palette.

In order to make the hand drawn sand pails stand out from the background, the girls paint them in colors from the opposite color palette.

Impressionist beach pail paintings ready for the art show.

Into the kitchen

Surfer girls enjoying their cupcakes moments before the art show.

Thanks girls for another fun and inspirational week!

Beach day

Paddle boarding

My husband and I brought our newest ocean toy along for our mini vacation in Rodanthe, North Carolina this past weekend.  We were staying with friends in their recently renovated beach house while celebrating our first annual "Open that bottle night" (more on that to come in another post) and thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to try out our 12 foot paddle board.  My husband has taken it out in the ocean at home a number of times, so he totally knew what he was doing.  Unlike his wife who was trying it for the first time, and for whom every foot vein and muscle were showing from trying to grip the board while standing.  After falling off a number of times, and learning to relax my feet and legs, I finally, kinda-sorta, got the hang of it and was able to stand up and paddle. I am now officially hooked and look forward to a new sport to share with my husband and family!  It's a great workout and if you have the opportunity I highly recommend you give this fun activity a try!

This image is part of my Coastal Color Collection - a series of fine art photography inspired by my life in a beach town.

Beach Home Decor

Just in time for summer decorating - large sets of surf and beach art.

 Surfer Triptych - Three 13x19 inch prints

Surfers board meeting triptych is a set of three 13x19 inch prints reproduced from my original surfing triptych painting on canvas. The prints capture the vibrant colors and textures of the original paintings which were inspired by a photo taken of three friends out for an early morning surf session.  The prints measure 3.25' x 4.75' together.

 Surfer Girls Diptych - Two 13x19 inch prints.

Surfer girls diptych is a set of two 13x19 inch prints reproduced from my original surf art diptych painting of two friends heading out for another surf session. The prints would be perfect hanging in a girls bedroom, bathroom, dorm room or in a beach house.  

These two prints would also be a great gift for a surfer girls best friend. As a special reminder of your times spent together out in the water, give one print to your friend and keep the other for yourself.

 Dive Diptych - Two 13x19 inch prints.

Dive swimming pool diptych is a set of two 13x19 inch prints reproduced from my original diptych painting on canvas. The prints would bring a touch of bright, summertime color to a pool house or beach home.

More beach and surf themed artwork is available in my shop - here

New Surf Decor

For a little one's beach nursery or bedroom.

Diptych And Triptych Paintings

 Little Surfer Girl Diptych Painting

A unique piece of shabby chic beach art meant for arranging and rearranging on a shelf, desk or dresser. Hand painted in pastel colors so perfect for a little girls bedroom or for a beach house.  The blocks each measure 5" x 2.5" ~ together they measure 5" x 5".

Surfer Boy Diptych Painting

This little surfer boy was hand painted onto a sheet of acrylic paper, divided in half, applied to two 7"x2.5" wood blocks, then sanded to remove rough spots and splinters.  The finished piece measures 7"x 5" when the blocks are placed together.

 Vintage Camper Van Triptych Painting

This fun piece of surf art was created into a triptych painting which measures 7"x7.5" and would look really cute either in a bedroom, kitchen or bathroom.

For more information please visit my shop here

Beach Decor for kids

New Surf Art

Bright and cheerful 8x10 inch beach prints reproduced from my hand painted illustrations. Cute and whimsical, perfect surf decor for a child's bedroom, bathroom or playroom.

Little Surfer Girl

Beach Babe

Surfer Boy

Retro Surf Camper

Professionally printed with high-quality archival pigment based inks on luster paper with beautiful color and personalized with a name for no extra fee.  Visit my shop here for more information or to order one for your favorite little surfer.

A little more love

For your valentine

Having a husband and son who surf, I know it can be difficult to find a Valentine card that suits their personality.  So I've been playing around with ideas and thought it would be fun to add humorous quotes to a few of my prints. 

Surfing Valentine Prints

I've been searching for you everywhere.

I love you more than my surfboard!

You're swell retro surfing Valentine

All the prints are produced with high-quality archival pigment based inks on luster paper with beautiful color, which won't fade so your favorite surfer can save your love note forever.  I've also added a sturdy backing so they can be placed on an easel or framed and hung after Valentines Day, making them a gift that keeps on giving!

I'm still playing around with humorous Valentine quotes for surfer boys and beach babes and will be adding more here soon.  Stop on by and feel free to let me know what you think!

In my Studio

Working on another surf inspired Polaroid painting.

The Inspiration:

 The original photo taken last week shows my husband heading out into the early morning surf.  I love the bright reflection of sunlight off of his arm and surfboard!

  

The Painting:

The photo inspired painting in process.   I am working with acrylics on a piece of 4 x 5 inch cold press paper in which I taped off a square before painting so the finished work resembles a Polaroid.

 

A close up view of my work as I try to recreate the reflective quality of sunlight.  Hoping to have this painting finished today and listed in my shop tomorrow.

Please, don't be afraid to leave a friendly critique - on my painting, not my husband :)

Surf Polaroid Paintings

My newest art obsession continues as hurricane swell photographs taken last week inspire a few more surf polaroid paintings.

This photo of a surfer contemplating the surf was the inspiration behind my painting titled "Surfers Reflection"

Surfers Reflection

Acrylic on 4 x 5.25 inch cold press paper

The wave in this photograph - the size of which is hardly ever seen around these parts - inspired "Surfers Swell" polaroid painting.

Surfers Swell

Acrylic on 4 x 5.25 inch cold press paper

And the gorgeous blues and greens in this photo were the motivating factor behind  "Morning Surf" painting.

Morning Surf

Acrylic on 4 x 5.25 inch cold press paper

My obsession continues with yet another Hurricane swell painting in process.  

Wishing you a glorious, creative day as I head off to Richmond to meet my busy son for an early dinner and a little bit of shopping.