FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from.
I’m painting from the heart, just having fun with it. You might love ’em, you might hate ’em, but either way, I hope they invoke a feeling for you.
(If you share my posts, please tag #20×20 #drewbrophy #SurfArt)
Today’s Painting is the 9th of 20 in this #20×20 Series, titled THE KEY IS TO LISTEN, 11″ x 14″ on Canvas board, medium Uni Poscas Paint Pens.
This is about the idea of being connected to the world and the Universe and all things in it. By listening, I don’t mean with your ears or seeing with your eyes. I mean being connected in a way that the human race has forgotten.
I feel that everything is alive, full of energy and in some ways if we could just learn to tap into it, we would be able to understand much more. And with that understanding comes clarity about what’s really important in life.
Too many people are so pre-occupied with things in the fake world that they detach from the natural world.
As an artist and a surfer, I want to tap into the energy of the natural world. I’ve learned to listen and notice the subtleties and I’m getting better at it. The more I tap out of the fake world, the more in tuned to the natural world I become.
Life is Good, Drew
This painting sold to Pam G. in South Carolina, who celebrated her birthday today by adding this to her art collection!
If you wanted this one but missed it, and you want to consider the next #20×20 painting, email info @ drew brophy dot com and we will put you on the “#20X20 PAINTING PREVIEW” list, in line for the next one.
WHEN EMAILING to BUY ANY OF MY #20X20 PAINTINGS: email info @ drew brophy dot com immediately with your phone#, shipping address preferred payment method (Paypal or credit card). We will need payment within 4 hours of your email, or the painting goes to the next person in line. Thanks!
FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from.
I’m painting from the heart, just having fun with it. You might love ’em, you might hate ’em, but either way, I hope they invoke a feeling for you.
(If you share my posts, please tag #20×20 #drewbrophy #SurfArt)
Today’s Painting is the 8th of 20 in this #20×20 Series, titled FALL CAMP OUT AT UPPERS, 12″ x 16″ on Canvas board, medium Uni Poscas Paint Pens.
I saw a photo of a giant bonfire on the beach. It reminded me of the kind that you have as a kid, and you just throw every log you can find on it.
It was cool this morning, the first day of fall. This time of year I love to spend the late afternoons surfing until the sun goes down. Sometimes we build fires to keep warm after being in the ocean.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could camp out at Upper Trestles and surf the first Northwest swells into the night? With nothing but a huge bonfire to light the way…
The dream surfer in the painting represents all the great waves that have been ridden at Uppers. He’s like a ghost-surfer in the sky.
I hope you like it. Life is good,
Drew
This painting sold to art collector Kat from San Clemente.
If you wanted this one but missed it, and you want to consider the next #20×20 painting, email info @ drew brophy dot com and we will put you on the “#20X20 PAINTING PREVIEW” list, in line for the next one.
WHEN EMAILING to BUY ANY OF MY #20X20 PAINTINGS: email info @ drew brophy dot com immediately with your phone#, shipping address preferred payment method (Paypal or credit card). We will need payment within 4 hours of your email, or the painting goes to the next person in line. Thanks!
FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from.
I’m painting from the heart, just having fun with it. You might love ’em, you might hate ’em, but either way, I hope they invoke a feeling for you.
(If you share my posts, please tag #20×20 #drewbrophy #SurfArt)
Today’s Painting is the 5th of 20, titled THE PIER, 11″ x 14″ on Canvas board, medium Uni Posca Paint Pens.
It’s Saturday, and I thought I’d go down to the pier in San Clemente to paint today’s painting. I sat under the palapa on the beach and painted while friends came by to watch and say hello.
Today reminded me of a fall day. The weather is changing and it made me think of the North West swells that will soon begin to filter in. That’s when San Clemente pier really lights up; the right going into the pier turns into a big tube while the current pushes you away. I can’t wait for those days to start!
Within 5 minutes of posting a photo of this painting in progress on Facebook, we got an email from Maria’s friend Kat. She bought it before it was even finished. That’s having faith in the process.
