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.