"Morning Rinse"

Watercolor - 14 x 20" - $750

It is hard to explain to people my whole philosophy of what I paint in a few seconds. But, basically,I love painting surf culture. I guess its not that hard. But, that may be using trash cans to hold boards, hanging out at the beach after a surf, or using the sprinklers to wash off. Like this little guy here.

"10 Feet"

Watercolor - 12 x 24" - sold

On Dec. 9, 2006, Blacks was going off. The waves and conditions were great. Not as big as the year before on the 21st, but still beautiful. All year I wished I got more pictures from our first Big Wednesday, but I spent too much time surfing. So this time, I only shot photos. I regret doing that too, because it looked so fun out there. This painting shows how good it was. The wave looks perfect. It was glassy and grinding. And the crowds were small because of the size. The Butthole Surfers say it is better to regret something you have done instead of something you haven't done. Thats true, because I wish I had surfed more this time more than I wished I hadn't surfed last time.

 "Call Box"

Watercolor - 14 x 18" - $625

This wasn't the only casualty of the day. I saw one wave alone that I saw snap 2 boards and a leash. But what is more interesting about this painting, is that after I finished it, the next time I surfed, I snapped my board out at Sunset Cliffs, of all places. It was only like 4 - 5 feet, and I couldn't believe it. There is some weird energy about that. It is like that episode of the twilight zone where the camera took pictures of what was going to happen in the future. From now on, I only want to paint pictures of me - getting spit out of huge barrels - if that is going to happen.

"More 5"

Watercolor - 10 x 18" - $425

This shot was taken by Bill Harris. They are of his son, Billy, who I have painted before. I am glad people are letting me use some of the great shots they have taken. If anyone has tried to take surf photos, they know it isn't easy. But this one is cool.

"Jetty morning"

Watercolor - 12 x 16" - $625

I love this image. Sometimes painting is a struggle for me, especially when I'm not that into the subject. But this painting developed in front of me, and when it was done I was surprised. I enjoyed working on it, and I enjoy looking now. It is fun to see cool things at the beach, and be able to capture them to show others.

"A"

Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $450

I had completely run out of things to paint one morning, so I went to South Mission for a surf. I was lucky enough to get there in time to see this girl pearched in the barricade, looking so cool. And she was there long enough for me to get my camera out and snap a few shots. This is one of my favorite subjects to paint.

"Roxy Girl"

Watercolor - 8 x 12"   - $225 

This is one of the girlsI saw that day. I took this shot before she paddled out because I love the feeling of a warm sun on my back, and that is what this painting makes me remember.

"Shoreline Dash"

Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $425

I was lucky enough to take a small trip to Hawaii in Oct of 2007(right during the fires in San Diego so I missed some of the best surf in SD in a long time) But I got some cool shots. I’ll be able to do paintings from that trip for a long time. So many cool things are happening over there all the time. I was sitting at Pupekea one morning and like 10 girls paddled out. These girls rip. What a great time to be a surfer.

"A New Session"

Watercolor - 15 x 22" - $850

This is the same day at Pupekea.   I later saw a picture of Kassia Meador surfing from this session on one of the photo features on surfline.com.  It was fun to see a photo of her surfing from the same day I saw her walk down the beach and paddle out. She must feel like a celebrity with all these people taking her picture, and doing paintings of her wherever she goes. Thats what you get for surfing so smooth and with such grace.

"Taking Off"

Watercolor - 14 x 22" - $625

Here is #2 of the sequence.  I wish this painting made the waves look as big as they felt out there. But I guess this wave is almost triple overhead to the guy taking off. This day was all about surviving big waves that we are not used to in San Diego. In fact, after this day, I had to go and buy a new board, because the one I had wasn't working. I took it out after this day, on the 22nd but the waves weren't as big, and it was too foggy to even see the cliffs. Not the same.

  To see more of the sequence, #4 is in the prints section of the website

"Hiking"

Watercolor - 11 x 15" - $375

I had this shot for a long time now, but I painted it now to help celebrate the waves we have had there in Dec '05 and Jan '06.

"The Cove"

Watercolor - 16 x 22" - sold

December 5th, 2007 was called Big Wednesday again in San Diego. There were thousands of people all up and down the coast enjoying the unusually big surf. Only a small percent were actually riding the waves, though. I first went to Blacks, and there were more photographers and video cameras on shore than surfers in the water. One guy even brought down a huge scaffolding to the sand to get a different perspective. I surfed for about 3 hours, and was completely spent after that. So then I went over to the cove to see what was happening there, and this was the first scene I saw. The sun was shining, and the surf was big, and people were enjoying the free show.

"Going Left!"

Watercolor - 12 x 16" - $450

Out in the water at the Cove, it was crowded. Hundreds of guys all spread out going all the way to Devils Slides. Not everyone was riding waves though. I'd guess that only a handful were actually out to surf. I saw some guys walking up the cliff with their 6'2" thrusters. Not the size board you need to catch a 20 foot wave. Some people had the right equipment though, and caught some really fun waves. I wish this shot showed how big this wave probably felt to the guys paddling for it.

