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 Gouache 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

coen Japan driftwood log on Hendry's Beach

Jon and Veronica Denne and their dog, Molly, helped me to carry the driftwood log from the beach to the parking lot.

They are " a fun loving couple with a sense of adventure...travel and want to experience as much of the world as possible."

Santa Barbara surf beach driftwood log textile print

coen Japan  approached me with a design that had been created in Japan by coen. They commissioned my studio to hand carve the design into a printing block using  a driftwood log that I found on Hendry's Beach/Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara.

The coen design represents the koa trees of Hawaiian islands and a bear.

Designed by and Art Direction: coen

Aloha Shirt with Wine bottles

Pete Rhein,his wife and artist/designer daughter, Deborah Rhein, were on same Honolulu bound flight  as I when I spotted him wearing this aloha shirt.
Motifs: Wine bottles,lauhala basket,coconut palm trees, banana plants,hibiscus flowers and a surf shack.
Art Direction:
Donna Fitch and Dale Hope

Skills Aloha Shirt worn by Doug Rigg

Punahou School Alumni News and Events:
www.punahou.edu
"Under the leadership of Doug Rigg '84, the School's Alumni Relations and Annual Giving offices will also merge in the aims of providing more resources for the School’s growing alumni constituency. “This is the direction many independent schools are taking because the two offices complement each other well,” explained Rigg, the incoming director of alumni programs and annual giving.
“Doug understands the traditions of Punahou. He has worked on all of his alumni reunion committees and has a strong background in alumni relations, I’m very excited to pass the torch on to him,” Fordham added."

Art Direction: Dale Hope

Surfer girl

Zoe, a surfer who had just returned to the mainland from Hawaiian Islands, is new owner of "Hibiscus Surfer". Hand painted on a cradled panel board. Materials used:
Eco Friendly German paint made from ground white marble and borax
Gouache paints
Eco Friendly clear sealer
Setting up a new booth at Santa Barbara beach Artwalk on Sundays.
Motifs:
Plumerias
Hibiscus
Surfer Girl
Endangered species

Laguna Beach Hobie Surf Shop window display

Using brushes to hand paint  gouache paints on paper to create a hand rendered textile design shown  in window. Motifs in design include Ohia Blossoms,Maile vines and Palm fronds. The work of the  Maui Cultural Lands was inspiration for the motifs.

Window Display Designer: Veronica  M. Cano of OluKai

OluKai Nohea Canvas Shoes

Hand painted design for OluKai Nohea Canvas Shoes feature fragile/vulnerable flora found growing on Maui Cultural Lands.

Maile Vines
Ohia Lehua Blossoms
Coconut Palm Fronds

Art Direction: Bill Worthington

Sonoma Coast Chapter Surfrider Foundation Poster

 Hand carved images:
Ocean and Land
Pier
SUP paddler and his dog
Prone board paddler
Surf Family


Support the Sonoma Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Paddle Race on Bodega Bay, September 28, 2013.

Benefits The Blue Water Task Force
Sponsors:
Papas and Pollo
Northern Light Surf Shop
Sonoma Coast Surf Shop
Bodega Bay Surf Shack

Art direction: Cea Higgins and Dale Hope

Quiksilver Waterman Collection Aloha Shirt

Found an oversized driftwood log on the beach to hand carve for a Quiksilver Aloha Shirt Print. The tree had been about 55 years old when it was cut down. While tumbling around in the ocean, branches broke off,leaving oval shaped holes that appear in the background texture of the print. The only alterations to the wood, before drawing the design with pencil,then carving, were planing and sanding by Kai Cherry of  Cherry Construction in Santa Rosa, California.

Location: Salmon Creek Beach, Sonoma County, California, a local favorite surfing spot & adopted by Sonoma Coast Chapter Surfrider Foundation

Historical site: Miwok Indian Village, a peaceful tribe with no word for war

Permission given by State of California to remove driftwood

Inspiration: Polynesian Island Pareo

Art Direction: Dale Hope and Guy Stagman

Textile design hand drawn in pencil onto tracing paper.