BRUSH WORK ON SURFBOARD + REEL

I can remember (somehow!) way back into the 90's when carpet drags were in vogue.

There were some pivotal years in the 90's when surfing turned a corner and got into its popularity stride. The surf shops were screaming for more surfboards to fill the racks. I worked in a few factories at the time, and each label, understandably, wanted their boards to look different than the others, especially when stacked next to each other in a shop.

This lead to several approaches, graphics and ideas that, quite frankly, were ridiculous! Especially if using the current generic stock spray of 2024 as a gauge.

To illustrate this, and without getting too graphic, a custom order from Holland wanted a cartoon squirrel with an erection the size of its own body on the deck, the entire length (excuse the pun) of the board. The bizarre nature of the request did warrant a photograph, but now decades later, it is nowhere to be found.

I shan't include a sketch of what it looked like, or how it fitted on the surfboard, I'm sure your imaginations can do a good enough job!

Luckily, in amongst the fevered attempt to keep the shelves stacked and custom orders pleased, there were some good sprays.

Old film photographs of my sprays from the 90's

Before the internet, the only way to have a look around internationally, was to examine all the surf mags cover to cover. When a new spray was seen, the next step was to decipher how it was done. Many were easy to work out, but the odd one caused some head scratching!

One craze, predominantly British (I think), was spraying through doilies. Using doilies as a stencil left the pattern on the board. I remember trawling through charity shops to find doily sets among the tea pots, cups and crockery.

There was a flurry of using random materials to create a stencil to spray through or over – torn cardboard edges, fibreglass rovings, coins, fishnet stockings...the list goes on! This could be done in pin-lined panels, or randomly to create an abstract look. Occasionally, if done right, it could look good. Today, many would look dated, and in my opinion too tacky to be considered retro cool or vintage. But nothing should be ruled out!

One technique that stuck around for a while was the carpet drag. We would fill a roller paint tray and dip an offcut of carpet into the paint, before dragging it along the foam of a shaped blank in various directions, usually nose to tail.

The common sense way to achieve this look, is to use a wide paint brush. But at that time there seemed to be an idea that each sprayer/factory was trying to baffle their counterparts. It couldn't be just a paint brush...surely it was an offcut of carpet or another material. Turns out a paint brush works just fine. 

So here is a short reel of a team riders board being paint brushed earlier this week!

POCKETS OF GOOD SURF – 2

More shots from the surf days that counted in March.

I'm pleased to say there have been more days with good conditions to add to March 2024 so far. I'm sure there has been a handful of quality moments in quiet pockets, at the right time and tide, worthy of inclusion on the list. I managed to capture a few, but of course not all; I like the idea of an abundance of waves going unseen, unridden, not photographed.

Whether under the darkness of night, the continuing cold mornings or empty beaches with perhaps just a couple of dog walkers, the ocean waves and their energy arrive to meet land. Sometimes with deafening force, sometimes with only a weak pulse, all the time moving. It's great that surfing exists; at its best, it is a human art form that can dance with planet earth's natural power, and equally, within seconds we can be humiliated, humbled and shown our insignificance. I find wonder and majesty in waves with or without our input. Very happy that the seas continue to move regardless.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, this is part 2 of 'Pockets of Good Surf'.

I like this last shot, at first glance, it's hard to differentiate between the surfers in the line-up and the seagulls. A little inside left nugget goes unridden and the seagulls don't care.

STOKED! 2 NEW PRINTS! (AT LAST)

I've been meaning to get some artwork together for Rem @rems_caff  for a while, but life is a specialist at throwing curve balls, so it took a little while longer!

Anyway, moving on, they are done. I am so stoked and happy for them to have made their way to Rem, Joe @stingingweever and Andy @saltwalls_gallery.

They are both limited edition prints, with a print run of 20. In addition to the short print run, is 20% of sales going to charity, namely, Cornwall Air Ambulance.

They are available @sleeplessink.com

OH SH*T! – SURFBOARD PAINT DRAG (WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!) REEL

Music on, friend in the wings, creative surfboard art brief. What could go wrong?

With several decades wearing the orange jump-suit, that goes with the life long sentence of being a surfboard sprayer, a few phrases are often repeated to the point of them becoming annoyingly standard. 

'Could you just' / 'While you're here!' / 'Just one more thing' / 'It'll be shaped in a minute...it goes on. This flannel, I suspect, is wiped across the faces of many production (and more) industries; the linking thread being humans attempt to orchestrate the workforce and materials toward a finished product – ready for shelves, food in restaurants, or scarily, organ replacements and perhaps even Air Traffic Control. 

The surfboard industry is surely on the podium for the 'Blunders Award Night'.

This is footage of a blunder and recovery of mine on a custom Pyzel surfboard. It was all going so well, especially with the amount of preparation that was put into place for this fast moving paint drag. But not tightening the lid on a ketchup dispenser bottle full of paint, was my fault.

Luckily, I have experience in recovering mishaps, an essential requirement when making surfboards, and Clive of 'Soul Jammer Surfboards' was fast to help. We did it, and after the initial alarm, I would venture to say we enjoyed it!

POCKETS OF GOOD SURF – 1

In amongst the rain and onshore winds, there have been pockets of good surf.

These days must be relished as they have been far and few between. That said, from midweek, this week, the wind has been offshore, sometimes very strong, only going around this afternoon. So it has been a good run.

SURFBOARD FACTORY – WHAT TO DO? WHAT SEASON IS IT?

Well, when it comes to surfboard work, the year continues to be a little sleepy.

Despite being a veteran surfboard sprayer (35 years), it still remains nervy at this time of year. Although the nerves of an off-season flatlining income were more easily treatable in youth. All that was needed was an airfare, along with a pocket of loose change to escape the situation. Some of our (I include my allies) best memories are tied up in those years.

That said, I relish the time I now have away from the dust bowl of a surfboard factory. There is always plenty to do elsewhere. Only this week I finished two new fine art prints, both with a small limited edition print run. They can be seen @ 20/20 on my website.

But back to the beginning, I should express no surprise at the current moseying pace – it is still winter after all. But No! Meteorologically speaking, the official first day of spring is March 1st. Hold on a minute! Surely spring starts on or around the 20th of March – the spring equinox. Are goal posts being moved?

It seems they alter depending on what almanac is being used. Weather scientists divide the year into quarters to make it easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. Yet I read, 'According to the almanac, the astronomical start of spring is the spring equinox, on, or around March 20th each year.' 

Take your pick!

To be clear, the weather is presently erratic, although on a positive note, the sun had a pleasing lick of warmth to it today. So for those brief moments, it is spring. But as a cloud trundles over, casting a cold shadow, it is still winter.

So with just a few boards to spray, a part of a working day is literally spent waiting for paint to dry. No flashy sprays to film or photograph. What to do? Today I meandered around with my camera taking pictures. More fun than watching paint dry; which it never does when being watched by the way!