Surf Artist friends: Peter Pierce,Robb Havassy,Jay Alders,Chris Pederson & Charlie Clingman

It’s been about 3 years since fellow surfer/artist and friend Robb Havassy first contacted me to be a part of a book, film and series of exhibits now known to the World as “Surf Story Project”.

Surf Story Project, the hard-cover book, was just finally released. It’s 440 pages of 88 of the most renown surf artists and pro-surfers on the planet.  So needless to say, it’s a huge honor to be included amongst such legends as Gerry Lopez, Phil Roberts, Joel Tudor, Art Brewer, Ken Auster,Rob Machado, Bill Ogden,Rick Rietveld, Drew Brophy, Rick Griffin and Aaron Chang to name just a few.

Charlie Clingman (foreverstoked.com),Rob Havassy,Chris Pederson and I chillin' at Robb's place with some brews before the art show

It takes a very spiritually grounded human being to consciously and diligently bring together a group of talent that many people outside of our circles might see as showcasing your biggest ‘industry competitors’. But that is not what Surf Story Project is about. As Robb told us, “..it’s a book of love stories”, referring to our common obsessive passion for surfing, the ocean and art.

This driving force inside  each of us is what we are paying homage to. It is bigger and more powerful than any individual involved. Only as a collective group can it’s historically significance begin to be realized.

So when Robb told me that the book release & group Art Exhibit was going off on Dec 18th 2009 in Costa Mesa, California at the Hurley HQ, I quickly booked my flight.  I would have been kicking myself in the ass for years if I missed such an opportunity to rejoice amongst some of my most respected & talented artistic peers and surfing icons.

Robb and his wonderful wife Patrice and their 8 month old gorgeous daughter Marin were my gracious hosts for the first few days of my trip, unselfishly opening their doors to me. Their Aloha spirit overwhelmed me with warm-hearted brotherly love from the first moments I walked in the door and was greeted with hugs and smiles.

LA LA LA LA

Cassie and I at Veggie Grill in Manhattan Beach, CA (Check out my rad "OBX Pit Surfshop" shirt drawn by our friend Drew Brophy.)

I had a couple days before the big event and used every available moment to catch up with buddies in LA. I had a chance to meet up with our friend Cassie Hero in Manhattan Beach who’s one of our favorite adrenaline junkies and used to work for FuelTV. I convinced her to eat vegan food with me at Veggie Grill after we ‘attempted’ to surf 10-12ft closeouts in Manhattan Beach.

Sunny and I after surfing Sunset in LA

Another highlight of the trip was meeting up  for a surf with my friend Sunny, co-owner of 9:Fish Surfboards.  We had much cleaner conditions on Friday at Sunset in LA. It was a fun point break with a super nice local crew.  I’d say it was worth the 2+ hours of traffic on the 405 I had to deal with going back to Orange County.

SURF STORY PROJECT: THE OPENING

The event was held at Hurley HQ in Costa Mesa and when I arrived, I was in awe of how this exhibit had come together.  Most of us there said how this event was history in the making and we couldn’t believe what Robb was able to accomplish. Reminiscent of the last day of senior year, we all had our books under our arms swapping signatures and well wishes in ink on our respective pages.

When I was a teenage grom doodling in class and frothing over surf magazines, I remember gazing in awe at the old Maui & Son’s Surfing ads which Rick Rietveld painted. Close to 20 years later and thousands of miles from home, I was drinking brewskies and acting like a goofball with that same guy, my buddy, Rick.  He signed my book, “To my new best surf bro artist friend! Thank you for your inspirational, distorted creativity”.

And thus, the mood of the night was set. That of accomplishment,humility, sharing,amazement and camaraderie . This was a selfless & beautiful celebration of love for our oceanic muse that we have in common. Because as the night proved, we who contributed to the pages in this book and the walls in the exhibit are all both fans,creators & friends.

