TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.

                                       JONATHAN, THE TIGER.
                  

IF OTHERS LIKE YOUR WORK THEY WILL WANT OTHERS TO SEE IT

Sometimes as an artist you just need to share visuals to add  ambiance to a surf shop, a restaurant, or another public venue.  If you think your work is good, the ultimate test is to see if you qualify to get into a public display without a hassle and also be the one who gets the invite. This takes social skills as well and patience. Once you get an invite from a shop owner or a manager, than this is a good step towards targeting a local crowd or even stepping into unchartered territory , as far as your art's concerned. This is my three piece Jazz Set at BC SURF in town. The big piece is now on a pair of board shorts. I like how it's lit up at night.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

As Surfers, especially those of us who get to travel or at least search for waves on a some what daily basis..we can easily get jaded or "spoiled" with our neighborhood breaks and waves..It's true, it actually happens. The water may be too cold or the crowds may not be the thing you're into that day. Some days are just like that. But there are also the days where you can change your attitude, and this usually includes saying to yourself:
" Come on and get out there"

Go find a wave to surf no matter the temperature or in fact where you just came from. If it's flat than go swimming.The continued relationship with the water , an athlete who's consistent is the key to the gift it gives.

 The truth is the ocean has some amazing abilities to make you happy , enriched. And when you actually suit up and stretch, you may be surprised what you will come across. This is a fine example of what you may find opposed to not trying to find anything at all. The result: one healthy surfer. By the way, reggae music helps. This is my neighborhood, welcoming me yet once again...Nice crowd. And look at that right !

WHEN U TRAVEL, FIND A FRIEND.

One of the best parts of traveling is the fact that you can meet whoever you choose to meet. But there is also another fact, You may meet who you don't choose to meet. If it sounds like a contradiction it is not. Basically the earth is spinning and there is a great opportunity to meet the other dogs in other lands. Their world spins too. Engage with the animals if you are too shy to engage with people. Sooner or later there is an owner. And the owner could be you! Here's Roofus doing his thing on an Island somewhere in the South Pacific.

TEACH TO LEARN

a friend of mine, Quinn, used to teach 4th graders at Newport Elementary school. She called me up one day and said, " Do you feel like coming in and teaching my class how to paint?" I said " No, not really..."
She said " Colleen, just please come in..."
I said  " Ok, but they need their own canvas's and brushes, and i can come in for an hour...."

 So we had them cover shoe box lids with white construction paper stapled on for their "canvas's" and it all worked out. The kids are good teachers as well.

PLACE MAT RAP

i wrote a surf rap once. it actually really flows and rhymes and has a unique rawness and vulnerability to it. it was done on construction paper with magic markers, and it is like a place mat  size . i dig it.  these words eventually made it onto another piece of mine i painted titled " need surf" (which is the far right piece on the header for blog page). So, this is the original gangster for need surf. if you click on the picture you can read the words more clearly.

DOODLE DOODLE DOODLE

This piece is called 'twin peaks" it never really manifested into anything majorly special. But it does hold a simple complexity which i adore. It was like i was doodling one day with a brush instead of a pencil . You know like when you're on the telephone and you are drawing random images and shapes while you listen and talk. So this is a doodle piece on canvas. I sold it to Mike Gerard for 600.00 . It hangs in the USA surf team headquarters outside his office door. Mike has several of my paintings. It's good to doodle.