Drawn Lines

Jolly Roger

2012-01-10T21:20:00.000+11:00

Finally, The Jolly Roger. This model is still in prototype phase, so if you want to find out what the finished boards are like, check back at the Sealegged blog.

Fat Kid

2012-01-09T21:16:00.000+11:00

As well as old-school aficionados, Sealegged caters for shortboard enthusiasts with the Fat Kid — but don't let the name fool you, this thing is more like 'phat with a ph' than Norm from Life Be In It (remember him?).

Ten Pin

2012-01-08T21:14:00.000+11:00

If you're looking for an all-conditions longboard the Ten Pin is a good start — lighter than a log but tough enough to withstand a few knocks. And hopefully a board you can get your piggies over (mmmmm, there's that bacon again).

Old Salty

2012-01-07T21:13:00.000+11:00

Old Salty is the name given to Sealegged's pig model. I love a good pun, and I also love bacon. This may be the perfect board for me.

Captain's Log

2012-01-06T21:11:00.000+11:00

Azza has been shaping various longboards for a while now, but there are some shapes that are requested more frequently. The Captain's Log is, as the name suggests, a heavy single-fin longboard, perfect for navigating with style through little peelers.

Boiled Lolly

2012-01-05T21:08:00.000+11:00

The Boiled Lolly is a 2+1 stubby that got its name from the delicious colourway of the very first one Azza shaped. It's almost good enough to eat, but probably better to ride.

Sealegged: Quadzilla

2012-01-04T21:06:00.003+11:00

A while ago I designed some 'shaped by' decals for Azza Frost of Sealegged. With production steadily increasing, there are now some models based on the most popular designs, and I've created logos for each. Over the next few days I'll post them all, but here's the first: Quadzilla. A four-finned shred sled that tears through the surf like a giant reptile on the rampage.

Manufacturing Stoke — review

2011-12-06T10:29:00.003+11:00

I don't normally write film reviews — there's probably a good reason why I became a designer instead of a writer — but I wanted to have a go, in support of Manufacturing Stoke. The director Pierce Kavanagh is surfing's answer to Michael Moore — the movie can be hard to watch at times, but it's something I think every surfer should see. Anyway. Here I go...

Manufacturing Stoke (directed by Pierce Michael Kavanagh, misfit pictures)

Rob Machado, Dan Malloy, Kassia Meador and Alex Knost do not appear in this film. The first surfer featured is 9-year old Tiara Thompson: an environmentally-aware, frothing girl-grom from California. And that is perhaps the most refreshing aspect of Manufacturing Stoke — it is one of very few independent films not relying on 'in-crowd' surfers to garner appeal. In fact, the lack of prominent surfers and locations makes this almost an anti-surf film. If sponsored shredders are the tip of the surfing iceberg, Manufacturing Stoke goes below the surface to bring up a colourful and varied cast of pioneers and commentators including the eccentric and inspirational Carl Ekstrom, Richard Kenvin, Jon Wegener and others.

For the first part of the movie, you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching an episode of Grumpy Old Men — grey-haired blokes with a malibu-chip on their shoulder about an industry that is partly responsible for propelling the planet towards environmental doom. And you could also be forgiven for thinking that the man behind it all is Grubby Clark. But as the film rolls on it becomes apparent that there is a future for surfing — and it's getting progressively greener. The old guard are graciously handing the baton to a new breed of environmentally conscious independent surfers, shapers and manufacturers like Danny Hess, Lucas Dirkse, Ed Lewis, and Clay Peterson of Marko Foam. As the focus shifts to this new generation, the outlook seems increasingly positive. Here are a growing group of modern-day pioneers whose innovations are starting the next big and much-needed change to the surf industry paradigm — what some commentators are labeling surfing's true renaissance. It's an exciting time to be a surfer, and Manufacturing Stoke gives us a peek into future possibilities.

Manufacturing Stoke's production values follow the lead of pictures by directors like Jason Baffa and Thomas Campbell — with plenty of atmosphere, sensitive camera work, a palpable story-line and a bespoke soundtrack. But it's the film's core message that makes it so different, and so challenging. This is not the sort of movie you put on to fill the background. It demands concentration and a willingness to look at your own surfing habits in the cold green light of environmental responsibility.