Bill Ogden is quite a character and his work is purely breathtaking. He is commonly referred to as one of the founding fathers of ‘Surf Art’ and from what I hear, is rather reclusive normally so getting to share wall space with Bill at this event meant a lot to all of us.  We chatted for a little bit and he told me how ‘he dug how tripped out my art is’.  I couldn’t ask for a bigger compliment!

THE SURFING HERITAGE GALLERY:PAINTING DEMO

When my friends from The Surfing Heritage Museum found out I was coming into town, they graciously asked me to be a featured artist for a live painting demo. They opened a new gallery location just minutes from where I was staying in Costa Mesa,CA.  I was stoked and of course agreed happily!

To my complete delight and honor my friend Phil Roberts (who is one of my favorite illustrators and surf artists) came in to hang out with me with his adorable daughter Portia.  He is responsible for sculpting the epic Pipeline Masters Trophy as well as painting this years Pipeline Master’s Surfbord Trophy.

Portia is such a character just like her Daddy.  She sat down and painted alongside of me and told me jokes while Phil and I talked about art techniques and laughed about some funny stories from the exhibit.

SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS

Skateboarding has been a part of my life since I was about three years old. So about a decade ago now, I chased a dream and I co-founded a skateboarding company called Seed Skateboards. The company didn’t last, but my friendship with one of our pro team riders, Joey Pulsifer did.

Joey used to be one of the most technical street skaters I’d seen and I bet if he stopped drinking so many peppermint mocha lattes and watching MTV’s “Jersey Shore” that he would still kick some butt in a game of “skate”.  Regardless, whenever we have the opportunity and visit each other’s coasts, we keep in touch and shoot the shit.

Joey is now co-owner of Resource Distribution, home to Riviera Longboards and they just got this dope new warehouse which I got to check out in the morning before my flight home.  Riviera was one of the first big licensing deals I got years ago and it’s really nice to see how far we’ve both come since then. I love seeing friends have success.

ONE OUT OF TEN

I read an interesting tid bit in a Robert Kiyosaki book years ago about how 1 out of 10 business ventures fail. Kiyosaki goes on to comment that to the success-minded person this only means you may need to try ten different dreams, but eventually, it will work.

I try and always keep that advice in my consciousness. And this trip further solidifies it’s deeper meaning to me.  Whether it’s compiling a 440 page book or being a Professional Fine Artist or starting a skateboard company or meeting your childhood heroes.  If you try hard enough, have faith and go with the flow, you will eventually succeed.

Happy Holidays!

A huge Mahalo to Robb and Patrice Havassy for providing me with a home away from home and inspiring me in so many ways.

(click on image for a larger view)

Introducing “Love Birds”, the 2nd oil painting in the ‘Sea Birds Series’ by Jay Alders. This original artwork is yet another expression of Jay’s love of the coastal lifestyle and the amazement we all share of birds soaring above the ocean and tops of lush trees.

Jay depicts a soothing yet powerfully harmonious scene of the two birds whose wings form a heart .  The abstracted warm sky is the perfect backdrop to set the mood for this romantic scene.

This island beach art is a great addition to any home, office or beach home or as gift for that beach loving friend or surfer you know.

Available as matted prints, fine art giclée prints and canvas giclée prints with a gallery wrap signed by artist, Jay Alders.

“Love Birds is a piece which is very artistically representational of my life right now. I hope that those who see it and
hang prints of Love Birds in their homes also feel the emotion that this painting holds”  - Jay Alders

>>> Buy Prints of “Love Birds” here

SURF STORY is a book,exhibition,film including art and surf stories by more than 70 surfers, artists, writers, icons from the culture.

Robb Havassy, fellow Surf Artist is organizing this huge project and contacted me two years ago to be involved.

The book is now available from our online store, click here.