Please, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this painting.
Life is good,
Drew
THE PIER is for sale! SOLD to Kat in San Clemente! 11″ x 14″ Paint Pen on Canvas board. The first person to email info@drewbrophy.com gets it.
It won’t last long – these paintings sell quick.
If you miss it and you want to consider the next #20×20 painting, email info @ drew brophy dot com and we will put you on the “PREVIEW” list, in line for the next one.
WHEN EMAILING to BUY ONE OF THE #20X20 PAINTINGS: email info @ drew brophy dot com immediately with your phone#, shipping address preferred payment method (Paypal or credit card). We will need payment within 4 hours of your email, or the painting goes to the next person in line. Thanks!
FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from. I’m painting from the heart, just having fun with it. You might love ’em, you might hate ’em, but either way, I hope they invoke a feeling for you.
(If you share my posts, please tag #20×20 #drewbrophy #SurfArt)
Today’s Painting is the Second of 20, titled DREAMING OF WINNING AT TRESTLES11 x 14 on Canvas Board, Uni Posca Paint Pens.
This is pro surfer Patrick Gudauskas, dreaming of winning at Trestles as a grom!
This painting was inspired by Patrick’s surfing in the Hurley Pro yesterday, where he beat Kelly Slater. Spectators on the beach cheered him on.
Today Patrick competed against Taj Burrows and didn’t win but he qualified to surf in all the other WCT events. Watch out for Patrick Gudauskas blowing up in the next three events!
Patrick is a San Clemente local and one of the three frothing, eternal grommets, the Gudauskas brothers. I’m stoked to have such a great ambassador representing San Clemente on the World Tour.
Riding my bike down to the Hurley Pro to paint for the day!
Life is Good, Drew
DREAMING OF WINNING TRESTLES is for saleSOLD! The first person TO email info@drewbrophy.com gets it.
It won’t last long – these paintings sell quick after posting;
if you miss it and you want to buy the next #20×20 painting, email info @ drew brophy dot com and we will put you in line for the next one.
FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from. I’m painting from the heart, just having fun with it. You might love ’em, you might hate ’em, but either way, I hope they invoke a feeling for you.
(If you share my posts, please tag #20×20 #drewbrophy #SurfArt)
Today’s Painting is the First of 20, titled KOLOHE’S AIR11 x 14 on Canvas Board, Uni Posca Paint Pens.
This morning I wanted to sit and paint on the beach as I watched the Hurley Pro Surfing contest at Lower Trestles.
I was so inspired by Kolohe Andino’s air, as he surfed against Taj Burrows, that I had to paint it!
When Kolohe was only 2 years old and I was working at the old …Lost shop in San Clemente, his dad Dino brought him in to check out the surfboard factory.
Painting on the Beach at Hurley Pro, Trestles
I dipped young Kolohe’s feet in blue tempera paint and let him walk on his dad’s Lost surfboard, decorating the deck. It looked cool. But, I think his mom got mad that I got paint all over her baby!
Now, many years later, I proudly watch this local San Clemente kid tearing it up on the ASP World Tour.
Kolohe didn’t win his heat this morning, but, his air was sick.
Hope you enjoy it!
Life is Good, Drew
KOLOHE’S AIR is SOLD! If you want the next painting, email info @ drew brophy dot com.
Over the years, we have gotten many, many requests for Drew’s art on t-shirts. And quite honestly, I had been putting it off for a long time, even though Drew wanted to do it.
I held back because it used to be that you had to print large quantities, which was a big investment, for a top quality tee.
But now, the printing processes are so advanced! We now are able to print on QUALITY t-shirt blanks, in smaller quantities, so we can offer many designs.
WHY COLLECTIBLE? A lot of Drew’s fans want collectible items, where they are one of a few people who own it. So, we decided to create designs that are only available for 8 weeks at a time; this way, the tees would be collectible.
The t-shirt blanks we use are super-soft, made of 100% cotton and fitted so they look really good on you. Everyone loves them!
