Damn the Torpedos, Full Steam Ahead!

The past week or so I have been in the process of shooting and editing a video resume for the folks at GoPro. Let me just say its consuming my life, and I LOVE IT! The last time that I made a movie was back in college, and I almost won the Regis University film fest for a second year in a row. That first place gift certificate to Mongolian BBQ would have been mine, but there were some crooked judges...kind of like the Olympics a few years ago when the Froggies screwed the Canadian couple out of the figure skating gold.

Here are a couple of pieces that I have used in the film so far.

No. 3

Solar Flare on Wood

No. Five

Linoleum Print on Grocery Bag

This past weekend was also Woodies on the Wharf here in town, and these are a few shots I took with my brothers Digital SLR that I stole. Switching from film to digital has been interesting for me.  Its been quite the learning curve since I have no idea how to use the camera. Kind of like giving an abacus to anybody younger than 30 nowadays. You know it works, but have no instructions. 

Back in the Cruz

After a long day driving, and a few random stops along the way to check the surf, I finally made it home, and I'm pumped! It seems more like summer up here than in L.A....stupid June gloom. I acquired a new used easel that some one was throwing away in my brothers apartment complex, and with a little love, the thing will be holding my masterpieces.

Here are some shots I took on my way up the coast, and a few of the Current Swell concert I went to in Capitola. If you haven't heard of them, jump on grooveshark and play some of their stuff. Your ear bones will wiggle in delight while your face melts off. I apologize right now for the lack of quality of photos. I need to develop a roll!

Crappy Fone Pictures...

Here is a new magnifying glass burn thing that's a work in progress. What makes this process so hard is relying on the sun. No sun=no fire.

 

Not a Wave

I think this pretty much sums up what life is all about...

  Found on some beach beach bum's garage in MB.

Southern Cali Love

The 101 South few past, miles and miles under the tires, as I navigated my way down to Manhattan Beach over the weekend. It was moving day for my brother, and I had the dubious honor of being slave labor, cramming every possession of his into a reverse Jenga-like storage unit. The saint that has the goodness in them to help my brother move into his new place in a few weeks, is going to need to know how to defuse booby-traps, unless they want a harpoon of a curtain rod in the face or a computer chair to pounce upon them. I don't think I have ever seen a storage unit packed so full!

Now that's over, I've had some free time to explore Manhattan Beach, and have found some pretty awesome waves around town. This one jumped out at me for two reasons. First, it's a wave, and second, its a bike rack! I love seeing bike racks that have some sort of creativity woven into the creation. It reminded me a whole lot of David Byrne's creations in New York. The funny thing, is that the blue paint wasn't even scratched! I'm not sure if people know these things are for bikes. They should put them out in front of the bars...

Nice Rack!
Manhattan Beach Bike Rack

Low Tide

Low tide at the Point
P.Hill

Shiver Me Timbers!

A quick drawing I did awhile back...

Bones on the Nose
Pen and Paper


A day at the aquarium

Just Keep Swimming
Monterrey Bay Aquarium
Camerafone
Patrick Hill

Mornings of June Gloom

A couple years ago I went down to Costa Rica on a surf trip with a friend of mine. We were completely surfed out after a few days shredding some beach break and decided to rent some quads and rip around the peninsula close to where we were staying in Mal Pais. We ended up swimming to a deserted island off the tiny town of Cabuya about 300-400 yards. This was one of the most eerie places I have ever been to, since all the residents are in permanent repose. The island has roughly 50 graves, and a tiny little outdoor chapel for funerals. 

Once we swam back to the mainland (we later found out that you can walk to this island at a low tide), we cruised down the coast to Montezuma to fuel up on some fish tacos and Pilsens, and ended up running into my friend's friend that he grew up with back in Maryland (talk about a crazy small world!). He was sitting on a curb in front of a business, burning the logo into a big board with a magnifying glass. I thought I'd try my hand at the same sort thing, and I have to say it is zen like, patient process to use the suns energy to create a piece. And, you need sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen.

Check out more of Walker Babington's work!

"Hold Fast"
Magnifying Glass on Plywood


More to come! My brain is swimming with ideas!

Waves for brains...

If you would have been on my street Friday night, you'd have gotten a good laugh out of me. I took the handplane out for its maiden voyage in the Rivermouth shore break. The sun was looming, barely above the western horizon. It's golden fingers clawing over the boardwalk, struggling to light the nooks and crannies of Santa Cruz. This display of a flawless sunset made for quite a bodysurfing experience. I pulled into my first left-hander, and with the help of the handplane maneuvered into the perfect little spot, deep in the bellows of the curl. The image burned my eyeballs, slightly melting my brain at the same time. I have never seen in person that many colors inside of a wave. It was an impressionist painting, enveloping my body as though a child hugs their teddy bear. A liquid, space time continuum. Time stopped, the image danced about, and in an instant, the golden curtain closed, dousing color from the water.


I got pummeled. Up was down, down was up, and sideways was a 4th dimension that I can't even explain. Eventually, I popped to the surface in a foam-ball sand concoction, grinning like a fool, and frothing at the mouth to get another gem. I am hooked. And if you saw me walking back to my house after that session, you would have said so as well.

Pleasure Point
Fuji 400
Diana Mini 

Rasta Boards
Fuji 400
Diana Mini 

Big Sur
Fuji 400
Diana Mini

a day in june

"Untitled"
Rivermouth
Patrick Hill

"Five Piggies Over?"
Pleasure Point
Patrick Hill

Inspiration: Cyrus Sutton Reel 2011

Here is a little bit amazing goodness for the afternoon that will get you up, off the couch, hunting for your happy place. This video is by Cyrus Sutton, a talented surfer/filmmaker/artist from down south. He presented one of his new films, Stoked and Broke, this past winter at the Sacred Craft surfboard show here in downtown Santa Cruz. Great cinematography, with a splash of old timey surf humor to boot.





Check out more amazing video from the guys at KORDUROY.tv

Day 20

I'm not much of a person for tattoos. In high school I would doodle all over my wrist mostly to try and get a rise out of my mom, and because I was bored half the time. But every once in a while I see some art that that strikes my fancy, and has elements that are essential when even considering getting a tattoo: timeless, a unique design, and is something powerful beyond words. My sister sent me a picture of this one and thought I'd re-post the thing.



image borrowed from AllThingsSylish