The book and exhibition will feature the largest collection of surf art and surf stories ever presented. The 300+ page hard-cover coffee table book will contain more than 200 pieces of surf art, and over 150 surf stories from an incredible list of contributors, such as: Surfer/Artists: Jay Alders, Ken Auster, Chris Lundy, Sandow Birk, Michael Knowlton, Mike Doyle, Kevin Ancell, Robb Havassy, Meegan Feori, Shawn Griggs, Rick Rietveld, Russell Crotty, Ben Brough “33″, Céline Chat, CR Stecyk, Alex Weinstein, Chris Pederson, Spencer Reynolds, Alan Casagrande, Damian Fulton, Mike Losness, Shannon McIntyre, Vanessa Janss, REMI BERTOCHE, Frank Errickson, Gaston Locklear, Ned Evans, David Lloyd, John Severson, Patrick Parker, Drew Brophy, Wade Koniakowsky, Aubrey Falk, Kevin Short, Pete Tillack, Scott Szegeski, Charlie Clingman, Heather Brown, Steven Chew “Sli Dawg”, Matt Beard, Jesse Miller, Herbie Fletcher, Noia, Bill Ogden, Peter Thorne, Steve Bojoroquez, Peter Pierce, Ron Croci, Mike Lorenzini, Karim Rejeb.

Plus Surf Story contributors:Robert and Sam August, Art Brewer, Tom Servais, Noah Johnson, Wingnut, Joel Tudor, Drew Kampion, Rochelle Ballard, Nat Young, Corky Carrol, Chris Ahrens, Aamion Goodwin & Daize Shayne, Rob Machado, Greg Escalante, Jamie Brisick, Pat O’Connell, Mary Osbourne, Ithaka Darin Pappas, Joey Cabell, Craig Peterson and Kevin Naughton, Cody Graham, Herbie Fletcher, Peter Mel, Gordon McClelland, David Pu u.

“The SURF STORY is what the whole culture is built on…we all have our own. It doesn’t matter who your are or how well or often you surf…great stories just happen….This project is just one large, multi-media view into the tradition. “- RH

Available now here.

EVENTS:

December 9th, 2009:
Cafe Haleiwa 66-460 Kam Hwy Haleiwa, HI 96712 from 7-11pm.

Cafe Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu / in association with the
Triple Crown of Surfing. Slide show, book signing and Art show.

December 18th, 2009:
Hurley HEADQUARTERS (HURLEY “TOWN HALL”)
1945 Placentia Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 from 7-11pm.

Huge Surf Art exhibition, Slide show and book signing. Dozens
of SURF STORY artists and surf icons in attendance to meet and sign
books. Featuring art and photography by the “Surf Story” contributors.

It’s one-night beginning with an art show, followed by a Billabong fashion show, then performing live in concert alt-rockers The Airborne Toxic Event with indie pop stars Iglu & Hartly to open.

Jay’s donated piece this year is a signed Fine Art Giclée of his Surf Art Painting, “Burning Inspiration”

This event sells out weeks in advance every year. For the first time you can buy tickets at your local shop. ZJ Boarding House is located on the corner of Ocean Park and Main Street in Santa Monica and will be selling tickets at the shop starting May 27th.

Get there before they run out!

100% of tickets sales will be donated to charity: water. Find out more about their cause at charitywater.org

ZJ Boarding House – 2619 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-392-5646

Echo Movement

Jay’s new painting, “Burning Inspiration” as you can see, became the Album Art for “In the Ocean”, which was inspired by the beach lifestyle that Jay and his friends in the Band love so much.

June 5th’s party is going to be awesome and I’ll be there to show art, sell prints and support my friends in the band. 

A Portion of proceeds of all sales of Echo Movement’s New CD’s is going to help SurfAid International.

This gorgeous Surfboard features my painting,“Left Behind the Wall”which I painted with this board shape specifcally in mind.

It is glassed by the world famous, Clyde Beatty Jr. and it’s a beauty you can appreciate even more up close.

A portion of the proceeds from every surfboard sold goes to one of my favorite charities SurfAid International.