"The Walk"

Watercolor - 10 x 16"

After this day, I thought about all the people who paddled out to challenge themselves with the huge surf. I added that number to with the people who went to take pictures or video and then added those who just went to watch the big waves. There were a lot of people involved. Even though there were hundreds of people involved (maybe thousands at Swamis) with the waves, the commitment to catching and riding one of those set waves at Blacks is purely singular. I was completely alone while taking off on a wave, and completely alone when I scratched to the horizon trying to not get cleaned up by the rogue set threatening to break on my head. This painting is dedicated to that feeling.

"The Drop"

Watercolor - 12 x 17" - $750

Riding big waves is a completely different sport than riding small waves. They are both surfing, but anyone who has done both can tell you. This picture was taken by my friend and photographer Nathan Petty when he still lived in Hawaii. I can stare at this painting all day. This is the greatest shot.

"White Water Mountain"

Watercolor - 12 x 16" - $450

This is the next shot in this sequence, so it is good to know the guy made the drop from the previous painting. When Nathan said I could paint these shots, I was grateful, but also a little nervous, because sometimes when a picture is so good, it is hard to try it is watercolor. I hate to have a painting turn out worse than the picture it is based on. But these images are strong no matter what I did. They make me love surfing.

"Stepping up"

Watercolor - 15 x 22" - $850

I stole this composition from Andrew Wyeth. Well, borrowed the idea. He had a painting called "Trodden Weed" and it shows a guy's boots on some weeds. It seems like an unlikely subject, but the painting is as great as all of his work. I do have to admit I like this painting better. I'm not saying it is better, I just like it more.

"Michele"

Watercolor - 12 x 18" - $625

These paintings are of the lovely and talented Michele Pauly. She was a lifeguard for the city of San Diego, and a very smooth surfer. She was nice enough to let me ride along with her and get some shots as she walked to the nose. And again, I'll say it is hard to get good water shots. But it was fun to ride backwards and try to manipulate the camera. I'm glad I didn't run someone over

"Red Toenails"

Watercolor - 10 x 16" - $475

Michele’s feet balancing on the front of her 9', so gracefully. So nice

"Floating"

Watercolor - 14 x 16" - $725

I like how peaceful this one looks. Paddling out on a warm glassy day is so great. It makes me wish it were summer all the time. I like the way the water came out on this painting.

"4 Boards"

Watercolor - 16 x 22" - $850

My wife and I were walking along a beach in Carlsbad one day, and happened across these boards resting on the cliffs. It was a cool scene, and Michelle snapped a picture. So I painted it.

"Stroke"

Watercolor - 11 x 16" - $375

More paintings from under the water. I really like these images, and it is a great challenge to get them. I really have respect for the guys who can go out in the water and come in with the good shots. Water photography is hard!

"Reading"

Watercolor - 9 x 16" - $425

This shot looks so luxurious and even decadent. Who has time to surf, and then lay out on the beach, just reading and enjoying the sun? I always feel like if I do surf, it is just squeezing time away from stuff I have to do. But I look forward to the day when this will be possible - guilt free. I am afraid those days were when I was in college, and they are over now. The dumbest thing I ever did was graduate from college.

'Kicker"

Watercolor - 12 x 19" - $525

On a sunny morning at Blacks, I got this shot. I like the painting, but I don’t like when guys on surfboards kick to get into waves. To me, it makes them look a little frantic. And I especially don’t like when they splash me with their kicking. I guess everyone has their pet peeves.

"Going Right"

Watercolor - 10 x 14" - $350

I did this painting on a day when I didn't feel like painting. It was more like a time to visit an old memory of mine. I had this view out my kitchen window when I lived on the North Shore.  I miss living at Sharks Cove. That was a great time.

“Shoreline”

Watercolor  -  8 x 12”

$225

Another Painting of Cassia Meador walking out to Pupekea in 2007.

“Sparkling Knees”

Watercolor - 10 x 16”

$450

I always like watching people knee paddle, even though I never do it when I am riding my longboard.  I always feel a little silly, but I think it looks cool when other people do it. 

“Waxing”

Watercolor  -  10 x 16”

$450

This is my longboard.  I was waxing it up at La Jolla Shores one really small day, and I liked the reflection made in the wet sand. 

“Orange Board”

Watercolor - 14 x 20”

$650

Just a few feet to the left of the green board, there was an orange one resting on one of the coolest trash cans around. 

“Green Board”

Watercolor - 12 x 16” - sold

Whenever I need to stir my creative juices, Swamis is a great place to go.  There is usually something happening there.  And if it is just a board left to dry a little before it is loaded into a car, that is enough. 

“Prepping”

Watercolor - 12 x 16” - $475

A a small foggy morning at Blacks.  When these four started getting ready to paddle out, I knew I wanted to paint the scene.  I love this kind of painting.

“Quad”

Watercolor - 14 x 20”  $750

I love doing these paintings.  Looking for different things to paint is always fun.  And this is a view most people don’t usually have.

“Evening Paddle”

Watercolor - 12 x 16”  $450

A small glassy evening at Hospitals.

(From above to the left)

“Empty Left”, “Building Left”, “Silver Left”, and “Old Left”

All Watercolor - 16 x 22”  - $950

If I had to choose only one place to surf in San Diego, that would be easy.  The waves at Blacks can be a crumbly fun beachbreak, a grinding hollow barrel, and almost everything in between.

In the water, there are few buildings to be seen, and no traffic.  The lighting changes throughout the day, and always effect the cliffs differently, which always reflects on the water.  It is a feast of experiences, and some of my best surfing memories are from there.  Plus I like to go left.

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