Behind the Scenes…

21 Apr

Posted at 09:51h in Behind the Scenes..., Painting Story by
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THE SWEET LIFE Painting by Drew Brophy for Nectar Sunglasses April 2014A majority of my business is painting commissions for collectors and companies.

This painting, titled THE SWEET LIFE, was painted for Nectar Sunglasses.   Painted on gallery-wrap canvas, sized 15″ x 45″, with Uni Posca Paint Pens.

The Sweet Life artwork is inspired by my love of  a quiet beach, big surf and the idea of living a laid back lifestyle; peaceful and getting back to nature.

I’ve painted a lot of images of the lone surfer on a beach with a surf shack in the sand.  It’s what many people dream of, a more simple way of living.  I guess that’s why every time I paint a scene like this, it gets a lot of attention.

I hope you like it!  Feel free to share this image online, just be sure to include this notice:  Artwork (c) Drew Brophy.

And if you want your own surf hut on the beach, email info@drewbrophy.com!

Life is good -Drew

Rough sketches before painting

Rough sketches before painting

First Color on the Canvas
First Color on the Canvas

Painting the Sweet Life

Painting the Sweet Life

 

 

08 Apr

Posted at 09:26h in Behind the Scenes... by
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SUNSET KELP Painting on Surfboard By Drew Brophy Feb 2014One of my favorite things about surfboard paintings is making an art piece/sculpture that reflects 25 years of being a production surfboard painter.  (Order your Commissioned Surfboard Painting here)

This painting, titled SUNSET KELP was painted on a 7’0” single fin swallow tail shaped by Ron House, with red tinted pigment.

SUNSET KELP surfboard art was inspired by the reefs off of San Clemente that I paddled two days before designing this painting. The water was ultra clear, and there were more garibaldi fish than I’ve ever seen before.

It was a beautiful sunset that afternoon.  The only thing missing was giant waves. So I used my imagination and painted what I wished the waves looked like.

My best work comes from this type of encounter.  The painting flows easily when I’m inspired by real events.  I don’t mock them up with computers.  I don’t try to impress anyone with fancy embellishments.

I just love to surf and surfboards have been my canvas since the beginning.

This surfboard was a commissioned piece for a video game designer named Colm.  Colm loves surfing and fish.  He and his wife, Yumee, met me about ten years ago when I did a live painting at a surf shop in Santa Cruz.  I used to tour surf shops all over the world and leave a little piece of my art with the community.  I met Colm and Yumee way back then and gave them a poster, and that day they decided that they wanted to own one of my original boards one day.

Maria and I hand delivered the painting to Yumee.  She surprised Colm with it for his birthday.  He was so stoked, he sent us a picture of him with it!  Colm Nelson and his Birthday Surfboard painting by Drew Brophy Feb 2014

Life is good,  Drew

SUNSET KELP Surfboard Painting Feb 23 2014 in Progress by Drew Brophy

 

 

31 Mar

Posted at 16:13h in 20 x 20, Behind the Scenes..., Painting Story by
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Lighthouse by Drew Brophy Nov 2013HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE paint pen on canvas board sized 11″ x 14″, Medium:  Uni Posca Paint Pens.

The lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, was a part of my life as a young surfer.

I lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a six hour drive south from Buxton, NC at the time, and in Myrtle Beach, the waves are small.

So, when the waves got big in Hatteras, my friends and I would make the drive north.

We had many great surf sessions in front of this lighthouse in Buxton.

Since then, the lighthouse was moved off the sand to another spot.

This painting reflects my memories of back in the day, when the lighthouse was a beacon to all surfers when the waves got big.

This painting went to a couple who have a house in Buxton.  I hope they love it.

Life is Good,

DrewDrew Brophy Painting the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for Buxton Couple Nov 2013

01 Feb

Posted at 09:59h in Behind the Scenes..., Murals, Shows & Events by
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Drew Brophy and the WD Fan Night Mural Painting CES2014“I always wanted my father to be proud of my work.  It felt good being back at home, after all these years, and having him watch me do what I do for a living.  This painting was the last one my father got to see me create.”  Drew Brophy

In December, Western Digital (WD) asked me to paint a mural to put on display at their big party, the WDFanNight event in Las Vegas during CES2014.

At the time, I didn’t realize just how special the memory of creating this painting would become for me.

I was on an extended stay at my parents’ home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  My father was very sick, and Maria and I were helping my mom take care of him.  We brought our work with us across country, and I transformed my parents’ garage into my working studio and went to work!