Surf Aid is a non-profit humanitarian organization that seeks to
improve the health, well being and self-reliance of people living in
isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

I recently met up with Wes Negus, Co-Founder of 9:Fish Surfboards while I was in Malibu (seen here with the new Jay Alders 9:Fish Surfboard.)

It’s really insane what a great job 9:Fish did in creating this board, when I first saw them in person, I wasn’t expecting it to be so masterfully done.

I now have one board I display and one I ride and love the feel of this board in the water, it’s super easy to paddle and catches everything.

Dimensions: 6ft 2″ tall, 2 3/4″ thick, 21″wide, 15.75″ nose, 16.25″ tail

Includes: 2 removable Future compatible fins.
Standard glass: 6oz + 4oz deck / 6oz bottom and Surfblank foam.

I am always very eager to help out the Surfrider Foundation and other philanthropies I endorse.

So when my buddies at Surfrider San Diego contacted me to donate Art again for this year’s Art Gala, I jumped on board.

This year, I donated signed Fine Art Prints of “Second Glance” and “Left Behind the Wall” as well as “Cali Crab”, the Surfboard I painted in Malibu last month.

I gave Rick a big Canvas Print of “Right Past the Light” for the Surfer Mag Headquarters and Rick gave us a big goodie bag of Surfer Mag stuff to take home, including a Surfer Mag Backyard BBQ shirt.  We laughed that I’d be the first Vegan to be wearing a Barbeque Shirt.

The
core activities and campaigns that the Surfrider Foundation
uses to protect our oceans, waves and beaches fall into
the categories of Clean Water, Beach

Access, Beach Preservation and Protecting Special Places.

The months of preparation and planning flew by…the day came and went so fast…but it was such a huge success and amazing experience.

Musical Performers on stage at the end of the pierMeiko, Tyrone Wells, Trevor Hall and Mishka really captivated the crowd and were all equally awesome to hear.

The walkway down the pier was crowded with people and lined with Surf Art by myself and fellow artists:Drew Brophy,Heather Brown, Phil Roberts, Ron Croci,John Severson, Grant Ellis and Wade Koniakowsky.

The paparazzi and girls went pretty nutty when Matthew McConaughey showed up as the surprise guest. He said some nice things about Surfrider and came out to support his pal Mishka who is signed on Matthew’s new music label.

(Above: Surprise guest speaker, Matthew McConaughey hogging the photo, obviously the Paparazzi photographer was trying to include us in the shot

Upon our arrival to Southern Cali on the 24th, I was handed off a Surfboard from Surf Prescriptions to paint for the Surfrider Foundation/Emergen-C Event on the 26th. So, the next 2 days consisted of very little sleep, a lot of Starbucks Soy Lattes and non-stop painting.

Amongst the other people painting boards for Surfrider were Tom Dumont of No Doubt, Tristan Prettyman, one of our favorite singer/songwriters, Eric Avery of Janes Addiction and Chad Butler of Switchfoot.

(You can now bid on this board I painted and other Surf Art at the upcoming Surfrider Art Gala in San Diego on May 21st)

The Shirts (seen below) for MaliBLUE which I designed, were everywhere on the pier that day which was awesome.  Quiksilver Apparel was cool enough to print and provide us with the shirts which soon became the wardrobe of the day for the guests on the pier.

Media Sponsors, Surfing Magazine and Surfer Magazine were there to cover the event, for which I vaguely remember getting quoted on a couple of nice comments about the free VIP Beer that day

I proudly designed the Surf Art for the Packaging for Emergen-C® BLUE™ which is available in fine Stores everywhere, including Target, Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods.

It was really fantastic to be able to hang out with my new friends from Emergen-C and their Marketing Company, Murphy O’Brien.  The months we spent co-ordinating and planning this whole campaign has been truly an outstanding experience.  The entire group of people I hung out with that day were awesome and I hope I can see them all again soon.

The package Artwork is the backdrop of the add and in the bottom right corner, they were cool enough to give me a nice spot for my Artist’s credit.