Christopher C. MacDonald

Jedi Art

Locked me out of my studio (sweetly) and went to work. It;s not just the deftly handled surf crush or just the Van Gogh seagulls. Yikes.

Camille MacDonald, age 10

Water lillies and Being Koi

Latest Bridge Painting

The Citadel is toxic

Not only from fires without turing the air smoky grey...but inside I am painting again.

I seriously need to consider acrylics. In the meantime I offer these new paitings. One is already sold for $1600. Two others are available.

Mavericks 2006 finished

Twiggy, oil on canvas, 30" x 40 "

Starting in 2005 I decided to paint the Mavericks champion each year starting with Anthony Tashnick (see below). The 2006 shot was much more dramatic as were the rides by Grant "Twiggy" Baker.

Original oil: $3200
Limited signed and numbered prints (limit 90): $50 to $200 depending on size. Contact me at mac@azotuscafe.com.

Grant "Twiggy" Baker. Photo by Christopher C. MacDonald.

Work in Progress

I started last year, painting the 2005 champion (Anthony Tashnick) of the Mavericks Surf Contest on a winning Ride.

This year's winner was Grant "Twiggy" Baker who scored two perfect 10s on GameDay and is just a superb human being. I was able to spend a little time with Grant in New York and just soak up his vibe...so this year's painting is a lot easier and also more dynamic.

Above you can see two days' work. Which is really only about 3 total hours. Most of painting happens between your ears and you have to wait for it. I have been thinking about this one for months, so I would put the toal time at around 40 hours solid.

I sketched it out on the canvas with my daughter (also an artist) by my side last month...then waited, and waited.

In that regard the process is a lot like the contest itself. You train...you brood..you wait for the right time. It comes and you had best ride it then with all you have with a certained controlled abandon. You have to know what you are doing, but also be open to what happens right then.

The hardest and easiest parts are waiting now. The sky to the right is easy and I am happy with the coastline and most fo the gradients of water (water is damned hard to do). The hardest thing will be the upper left...to capture Grant in an impressionistic way, and then the foamy mountain of water and spray that wants to crush him (but doesn't thankfully).

A year ago, I was fascinated with Mavericks and painted Anthony Tashnick (see below). Keir Beadling, the CEO of Mavericks was so taken by the painting he requested to hang it at the main offices in San Francisco.

This year, I have a whole new perspective from the inside out. I have been running the daily operation that is Maverickssurf.com since last October. At times I have done weeks of 16 hour days six and seven days a week. I'm no longer on the outside looking in.

I have an even greater respect for the men who surf Mavericks and I enjoy their company. I imagine my paintings will become more personal as time goes on, and that is a good thing.

Stay tuned for the finished piece and make sure to leave comments and criticisms. I think the water is a bit too blue...expect me to work some dark green in there...anf then there will always be surprises.

Mavericks Now on Display in San Francisco

SOLD
Mavericks 2005 winner Anthony Tashnick. Oil on canvas 30" by 40" .

Currently on exhibition at the new Evolve/Mavericks offices in San Francisco.

Series to continue depicting various winners from previous, and future Mavericks competitions.

Mavericks is the most unique surfing event in the world. It boasts the largest waves in the world and the most treacherous waters (rocks in front of you, great white sharks in the surf).

Surfing pioneer Jeff Clark discovered Mavericks off Half Moon Bay in the mid-70's. His combination of courage, vision, faith and athletic ability allowed him to be the first to ride these colossal waves.

Now, years later, and within a 24-hour window (to get the largest waves), the Mavericks competition draws the world's greatest surfers in the most exciting and dramatic competition on the planet.

My paintings are an attempt to capture some of the sheer force, skill, and naked drama that Mavericks contains as these highly skilled athletes pit themselves against a force of nature that is raw, booming and unforgiving.

More to come.

(Please note that while this painting is for sale, all re-printing rights are retained by the artist for future use, which will, only dramatically increase the worth of the original).