Dreamland T shirt available in 4-pack
Our first collection, THE SURFING COLLECTION, was available ONLY UNTIL SEPT.13th, but don’t despair – you can still get them in a 4-pack. http://store.drewbrophy.com/t-shirts/.
In our first 3 days of getting the word out about these collectible tees, we sold over 30 t-shirts! (That’s a lot for a small company like ours.)
The newest, BIG WAVE COLLECTION, will be available through November 15.
You can order your collectible t-shirts now at http://store.drewbrophy.com/t-shirts/. (And thank you if you do – we appreciate your support of our business!)
What’s your opinion of us limiting the print runs and time available? Do you think it will make Drew’s collectors happy to know that only a small number of people will have these t-shirts?
Let us know what you think in the comments, please! We would love to hear your feedback.
“Surfing big waves becomes a mission. It takes money, time, effort, travel, and all at the last minute.”
A few years ago my family and I drove along the Oregon coast on our way to Seattle. I brought surfboards hoping to surf some giant waves.
But, all I saw from the road was an unruly ocean, rugged cliffs and super giant waves smashing on rocks with not a surfer to be found anywhere.
The waves in Oregon are so big and dangerous it would be suicide to surf alone. I just imagined my wife and son watching me disappear into the sea, never to be seen again. Big waves, strong currents, isolated as it gets, and oh yeah, big sharks!
But the lure of the giant surf along this rugged coastline was strong. I had heard of a spot called Nelscott Reef, but I could not find it, and I had no one to ask. So I promised myself that someday I would have to come back and surf this beautiful place.
Last week on Wednesday night I got the call; “Nelscott’s on” from my friend and big wave surfer Ian Wallace. He was on it, he had all the details, and all I needed to do was get there.
Nelscott Reef is a killer surf spot about a half a mile out. It’s in Lincoln City, Oregon. The Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), headed by Gary Linden, holds a contest at Nelscott when the swell and weather get just right.
Contest promoter Jon Forse thought it was a good idea to add a Standup Paddle Surf Challenge to the contest. This was an ideal way for us to surf any big wave spot; with good friends, a support of bad-ass waterman on safety skis, and a lot of extra eyes watching out for you.
If I could be there by Saturday morning, I could stand up paddle surf in the contest.
I was excited. This was my chance to surf the Oregon coast, in big giant waves. The drive from San Clemente to Lincoln City Oregon is 18 hours straight. I needed equipment, time and money.
My wife laid out the facts. “We need money for expenses, a tune up to the Dream Machine, a new board and a safety vest. There’s no way I want you out in those waves without it.”
Need a lot of gear to surf these waves!
Surfing big waves becomes a mission. It takes money, time, effort, travel, and all at the last minute. But I had been asking to surf these waves. Now was the opportunity to do it with friends, skis, and good waves. If not now, then when? We went to bed Wednesday night unsure.
Thursday morning, Maria and I decided that if the Universe wants us to go, then it will come together.
We put the word out to our business partners and friends to ask for help.
I should have already been on the road making the 18 hour drive, but I had to be in Los Angeles for my client, Escape Camper Vans. I paint vans for them, and I do an entire van in one day. I told Rob Mewton at Escape about the contest. As a fellow surfer, he was stoked. They decided to help me with a major tune-up for the van and got it road-ready for the journey. That was one thing off the list!
Then Maria texted me saying that Mike Muir from Riviera Paddle Surf was on board, they would cover the entry fee and bring me some gear and a new 10’6” Ron House gun. Later, we got word that another sponsor, Keen Footwear out of Portland Oregon, offered to cover our gas expenses and we promised to stop in at their new headquarters. And of course my super organized friend Ian had an extra safety vest and custom-made big wave SUP leashes for me.
At the cool offices of Keen Footwear
It almost all came together too easy! The universe obviously wanted me to go.
My list of goals for January was to explore and get some big waves up North. I surfed Mavericks and Ocean Beach two weeks ago. Now Nelscott!
With the support of my wife, sponsors, and friends, our adventure began.
