08 Apr PAINTING STORY – Sunset Kelp Custom Surfboard Artwork
One 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! 
Life is good, Drew
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