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Drew Brophy painting the Los Cabos Open of Surfing Surfboard

Painting the Los Cabos Open of Surfing Surfboard

This is an excerpt from a Drew Brophy interview with SurfCareers.com – to read the entire article go to:  Drew Brophy Surf Careers Interview

When did you start surfing?
I was about four or five years old.

What is it that you love about surfing?
It’s just me and nature, and the energy of the earth.

Do you have a session that stands out as your most memorable?
Hard to choose. I’ve surfed all of the best waves in the world, I have great memories of all of them.

When did you first get into art and did you always want to pursue it as a career?
I used to draw on the walls when I was a child. I drew on everything. I just did what I did best. Surfing and art were my passions, and that’s where I put my focus.

How did you find your niche in surfboard art?
I love to surf, and I always painted my own surfboards.  People started asking me to paint theirs. In the late 80’s, I was painting my own surfboards using techniques with Uni Posca Paint Pens that no one else was doing or cared about at the time. I developed my own style of painting with Poscas, and I knew it was the better way to paint surfboards. It took years before others caught on. I never gave up on my vision, though it did not come easy. Early on, I painted production boards, traditional airbrush style, for H2O glassing and Kelly Richards’ Perfection Surfboards, in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Then I moved to Hawaii, airbrushing surfboards at Bill Barnfield’s Pro Glass in Haleiwa on the North Shore for the best surfers and shapers in the world.  Brands like Channel IslandsRusty and Brewer and surfers like Tom Curren and Tom Carroll.  This was a big jump for me, coming from South Carolina. I was in the thick of the industry, and I was in my early 20’s.

But, what I really wanted to do was paint surfboards using my own style and paint pen techniques, but none of the companies would let me.  The local underground chargers on the North Shore wanted it, but the companies held it back. While in Hawaii, I had approached all the best surfboard companies, asking if I could paint their boards using Poscas. No one would let me, my art was too radical. I was turned down by T & CLocal Motion, all the big companies at that time. Nobody cared about what I was doing.

Eventually I moved to California, painting at Ron House’s Surf Glass in San Juan Capistrano.  There, StewartHobie and Harboursurfboards, among others, were being made.  At that time, it was the busiest surfboard factory in the world; it ran 24 hours a day. For a surfboard painter, this was a dream job.  There was always plenty of work.  But I still wanted to paint using my own style, so I continued to seek out other surfboard companies to let me paint my way.  I approached Spyder Surfboards, one of the biggest brands at the time, and just like the companies in Hawaii, they didn’t get what I wanted to do and told me “no”.

One day, on my bike ride home from Surf Glass, I stopped to meet artist Matt Biolos, an edgy, up and coming surfboard shaper.  We were the same age, and his art was really cool.  He was the only person I had seen who was painting with the Poscas, the same as me. He made surfboards for all the young guys.  My art was a perfect match for the vibe of …Lost Surfboards at the time. Matt got it!  I started painting …Lost surfboards that day.  Matt would let me paint whatever I wanted.  I would paint ten boards traditional style at Surf Glass, and then at the end of the day I’d go to …Lost where Matt would have surfboards waiting for me, and I’d paint them in my own style.They were an instant hit with the new breed of surfers. Within six months, my art and …Lost Surfboards began to take over the surf market.  That was 1996.  And the rest is history.  Surfboards were changed forever.

Do you recall when your pieces first started receiving widespread response?
Yes, it was in the late 1990’s, when I started painting, live, at the surf trade shows.  …Lost would exhibit at Surf Expo and other shows. The surfboards were never finished in time before the show for me to paint them.  So my solution was for me to paint, live, at the shows.  What surprised me was ……

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE HERE:  http://surfcareers.com/blog/drew-brophy-artist/

RIDING THE WAVE OF LIFE by Drew Brophy 16 x 20 Canvas Board 20x20 Series Oct 2013FOR the past 20 DAYS, I CREATED 20 ORIGINAL ART PIECES that reflect my thought process and where my ideas originate from. 

I painted 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.

This Painting is THE LAST of 20 in this #20×20 Series, titled RIDING THE WAVE OF LIFE, 16″ x 20″ on Canvas Board, medium Uni Poscas Paint Pens.

This is the final painting of my series and I wanted it to be the best one yet.

When I look at this process from the last 20 days, I see it as an exercise in loosening up, and learning how to better execute different techniques.

This painting is a reflection of all that.  And, in the end, I realize that I just love to paint surf images…

I hope you like it, Life is Good,

Drew

This painting is SOLD to Bill P. from New Jersey.  Thanks Bill!

*I’m accepting a total of 20 commissions to follow on the heels of this 20×20 series, at excellent prices – THERE ARE 5 SPOTS LEFT.  Email info@drewbrophy.com for the commissioned 20×20 pricing.

WHEN EMAILING to BUY ANY OF MY ART, or to Commission me to paint one special, just for you:  email info @ drew brophy dot com with your  phone# and shipping address.

 

 

 

“Some people do not understand the allure of Stand up Paddling; it’s much harder than regular surfing, and at the Mexican Pipeline, it’s borderline insane….”

I have been surfing in Puerto Escondido for over 20 years.  I first made the journey from South Carolina so that I could learn to surf big waves at the Mexican Pipeline.  Instantly, I felt right at home in the waves, in the town and with the people I met there.

My longtime friend, Puerto local Angel Salinas, does a lot of good for the community there.  Angel owns Central Surf, the first surf shop in town and he started hosting surf events many years ago.  Now he puts on invitation only contests for stand-out surfers.  I was stoked when he started his SUP contest three years ago, and I was on the invite list.  Angel may be the first guy who was doing stand up paddling in Mexico.