Friday we headed up the freeway at 4:00 a.m. Being a seasoned traveler, Dylan went right into travel mode. We drove 18 hours straight to Lincoln City, Oregon. We arrived just in time to meet fellow paddlers, Ian and Haley, at Mo’s for dinner.
Saturday morning was the first time I ever saw ice on my boards! But, surf conditions were perfect. No wind, sunny skies and a long period swell filling in.
The paddle boarders were to be the first ones out in the lineup; the guinea pigs, so to speak. With the three of us out there, the judges hoped to see the scale and quality of the waves.
Nelscott is a crazy place; the reef lies about a half of a mile out. You can barely see surfers dropping in from the beach.
To get out to the break, you have to battle through a treacherous shore break and a series of sand bars that are breaking like Puerto Escondido in cold water.
There were jet skis to pull us out to the reef. I was ready with my 10’6” Ron House Riviera Gun, Kialoa paddle, hooded Patagonia wetsuit, boots, gloves, a Dakine safety vest and Ian’s custom-made double waist leash which worked great.
If you think getting pulled out by a jet ski is easy, think again. The worst beating I got all day was on that ride out through the surf.
I cannot imagine trying to paddle out. Haley was impatient and paddled out alone, he is a madman. It took him a long time and I worried for him. Our friend Wade missed his ride and tried to paddle out also, he was almost out when a set detonated on him breaking his board. Good reason to take the ski.
Once out there on the reef, it was beautiful and clear. We sat so far out that you could see the great Oregon coastline with green forested mountains climbing in the distance. There was giant bull kelp everywhere, making you wonder what creatures was swimming down there!
The first sets were small, 15’ – 20’ faces with not a drop out of place. The right was long, allowing you two sections to enjoy with an easy exit to the channel. The left was shorter but great.
We started to have a few bigger sets roll through, one catching me in the pit. I had to dive and swim through it. I don’t know how big it was, but a lot bigger than the others that I surfed.
All of my equipment worked well. My vest popped me right to the surface and my double-waist leash pulled me up instead of ripping my leg off.
I was amazed at how lucky I was to be surfing with friends for 2 hours in perfect conditions at a gnarly spot like Nelscott.
Ian Wallace Photo by Stefan Czarnecki
We rode wave after wave showing the judges and competitors that the swell had arrived and it was really good.
The lineup was soon filled with the best big wave surfers in the world; Guys like Greg and Rusty Long, Jaimie Sterling and Peter Mel.
Some of them said that we were crazy to be out there navigating the lineup on standup paddleboards.
One difference between surfing big waves on a paddleboard is that you can see the sets coming and you can jockey into the right spot by hunting the wave down.
Standup paddling does have you more at risk, though, once committed to catching the wave you can be too far in front of it with no escape.
Haley Fiske, madman
Ian, Haley and I definitely earned some respect from our fellow surfers. Even though standup paddling has advantages to regular surfing, in big waves it is ultimately a lot more difficult and scary.
We watched from the channel as our friends competed with hoots and whistles after every ride.
We surfed the South Reef for a while also; it was bigger and harder to catch. After a few hours out there, we were all exhausted. We realized that trying to catch giant waves with no energy was a bad idea. I will return with a bigger board one day and charge that left I promise!
It took 45 minutes to paddle back in after the contest was over, once on the sandbar. I decided to charge a huge closeout and barely made the drop; it had multiple double ups and it was everything I could do to avoid the lip, which was double overhead. It sped up and mowed me down beating me 150 yards all the way to the beach.
Everyone got the same beating going in and everyone was stoked to get to shore after an entire day on the water.
Maria and Dylan were happy to see me safe, on land. Their smiling faces ran down to greet me on the sand.
The beach was buzzing with jet skis, spectators and camera crews. Surfers were standing around telling stories of their epic rides. We passed out beers and enjoyed the moment.
Winner Jamie Sterling
That night, we all went to the Nelscott Reef Awards ceremony. My friend Jamie Sterling won the contest, I had watched his rides from the channel and knew he had he had done well. Everyone had a great time at the event.