Much like the nature of the youthful surfers featured, Manufacturing Stoke asks hard questions and urges you to answer them. While it provides an insight into how the industry is changing for the better, at the end of the day it is up to individuals to make responsible choices and change their own habits at a personal level. There's no neat-and-tidy happy ending here, but the education that this film provides brings us one step closer.

Manufacturing Stoke

2011-11-28T20:33:00.000+11:00

I made this little drawing in honour of Manufacturing Stoke, a new documentary by Pierce Kavanagh of Misfit Pictures, exploring sustainability in surfing. As someone who finds joy in the ocean, this is an issue close to home. For more info check the official website, or visit thesurfnetwork.com to download the film.

One Fin #2

2011-11-02T10:32:00.000+11:00

Featuring some close-ups of the quiver

One Fin #1

2011-10-26T22:09:00.001+11:00

I first heard the above phrase during a recent conversation with a shaper I greatly respect. After 40 years of shaping (and many more of surfing) this is how he sums up his fin configuration of choice. I love it. So much so that I'm going to try to draw a different version of this every week (or so). This is version #1.

Exhibition at Nest

2011-08-29T13:09:00.000+10:00

This weekend Café Nest is holding their annual art exhibition, with artists from all around the traps. This year the theme is Spring. While the phrases in these paintings are obviously derived from The 12 Days of Christmas, and therefore aren't technically spring-themed, I figure Spring is the season wherein these birds were created. And so it stands to reason that without Spring, there wouldn't be a 12 Days of Christmas (as we know it at least). I'm convinced anyway!

Preserving our precious colloquialisms

2011-08-09T07:31:00.004+10:00

Recently I contributed an article on Australian colloquialisms to design journal Bbetween issue 4, which was launched on Friday. The format has changed a bit in print, but I thought I'd share my original submission here. Goodonya mates!

When I got hitched, among many bonuses were a father in-law with a penchant for dinky-di discourse, and a husband in possession of an Australian Slang dictionary. Looking through it, I was surprised that it contained so many idioms I'd never heard of — and made me wonder who, if anyone, ever used them in real life.

I was duly informed that my father in-law was keeping the vernacular dream alive. And the very same week I saw evidence of this when, unprompted, he managed to legitimately slip at least three of the phrases in question into a conversation.

It was like attending an accidental master-class in Speaking Australian. And much like when you have your eye on a new car, when you've noticed it once, you begin to see it everywhere you go.

What I also began to see was a 'vernacular gap' between our generations. From that initial exposure I'm not ashamed to admit I've found myself using more of this language in daily conversation. But the number of people in post-boomer generations who do this seems to be dwindling. And as we grow older, it seems more and more of this colourful and unique mode of expression is being relegated to the dusty archives of history. In a world where Western culture seems to grow more homogenous by the minute, language is one of the last bastions of cultural individuality.

So I implore you: help keep our national lingo's heart beating.

Without these colloquialisms, how will we be able to enjoy a dog's eye and dead horse at the footy? And how will any young hopeful have a successful romantic liaison without first having a dad and dave, before donning his best bag of fruit? Even if he ends up on his Pat Malone, he'll still be able to pick up the dog and bone and call his china plate for some degree of consolation.

It'll be impossible to have a Captain Cook out the window, weighing up the pros and cons of hanging around the house in yesterday's Reg Grundys, or hitting the frog and toad and finding somewhere better to hang around (hopefully not just in aforementioned Grundys).

If you're completely baffled by the last few sentences, the adjacent chart might help make sense of them. But these are just the tip of the locutionary iceberg. It will take a continual cross-generational effort to keep our linguistic fires burning. We can start by trying to incorporate at least one 'Australianism' into our daily conversation, or better still, introduce someone else to the treasures of fair-dinkum Aussie expression. If we all pitch in, one day we won't need a visual reference guide to understand, embrace and avail ourselves of our own precious colloquialisms — and we can avoid the danger of becoming a linguistic facsimile of every other Western culture.