Even with the difficulty of traveling with big, ten foot surfboards, I always cannot wait to get there to see my friends and the giant waves.  It’s not about winning a contest; it’s a meeting of the tribe!

Some people do not understand the allure of Stand up Paddling; it’s much harder than regular surfing, and at the Mexican Pipeline, it’s borderline insane….

Boards just break here!

Chasing 12 to 15 foot waves on a ten foot paddleboard feels like hunting mountains of moving water.  You see the waves coming from way out at sea, then you race to meet them just as they are standing up, looking their meanest.   You dig in with your paddle against the hard off-shore wind as you teeter on the top of the beast, then free-fall into the tube.

Stuffing yourself, a paddle and a ten foot board into the tube is no easy feat.  The bigger the wave, the better.  You either get a 10 point ride, or, chunks of broken board and paddles as the wave detonates over you.

All of the contestants of last week’s Central Surf Pro caught epic waves and got their turn at hideous wipeouts.  The joy of surfing the event with old friends and new is what it is all about.  Showing the spectators and surfers what we can do in the waves on our stand up paddleboards felt really good.

Stand up surfing and paddling is sweeping the world.  It is a fantastic way to experience any water, lakes, rivers and ocean.  Water is water and SUP gives you access like nothing else.  We don’t go anywhere without our paddleboards.

Even though I just turned forty, this year I’ve been more active than ever.  I celebrated my big birthday by surfing Pipeline in Hawaii, then in May I paddled 225 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.  This summer I paddled uninhabited islands in South Carolina.  I am in the best shape of my life.A lot of people start to physically decline when they hit their forties and fifties.  I plan to be active well into my 100’s.  Besides paddleboarding and surfing, to stay in shape I eat healthy, organic foods and have a full, daily regimen of premium MegaFood whole food vitamin supplements.  I want to continue to live the life of my dreams, charging big waves and having adventures.

Painting with the locals of Playa Zicatela

With age, I feel wiser and I can see the impact of actions from my distant past.  For over 20 years, I’ve been going down to Puerto and have painted surfboards for the local kids.

It’s not easy for locals to earn money down there, and so the kids’ surfboards are always old and damaged.  The only new boards you see on the beach are those of travelers from out of town.

A little Uni Posca paint pen painting on an old board makes it look new again, and that does magic for the morale of kids in a small Mexican town.

I’ve watched people grow up here, and some of the guys, now grown up, tell me that when they were a kid and I painted their boards, it left them feeling pure joy.  Now, they give me waves and they run the place.  They are my friends.  It’s more than just art; it’s giving each other your time.

This year I sat in the grass with my Uni Posca paint pens and painted surfboards while a crowd surrounded me.  We all spent time together, kids, parents, contestants, lifeguards and tourists.  We made something out of nothing.  It was the place to be, there in the grass.  The energy of joy everywhere.

Those young kids got to see how simple life can be.  Plus I just earned another ten years in the Puerto line up!

We are all a part of each other’s stories now.

Life is Good – Drew

For details on the contest (I got third place!):  go to CentralSurf.tv and Surfline.

Special Thanks to:

MegaFood – I’ve never felt healthier.  I am strong and fit, giving me the confidence to do anything!  And, their sponsorship enabled me to be there for the contest.

Hinano Tahiti – For my great clothes, the legend board shorts are awesome.  And, their contribution to my travel to Puerto also allowed me to be there.

Ron House and Riviera Paddle Surf – Mike Muir of Riviera Paddlesurf made sure I had new boards to compete with.  They rode amazing.

Kialoa Paddles – Only the best will do in these waves.

Keen – My Keen Waimea toe guard flip flops rule – no more stubbed toes!

Ocean & Earth – My leash never broke, thanks to the world’s strongest leash. 

Hoven Vision – Boy I needed good shades the sun is always bright in Mexico!

We are taking THE PAINT SHOP TV SHOW live to Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo this weekend in Santa Cruz!

Two painting demonstrations will be given by Drew and filmed on-site for our show THE PAINT SHOP WITH DREW BROPHY.

Drew’s demonstrations are designed to share surfboard painting techniques that can be used by both the novice and the experienced artist.

Sat. March 19 Noon to 1:00 p.m: Drew will give a Graffiti-style painting demonstration and will show how to customize your own surfboard with a few cans of spray paint and stencils. Demonstration will be held at the SurfAide Shaping Bay.

Sun. March 20 Noon to 1:00 p.m: Drew demonstrates his medium of choice, Uni-Posca paint pens, on surfboards. He will share tried and true techniques and will discuss preparation, composition, color blending, and sealing.

CONFIRM ATTENDANCE & GET A FREE Art Poster!

One Drew Brophy art print will be given on-site to each person who confirms attendance to Drew’s demos by March 18. (Prints priced at $20.00 for everyone else).

To get your coupon, e-mail your name to info@thepaintshop.tvand confirm your attendance to Drew’s demonstration.  A coupon for the free print will be emailed to you.

Drew will discuss how you can have a viable career painting surfboards, and how retailers can increase sales with surfboard art.  Bring your questions!  This demonstration will be held in Drew Brophy’s booth #B8.

WHO: Any surfer or artist who wants to learn new techniques or has aspirations of a career painting surfboards, and for those who shape or sell surfboards.

WHERE: The Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard EXPO held at the Rittenhouse Building, downtown Santa Cruz, CA.  INFO: www.surfboardshow.com.

WHEN: Demos held Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, from Noon to 1:00 pm.

COST: Sacred Craft Entrance fee is $10.00.  Demonstrations are FREE with admittance.