In my mind we all won, we all made the effort to be there, and we all got to surf Nelscott.
The right place at the right time with the right people. It had been a great day, one I will never forget.
Life is Good – Drew
Thank You to all that made this Possible for me, I am just a guy who loves to surf
Every time a big swell is on its way, I begin to plan on where to go and try to get all my work done.
Even though I have organized my life to be free, sometimes I feel guilty leaving my wife and son for the pursuit of surfing big waves. This past week was one of those times.
The swell was coming and I needed to be at the right place at the right time, but I was not sure where to go. It was already Saturday afternoon and I was determined not to miss another great swell.
I usually head South to Blacks or Mexico, because I know my way around, but the swell would not arrive there until a full day later and it would be a lot smaller. It was going to be hitting up north in the morning and the weather was going to be beautiful, sunny skies, 70 degree temps, and off shore winds.
What to do?
A couple years ago I met new friends surfing in Puerto Escondido, Ian and Haley. They live in NorCal, they love big waves, and most of all they love Mavericks. They are normal guys like me, not pros and not burned-out old surfers with bad attitudes, but guys with their shit together, who CHARGE. I decided to reach out and send Ian a message, asking him what was up and where was he was surfing the swell.
Haley and Ian, Ocean Beach
He sent a short reply: “START DRIVING NOW!”
Ian lives in Ocean Beach, San Francisco, and it is an 7 hour drive for me.
Believe it or not I do not connect with too many people, I often do everything alone. My wife is awesome; she pushes me to reach out to friends and not do so many things on my own. She encouraged me to go and helped me to get ready. While she was packing water and food for me, I was busy loading up the essentials on the roof of my van:
My 5’10” Ron House twin-fin fish, just in case all the models were wrong and it was flat!
and most importantly, my Patagonia wetsuit. (I never got cold thanks to that suit)
I was loaded up and on the road an hour after getting Ian’s message.
It was about 10 p.m. when I arrived in San Francisco, after driving straight through, I pulled up to Ian’s oceanfront home with him waving from the window. I had not seen him in two years, but he is like me, he loves to surf.
Ian and Haley take Charge! Mavericks
The plan was to meet Haley at Mavericks before dawn. They were having the Maverick’s Invitational big wave contest with all the pros and the circus; we wanted to be there before they started, so we could get some waves.
We awoke at 4:30, got on the road and were in the parking lot 5:15. The police were already shutting down the streets, I guess they were expecting a big crowd.
We suited up in the dark and began the long paddle out. The air was still and quiet, with a zillion stars in the sky, and due to the long period swell the ocean was unusually calm. I could barely see my friends as they guided me around the huge rocks, I was so focused on just getting there and getting out, I never really thought about what it would be like to be in the lineup of one the scariest waves in the world in total blackness. I wish I could properly describe how cool that experience was but it is impossible.
I must say once there it was down right spiritual, it was a moment when all the effort pays off.
I was in my element. We gazed at the stars with giant swells rolling beneath us, waiting for the dawn so we could surf. As soon as the tiniest bit of light filled the air the waves exploded into view. My friends paddled right into the lineup and began to ride the giant waves. I was in heaven, three guys surfing alone at one of the biggest best breaks in the world.
I caught one huge left and achieved two of my goals for the year:
Surf Mavericks; and
Spend more time with friends.
A half hour later noise and diesel fumes destroyed the calm, an army of jet skis first, and then a flotilla of boats converging on the reef, then two giant coast guard ships, and news helicopters.
The Circus! Mavericks
Our Mavs session was instantly over, forty guys crawled into the line up and the circus began. so we sat in the channel and watched our pro surfer friends ride waves.
Something was missing, contests have become everything surfing is not. We paddled in to refuel and go surf Ocean Beach, we knew it was firing. In fact it was the best it had been in years. But, Ian was down after hurting his arm on his last wave at Mavs. I surfed by myself in front of his house all afternoon.