Strewth!

Magic Sam

2011-07-02T15:56:00.000+10:00

Magic Sam is the name of the board on which Nat Young won the 1966 World Championships at San Diego. The board was a revolutionary 9'4", and is said to have "ushered in the shortboard revolution".

We've recently acquired our own Magic Sam. He's not quite 9'4" long, but by our estimation he took exactly 9 months and 4 days to create. Which I think is pretty magic.

2+1=3

2011-06-27T22:09:00.002+10:00

Riding Tandem

2011-05-01T09:09:00.002+10:00

I've gone all electronic with this latest typographic illustration. Designing the letterforms this way has reminded me yet again how difficult it is to design a proper, working typeface (and makes me appreciate the talents of those who do it for a living). For the last seven months I've been riding tandem by default, although lately my partner has grown too big for me to get out at all. I'm really looking forward to meting my little tandem buddy soon — and getting back into the water of course.

Mr Schmitt

2011-02-16T15:13:00.000+11:00

After eight great years, this week is my last working with de Luxe & Associates. The director (and founder) of the company is shipping out to the US for a few years, and putting the company on hold. He's taking most of his family with him, but one special member – his beloved Messerschmitt – is staying behind in storage. I thought I'd scribble down some views so he has something to keep him sane when he's stuck behind the wheel of a giant US-sized SUV.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to fitting some more drawing in – now I don't have an excuse to be so slack!

#14 & 15 (and the last — for now...)

2011-01-24T21:58:00.001+11:00

The most recent addition to the series, following a hiatus of over a year (how could I!). These were done just a couple of weeks ago. Summer and Winter by the sea, inspired by two of my favourite central coast beaches. A prize if you can guess which ones!

#12 & 13

2011-01-22T21:57:00.000+11:00

This would have to be my favourite diptych so far. Inspired after watching numerous surf films, numerous times. I'm still working on the whole hanging ten thing, but what can I say, it's good to have goals.

#11

2011-01-20T21:56:00.000+11:00

Inspiration can come from funny places... I spend a lot of time on the computer. Over the years, the Apple Mac trash can has proven both trusty comrade, and formidable foe. It's about time it was immortalised, at least by me.

#9 & 10

2011-01-18T21:56:00.000+11:00

I've always wanted to create an artwork with "after" in the title; as in it was either inspired by, or directly ripped off from, somebody else.

The panel on the left is called "Apple — After Dick Bruna, Holly Throsby and Dee Huxley". The panel on the right is called "Grenade — After Dick Bruna, Sylvester Stallone and Ghandi".

Incidentally, Dee Huxley is the person who first taught me to use gouache — and I suspect that if she knew how I was using it now, she never would have let me pass first year colour class.

#8

2011-01-16T21:55:00.000+11:00

This painting was inspired by the Book of Genesis. At the time I hadn't used gouache for many years (since design school), and it is here that I re-learned that undiluted gouache can crack up big time.

Le Dominateur

2011-01-15T06:30:00.003+11:00

I call my husband "The Dominator" because he always seems to catch every single wave in the session. Not that he's pushy, he just has an annoying knack of always being in the right place at the right time (or more likely, has the the ability to put himself there).

So this drawing is in honour of Le Dominateur (it sounds more charming in French!)

Happy birthday Joe.

#7

2011-01-14T21:53:00.001+11:00

I painted this in 2008 at an end-of-year church camp at Broken Bay. Instead of drinking tea and eating sponge cake (or whatever it is church ladies usually do) we all sat around and played with my paints for a few hours. Tops stuff. Perhaps inspired by the laundry facilities typical to a communal camp, this one is called "Coin Operated".

#6

2011-01-12T21:53:00.000+11:00

I have no idea what this means. But I think he's cute, in a sinister kind of way.

#5

2011-01-10T21:52:00.000+11:00

"The Longreef area of Sydney's Northern beaches offers a wide selection of reef and beach breaks that work in a wide variety of swell and wind conditions. There are plenty of reef breaks to found in this area."

From Mark Warren's Atlas of Australian Surfing, 1988.