I built five canvas frames, each one 6′ x 2′, designed that way so the mural would be easy to transport.

This was painted with a variety of mediums; first the background, using Mtn94 Spray Paint.  Then acrylic paints, applied with brushes, to get greater texture.  Then I used airbrush and Uni Posca Paint pens for the finer details.

WD wanted a surf painting in my traditional style, with symbolism that was relevant to their products, which is hard drives.  Hard drives hold things that you want to keep forever.  When I think of things that last forever, I think of ancient times and things that were made in stone.  In a way, hard drives hold information that is saved and passed down.  All of my art is saved on hard drives; it’s like my safety deposit box.  The art will be passed down to my son, and his kids as well.  So in this painting, the character is carving a WD in stone.

One of the best photographers in the area, Scott Smallin, came by every day during the painting of this mural to capture the progress on video and pictures.  Scott became a good friend and someone to lean on, as the days went on and my father got sicker.

I always wanted my father to be proud of my work.  It felt good being back at home, after all these years, and having him watch me do what I do for a living.  This painting was the last one my father got to see me create.

Here’s the video of me painting the mural.  Photo and video credit to Scott Smallin, video editing by Don Perry, music by Brian ILL:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmgbsE_3P10&feature=share&list=UU5G4tVJHYkrSpTsA2tR-qeg

 

19 Nov

Posted at 11:03h in Behind the Scenes..., CASE STUDY, Wheres Drew by
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Dreamforce painting by Drew Brophy Progess Software San FranciscoCASE STUDY:  Illustrate Progress Software’s new product, Easyl, in a live painting at Dreamforce in San Francisco.

WHEN:  October 2013

CLIENT:  Progress Software

MISSION:  Showcase the new software product, Easyl, and increase interaction with new prospects during Dreamforce 2013 by creating a memorable, stand-out presentation in their booth.

SCOPE OF WORK:  Research, design and create an 8’ x 15’ canvas mural to be painted live, during the first three days of Dreamforce. The painting was designed to cleverly illustrate the complicated workings of the Easyl software.

(Easyl unites your data and dramatically simplifies the process)

Painting the mural live during the show added vibrance and energy to a booth where all the other booths in the show looked alike. The live painting generated energy that drew people in, to get a closer look, and Progress Sales staff could then engage the customers more easily.

RESULTS:  Progress Software booth traffic increased significantly from the previous year.  They stood out amongst their
competitors at the show, and a photo of their mural was featured in “50 photos of Dreamforce 2013” on the Dreamforce website.   Mission Accomplished!

 

Day 1 Progress of Mural Painting

Day 1 Progress of Mural Painting

IMG_2697

Canvas panels prepped,sketched on and ready to go to Dreamforce!

DAILY MURAL PROGRESS

DAY 1:
My main goal was to get one third of it painted. I focused first on the Progress Sofware and Easyl logos for quick brand recognition as I worked on the rest.

This mural has 3 major components to it; the illustration of Quick access to your Data, Data Direct and Easyl, the magic bringing it all together.

I used Uni Posca Paint Pens on the entire painting!  They are non-messy, have no smell, and dry quickly.

The crowds response to the mural was extremely positive. We heard a lot of people say “this is the most creative booth we’ve seen here!”

PROGRESS UPDATE, DAY 2:
My goal was to get the next 30% painted and to give it vibrant energy.  And I did that.  The response of attendees has been phenomenal – so many people coming by the booth to see it!

I’ve been painting it with Posca Paint Pens, which seems like a tedious medium for a huge surface, but it’s allowing me to keep the colors vibrant and to get the detail and color blending that I want.

PROGRESS DAY 3:  First, I made it my plan to get rid of all the remaining white.  Then, add in all the little bells and whistles that make a painting go from good to great; like the highlights, shadows.   We encouraged people to get their picture taken in front of it.  It was a great photo opportunity!

Progress Software Mural by Drew Brophy Jan 2014 Data GURU Low RES

DATA GURU PAINTING – All finished!

 

Putting the canvas in this box I custom made

Putting the canvas in this box I custom made

15 Nov

Posted at 09:13h in 20 x 20, Behind the Scenes..., Painting Story by
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Essence Of Life by Drew Brophy Nov 2013ESSENCE OF LIFE original painting, medium paint pens on canvas, sized 18″ x 24″.

This was a commissioned piece for a collector named Daniel C. in Cocoa Beach, FL.

He asked for something “zen-like.”

So I started the painting, and partway through Maria asked, confused, “Who’s painting is that?”

And I said “It’s Daniel’s from Cocoa Beach.”

