"Heading Out" by Renee Coates. Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".
Surfing, in essence, is about becoming closer with the ocean.
For centuries people have looked toward the ocean and felt peace.
I respect the power of the ocean as a wave breaks toward shore.
I feel cleansed as it washes back out to sea.
I will always surf.
Only a surfer knows the feeling…
-Poem by Micah, Hana Maui.
"Surfer Girl" by Renee Coates. Oil painting on canvas, 6" x 6".
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To surf is to surrender to the ocean
Every wave is different
And with it comes a new adventure.
To surf is to surrender to the ocean.
To feel its power as waves break towards shore.
To wash away your stresses as it rolls out again.
Surfing is an affair with the ocean.
She holds my respect with the power of her crashing waves,
But as they roll away, I feel her tender caress.
And everything else is but a memory.
-Poem by Micah, Hana Maui
"Surf's Up" by Renee Coates. Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".
For many years, I've been inspired by the intricate Japanese woodblock prints of Hokusai and Hiroshige. In particular, Hokusai's Great Wave is one of my favorites, and probably one of the most recognizable woodblock works. The small boats are dwarfed by a magnificent wave, and the tension of the impending crash is felt throughout the picture.
The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai, 1831.
This week's painting, Surf's Up, channels a "great wave" of my own. I wanted to capture the massive wave with blocks of color and simplified shapes. Hokusai's wave balances a beautiful seascape with peaceful Mt. Fuji in the background, and a monster-like claw threatening the tiny men below. My wave is decidedly softer and less menacing, embracing the figure in the water. The surfer caught in the tube is having the time of his life, unlike Hokusai's terrified fishermen!
"The Surfboard Fence" by Renee Coates. Oil on canvas, 6" x 6".
In 1990, Maui surfer Donald “DJ” Dettloff created the iconic "surfboard fence" around his Haiku Maui property. It was actually an impending hurricane that caused the creative surfer to tie a few boards to his fence to keep them from blowing away! After the storm, Donald realized he kinda liked the makeshift fence, and decided to keep it in tact. He started collecting boards of all shapes and sizes, and the story of the "surfboard fence" began to spread around the island. Old surfboards mysteriously washed up in Donald's driveway to add to the collection. The result is a unique work of art comprised of over 400 boards that delights tourists and locals alike.
I utilized artistic license in the surfboard patterns, and came up with some fun designs thanks to my textile background. My painting is loosely inspired by a segment of this landmark fence, as well as other smaller versions that have popped up around the islands. Visit the fence on Maui to see the largest and most famous of them all.
This week's piece is in honor of art born from necessity, and the creative minds that think outside the box. Also, a special birthday dedication to my love Andy, who epitomizes innovative thinking.