#4

2011-01-08T21:51:00.001+11:00

Then, it was electric.

#3

2011-01-06T21:50:00.001+11:00

I don't know if the Thunderbird is 100% anatomically correct.

10 Squared

2011-01-04T21:49:00.001+11:00

In 2007 I decided to create a series of 5 inch x 5 inch paintings. The goal is to paint 100 of them (that's where the 10 squared comes from).

I do a painting whenever I get time. So far, I've averaged 1 painting every 2.5 months. I'm currently up to 15.

I think it's safe to say it's going to take me a while!

This little diptych constitutes paintings # 1 & 2.

Number 8

2011-01-03T18:06:00.000+11:00

We recently bought our first house, which was both scary and awesome. And we now have the pleasure of living in one of the most beautiful, yet strangely under-rated, parts of the central coast. The best thing about owning your own house is you get to draw on the letterbox.

Sydney Surf Group

2010-12-19T13:36:00.001+11:00

Mark Sefton from Sydney Surf Group contacted me recently about designing a tee shirt. The design needed to communicate pretty much what the name of the group stands for: a bunch of like-minded people in Sydney, surfing in all conditions on all kinds of craft. The catch — the design needed to be instantly understandable by surfers and non-surfers, locals and tourists alike.

I don't know if the idea of surfboard fins forming the Sydney Opera House has been used before, but I was pretty chuffed when I landed on it!

New Valla tee

2010-12-17T13:35:00.000+11:00

Here's a new tee shirt design I recently did for Valla surfboards.

If you've looked at this blog before, the typography may seem a little familiar... I reckon when you're on a good thing, stick to it!

If you're near Nambucca this summer, swing past the factory and pick one (or a few) up. Can't wait to get mine.

The Gruen Transfer

2010-12-07T11:37:00.000+11:00

Sometimes my day job as a designer crosses into my world of scribbling. Recently I designed a book called The Gruen Transfer, written by the producer of the Australian TV series of the same name.

As part of the design, I created an illustration for each chapter opener, based on the content of that chapter. I didn't realise the size of the collection until the book was finished—I just drew them as needed.

They probably don't make a whole lot of sense out of context, so if you want to see the whole package, you'll have to go out and buy the book :)

The Locals

2010-10-21T11:33:00.013+11:00

I was recently invited to take part in an exhibition with the theme "Bird" – which is a wonderful fit for me, as anyone who knows me will tell you. My contribution is called The Locals, and features some of the feathered friends I regularly see around my area. This is a bit of a departure for me – instead of drawing in pen, I stitched the lines with cotton thread. Definitely a labour of love! My sewing finger is still full of tiny holes.

It's a little hard to see the detail here... but if you want a closer look you can always buy one :)

The exhibition opens on November 12, at the aptly named Nest in Tumbarumba. Featuring the wonderful Katy Moore, Wendy Campbell, Jane Moore, myself and others.

Business/Pleasure

2010-09-28T14:56:00.000+10:00

I've really been neglecting this blog lately. But on the other hand, it must mean I've been busy doing other things! So here's a little drawing I did a while ago. Originally intended to adorn the bottom of a surfboard for the SurfAid charity auction (I ended up doing something else instead), so presently just adorning a page in my notebook.

Audio Riot

2010-08-13T14:25:00.000+10:00

A bit of shameless cross-promotion. The Mandelas is a HOT new band featuring the dulcet tones of Joe Hall, complemented by Bill Abel on guitar, Trev Hancock on bass and some weird girl on drums...

This is the second EP we've recorded together, but the first one under this name. I had a great time designing the cover, in particular getting reacquainted with my old ink pot and brush. See and hear more of The Mandelas here.

The Worthys

2010-07-22T14:52:00.000+10:00

Way down near the bottom of this page is a portrait I did of Derek Hynd, for Surfing World's inaugural competition of all things portraiture – The Worthys.

After months of anticipation, the exhibition is finally on next Thursday at The Sugarmill surf emporium in Narrabeen. I'll be there for sure! For details visit the Surfing World blog.