She objected, saying “That’s not Zen!”  I think she expected a Buddha and lotus flowers.

Though this wasn’t Maria’s idea of Zen, it was mine.

The meaning behind ESSENCE OF LIFE is this:

We all came to earth to love and experience life.  At the end of this life your earthly body releases your true self, the Light Body.

The Light Body is pure energy; it can never be created or destroyed, just transformed.

That, to me, is Zen.

Life is good,

DrewDrew Brophy painting the Essence of Life painting Nov 2013

PS:  You can commission your own painting from me – email info@drewbrophy.com and ask for a price sheet and sizes!

 

ON FACEBOOK?  Let me know if you like this painting, comment on the Facebook post below:

 

Post by Drew Brophy, Artist.

11 Nov

Posted at 12:31h in 20 x 20, Behind the Scenes..., Painting Story by
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The Power WIthin Buddha Painting by (c) Drew Brophy Nov 2013

This painting is the forth of twenty commissions that I am committed to getting finished in the next week!

The 20 commissioned paintings that I have to paint, follow on the heels of a very successful promotion, called the “20×20” that I did last month, where I committed to painting 20 paintings in 20 days.

During the “20 paintings in 20 days” all but one of those twenty paintings sold the day I painted them.  I was surprised to find that so many people out there were fascinated by the process of starting and finishing a painting every day, for 20 consecutive days.

It was a difficult commitment, to do that many paintings that fast.  But I learned a lot about myself in the process.

This painting is called THE POWER WITHIN – it’s sized 11″ x 14″ Paint Pens on Canvas Board.

It’s for a collector named Cathy P. who lives in Ohio.  Cathy wanted a painting that was “zen-like” and that incorporated Buddha and waves.Drew Brophy Meditation Art Painting the Buddha commission POWER WITHIN

I added the all-seeing eyes and rainbow energy bolts.   This depicts that power that we all have within ourselves to find peace and joy and to tap into the vibrations that we were meant to get in tune with.

I hope Cathy loves her painting.

Life is Good, Drew

PS: Here’s the painting on my Facebook page – feel free to comment on it, and please, SHARE it! :

Post by Drew Brophy, Artist.

30 Oct

Posted at 08:40h in Behind the Scenes..., Wheres Drew by
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Drew Brophy HOW TO THRIVE AS AN ARTIST LECTURE

On Friday, November 1st, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. , I will be giving a talk in the George Hitchcock lounge entitled, “How to Thrive as an Artist.”

This talk is geared toward aspiring artists, students, and creative entrepreneurs, as I will be explaining how to make following your dreams a viable career path with concrete steps based off of of my own life and business experiences, having gone from an unknown surfer to the top-selling surf artist in the world.

Following my talk, Tom Pohaku Stone, renowned native Hawaiian surfer and shaper, will be performing an alaia surfboard shaping demonstration out of a beautiful redwood plank that has been generously donated by Big Creek Lumber.

On the evening of November 1st, as part of the Salt of the Earth event at UC Santa Cruz, there is a screening of the new film titled Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau , plus live music from The Shapes. This will be held at Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz,  at 6:45 pm.

For more info on all of these events, go to the Salt of the Earth website: http://saltoftheearth-ucsc.blogspot.com/

WHAT:  Lecture titled “How to Thrive as an Artist”

WHO:  Open to the public

WHERE:  PORTER COLLEGE, UCSC, in the George Hitchcock Lounge

WHEN:  Friday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m.   There will be a question and answer session immediately following the talk.

17 Oct

Posted at 13:09h in Behind the Scenes..., CASE STUDY by
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Togos Summer Campaign with Drew Brophy ArtCASE STUDY:  Togo’s Restaurant Summer Surf Art Tour Campaign

WHEN:  Summer 2006

CLIENT:  Senareider Agency for Togo’s

MISSION:  To create public awareness of Togo’s Southern California surfing roots!

Togo’s has approximately 300 restaurants in the Western states.  Founded by two surfers from Southern California, Togo’s and their marketing agency, SenaReider, devised a campaign that celebrated their roots and at the same time, promoted their new Bocana Beef Sandwich.

SCOPE OF WORK:  Provide artwork for the campaign.  Two VW vans were wrapped with Drew Brophy Surf Art designs and outfitted with a traveling art exhibit of Brophy­ custom-painted surfboards. Surfers drove the vans up and down the Southern California coast, attending festivals and beach events, giving out samples of Bocana Beef sandwiches and coupons to track the results.

RESULTS:  Mission Accomplished!