Driftwood log from Surfing California Beach

I use a canvas drop cloth on floor of a tiny art/design studio to catch wood shavings from hand planing an oversized driftwood log.

This log has been used for 4 different ocean themed projects.

Preparing to hand draw a new pencil sketch onto wood.

Surfer in Driftwood from California block print series

coen Driftwood from California series features ocean prints created by hand carving a large driftwood log found on a California beach.

One motif: Surfer on Pacific Ocean wave

From Wikipedia: " In July 1885, 3 Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school,St Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa Cruz, California...David Kawananakoa, Edward Keliiahonui and Jonah Kuhio  Kalaniana'ole surfed the mouth of the San Lorenzo River on custom shaped redwood boards, according to surf historian, Kim Stoner and Geoff Dunn..."

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Driftwood block print CALIFORNIA

coen Japan commissioned this piece with an ocean/California feeling. The driftwood found on a California surf beach.

Motifs:

Sooty Shearwater seabird flying in front of sun

Palm Trees at the beach in Santa Barbara, California

Stylized ocean waves

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Driftwood block printed textile design

coen has created apparel and hats from a textile print of the ocean block print.

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa and coen creative team

Ocean driftwood block print for coen Japan

coen  Japan commissioned this print from my small Santa Barbara, California studio

Hand carved California beach driftwood was used to create this ocean print.

Motifs:

Surfgrass  that was used by Chumash Indians (who have lived in Santa Barbara, California for 1,000s of years) to make fishing nets

The round flower with the circle in the middle is the Blue Fiesta flower grown in western USA.

Blue Fin Tuna

Fish hooks made from California coast sea shells

Smaller flowers represent Canopus Star which is the 2nd brightest star in the night sky and brightest star in the southward sky. The Chumash Indians used this star to navigate southward night voyages in canoes.

The Blue Pacific Ocean meets Japan and Western USA  shores,connecting the countries with water.

Art Direction: Eri Amakawa

Croquis in Gouche Paint

Maui Jim Sunglasses color croquis

Maui Jim Sunglasses Hawaiian pouch in Santa Barbara, California

On my way outside with my lunch, I was walking through the indoor dining area of Santa Barbara Whole Foods last week when I spotted, on one of the tables, the Maui Jim Sunglasses pouch with the print that was designed in my then-Kailua, Oahu design studio.

When Cathy and Lee Wright sat down with their own lunches, I had to introduce myself!

Cathy Wright owns Commercial Solutions, a Santa Barbara business where she works in product promotional sales, "always working with logos and artwork and Maui Jim Sunglasses is a vendor."

It's a small world!

Art Direction:
Maui Jim Sunglasses creative team