Surfing Suits

2010-07-14T19:00:00.001+10:00

It seems to me that the surfing fraternity is pretty evenly split down the middle – those who surf for work, and those who surf for play. And I don't just mean those who are paid and those who aren't, but the difference in attitudes – the surfers who get really competitive and take each session very seriously, and those who just go out and have a good time (I like to think I'm among the latter).

SurfAid is having its annual 'Surfing Suits' fundraising bash next week. They asked some artists to paint on surfboards which will be auctioned off at the event. I thought the whole idea of surfing equating to either work or play (or even both) fit their theme pretty well, so that's what I did (original pen drawings above, and evidence of their translation onto the board over several hours with poscas and paint below).

Balancing Act

2010-06-20T19:17:00.000+10:00

It's beautiful to see a whole family surfing — mum and dad alternating between catching waves and introducing their young ones to the joys of the ocean. I find it enough of a balancing act just making a section on a hollower day, let alone juggling small children and all the commitments they bring, with maintaining a surfing lifestyle. And although I'm not among their ranks yet, I'm looking forward to one day attempting that balancing act too.

Two by Two

2010-05-23T21:37:00.000+10:00

Azza and I have been talking for a while about collaborating on a board (he shapes it, I adorn it). Well, we finally put two and two together, and a couple of weeks ago I was presented with a brand spanking blue tinted quad fish. Over a quiet Friday night and Saturday morning I created what you see here. I figure that with four fins, this fish may not be as all-terrain as a 4x4 but is certainly worthy of being labelled a 2x2. I hope Azza has as much fun riding this as I had painting it.

Foam Dancing

2010-05-17T20:31:00.002+10:00

Recently I was invited to contribute some drawings to Kurungabaa, a journal on all things surf. This is what I came up with.

In the process of creating this sketch I realised that more and more, my drawings have become a sort of running commentary on my surfing. This one is no exception. I predominantly ride longboards, and one of the things I love about riding them is that it gives you the opportunity to move around on the board. Almost like dancing on the foam beneath your feet.

Recently I acquired a beautiful 6'6" Valla single fin. Taking it out reminds me of the feeling of first learning to surf, when everything is new, and the only foam you dance on is that of the broken wave. So this drawing is a celebration of both types of foam dancing.

Check out Kurungabaa online, or hold out until the printed edition is out. I for one am looking forward to reading my copy.

Assemblage #2

2010-05-04T15:25:00.000+10:00

I was doing a spot of spring-cleaning on my computer and came cross this drawing. It's another assemblage of some of the words that are famously scrawled on our giant blackboard at home. It was really just a quick experiment in seeing what happens when you combine lots of different, sometimes clashing, typographic styles into the one drawing. And of course to indulge in a bit of type-nerdness.

Surfer Joe

2010-04-19T20:02:00.002+10:00

A little bit of cross-promotion... Surfer Joe is a blog maintained by my lovely husband, who is aptly named Joe (although that's honestly not where the name of the blog came from). It features photos of 'Average Joe' surfers enjoying the ocean. I even feature a couple of times! I did a little logo for him, which I'm still not sure is really finished but it does the job.

Ripple Riding

2010-04-12T10:46:00.000+10:00

Joe and I have just returned home from a few days in Noosa. After the unusually large swells over the Festival of Surfing week, the ocean was obviously all swelled out... the biggest sets were pushing 1 foot. Still, we had plenty of fun swimming, walking, admiring sea turtles and koalas, and ripple riding in one of the most beautiful surf spots in Australia.

Shapes by Aaron Frost

2010-03-29T22:43:00.000+11:00

Here are some decals I recently made for Azza Frost. Some you may see on one of his Sea Legged boards, and some you may never see anywhere outside of this blog... but they were all fun to draw just the same.

Loose Lips Sink Ships

2010-03-20T17:22:00.001+11:00

... and so, it seems, does the government. If our local government has their way, as of next Saturday there will be a 4,000 tonne piece of rubbish (aka HMAS Adelaide) permanently stationed off Avoca Beach. Strangely the two groups of citizens who will be directly affected by this were never consulted. They are the residents of Avoca and nearby suburbs who were never formally made aware of the location (and only found out about it when it was seemingly too late to challenge), and the countless ocean residents for whom an Environmental Impact Statement was never conducted. Those of us with a voice should join the chorus in saying "No Ship!" Please, let Peter Garrett know how you feel by emailing him here, and stop the potential devastation of this beautiful, natural habitat.