It was huge and empty, just me and the sea, a far contrast from the circus we left. Hands down the best surf session I ever had on my paddle board. I was at the perfect place at the perfect time, We watched the sunset while drinking beer from the sand dunes. Our bodies were buzzing from the days waves totally stoked and exhausted.
The next morning the swell was smaller but more groomed and still great. Ian feed me coffee and motivated me to charge into the sea once more. Haley met us in the water. Great rides were had by all and another epic session went into the history books.
This is what surfing and life is all about, being with the right people, in the right place, at the right time. Make the effort, reach out, and create new adventures.
Thanks guys for an fantastic 48 hours.
Life is Good Drew
PS: Thanks to Bruce Topps of NorCal Surf Photos for the shots of me surfing Ocean Beach!
As an Artist, people often ask me where I get my inspiration from.
Most all of my painting inspiration comes from nature and life.
Being a surfer and a traveler takes me to some of the most amazing places on earth. These experiences in my life are real and authentic, they become part of my story.
Art is so much more than painting pretty pictures, it is a different way of thinking and looking at the world.
It is raw creativity and wonder. Art is the ability to articulate an idea, feeling, or story, to others.
Here is a story about the SUNRISE painting I did after a surf trip to the other side of the world:
During a trip to South Africa, on the beautiful beach of Jeffery’s Bay, where the ocean is full of life and the waves seem to peel forever, I was inspired to paint the sunrise.
One morning before dawn, after the coldest night of the year, I awoke to be the first to ride one of these magical waves. Standing in the dark, shivering in my wet-suit, I used my surfboard to block the icy winds. The crashing waves kept me company but I could not see them in the darkness. Above me, millions of stars illustrated the vastness of the universe.
As my mind began to wander, I felt cold and alone, as if I was nowhere in time or space, just another soul or spec of light in the night sky so far from each other.
Finally a tiny faint glow in the distance caught my eye, it steadily grew larger with every second and in a sudden burst, a tremendous wave of light raced across the sky. In a fraction of second it erased the darkness and the millions of stars. I instantly felt the warmth of the light as the wave illuminated me. I embraced it and basked in it, it felt like God’s warm hands on my face.
I was no longer alone, a new day had been born, the endless waves and our beautiful world came into view. This is our true gift, every single day.
The earth is our mother. The sun is our father. The ocean is where I was born and feel most at home, it calls to me. I am a Son of the Sea.
Life is Good,
Drew
PS: Now Sunrise is available on stickers, so you can take it with you anywhere you go – check it out in my Store.
On our Surf, SUP and Paint Tour across America, I was really looking forward to seeing the Great Lakes for the first time. Here’s a rundown of our first couple days.
Pictured Rocks Cave on Lake Superior
LAKE SUPERIOR SURFING:
I had heard stories and seen videos of dedicated surfers outside of Deluth, Michigan, riding waves on the Lake, and I wanted to see it for myself. There’s even a Lake Superior Surf Club!
Lake Superior is the biggest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes and it was our first stop.
We started at Stony Point, a surf spot that is rumored to get good waves. It’s about thirty miles North of Deluth. We drove down a gravel road in a heavily wooded area to reach it.
I was hoping for waves, but Stony Point was flat. However, it was picturesque and clear as the Caribbean, perfect for the paddleboard.
The water was unusually warm, almost 70 degrees. Maria and the kids had a blast climbing on the rocks and exploring the coastline. We just got Dylan a pair of Keen water sandals which came in handy as the bottom of the lake here was all rocks.
I took out the Rivera inflatable; it was on top of the van and quick to grab. The inflatable is my recon board – I can just easily throw it in the water to check things out! (more…)
FOR THE NEXT 20 DAYS, I’M CREATING 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from. 
“Surfing big waves becomes a mission. It takes money, time, effort, travel, and all at the last minute.”
If you think getting pulled out by a jet ski is easy, think again. The worst beating I got all day was on that ride out through the surf.
Every time a big swell is on its way, I begin to plan on where to go and try to get all my work done.