India: A typographer's paradise

2010-03-14T16:00:00.001+11:00

Joe and I recently spent a couple of weeks in India. I did have a fairly involved report posted here for a while, but in the interests of keeping things concise I've edited it down to what you see now. If you'd like the full rundown on the trip feel free to email me! India is a typographer's paradise. So I decided to make my own souvenirs by recreating some of what I saw there. The top sketch is a homage to crazy Mumbai, where this slogan featured heavily on most vehicles. If you saw the traffic there you'd understand why. The lower sketch tries to capture some of the beautiful hand-painted tiles that adorned buildings in Panjim, which being a fairly religious place also heavily featured references to God, such as buses named Jesus, and Praise the Lord stickers randomly about the place. In a nutshell I'm so stoked we made the trip there, and if you love hand-drawn type as much as I do, it is well worth the visit.

Loggin’

2010-01-30T22:33:00.000+11:00

The assertion in my previous post that it’s always better in than it looks was tested today, with a tiny, wind-blown peak the only option available. But we still had fun, especially Azza, who was riding his new log that he shaped himself. So in honour of the Log, and of going out and having fun in all conditions, are these little typographic ditties (typefaces inspired by reading through the book Design Connoisseur by Steven Heller and Louise Fili, a great resource for any professed ‘typophile’).

Where there’s a will...

2010-01-24T18:20:00.001+11:00

This little (albeit fairly illegible) drawing is a homage to my husband Joe, who always tells me that when checking the surf I should remember “it’s always better in than it looks”. He is usually right, and as a result we have enjoyed numerous waves on what would appear to be less-than-ideal days, with nobody else about. When it comes to surfing, the most valuable lesson I’ve learned so far is that “where there’s a will, there’s a wave.”

Type Assemblage #1

2010-01-14T17:40:00.001+11:00

Recently I've been experimenting with typographic assemblages based on surfing nomenclature. Visitors to our house often wonder what the meaning of our giant blackboard, covered in surf terminology is. Well, this is it! This particular assemblage was created with a classic twin-keel fish in mind. I've got a few of these up my sleeve, which I will continue posting from time to time. So stay tuned!

Valla 40th anniversary tees

2010-01-13T16:14:00.002+11:00

I recently designed a couple of tees for Paul and Sage Joske at Valla (saltwater constructs) for their 40th anniversary. Paul has been shaping boards since 1970, and is a master craftsman. His boards are as much works of art or instant family heirlooms as they are surfing equipment (and they're exceptional examples of surfing equipment). Sage is now carrying on the tradition. All I can say is one day my kids will have a pretty impressive collection of heirlooms!

From what I gather the tees have been really well received by their customers, and I know I feel pretty special wearing mine around town.

Derek Hynd & The Worthys

2010-01-10T21:26:00.001+11:00

Recently Surfing World (that tasteful and prestigious Australian surf publishing institution) ran a portrait competition to honour surfing's outstanding individuals. I entered this portrait of Derek Hynd, which, lucky me, is featured in Surfing World's 300th edition, and is also going to be part of the upcoming Worthys exhibition (check surfingworld.com.au for details).

Derek is such a cerebral surfer – to watch him surf is almost like witnessing a stream of consciousness played out on the face of a wave. Or something. And his pioneering of the new "finless revolution", not to mention collaborating on out-of-the-box surf projects with such top Aussie blokes as Richard Tognetti, made him an obvious choice. If he ever sees this, I hope he likes it.

Numero Uno

2010-01-09T21:29:00.002+11:00

As this is my first ever post to my first ever blog, I felt it should be something profound...

But I got nothing.

So instead, here's a little drawing I did for my friend Aaron Frost who shapes boards under the monicker Sea Legged. It's the result of a particularly slow day whilst on holidays up north, and came as a welcome break from yet another game of scrabble (although I still love scrabble).