3.01.2010

Don't Quit Your Day Job









WARNING: This post may ruffle some feathers. that being said, i would like to discuss Surf Art. Basically, i don't believe in it. There is a lot of bullshit out there and it makes me sad. In reality creating surf related art that is actually "good" is very difficult. Rick Griffen did it. And thats about it. The early work of artists like Andy Davis and Thomas Campbell is worth mention also. Now it seems like everyone is just re-creating what they have already done. But not as good.

The other problem with surf art involves talented surfers. Alex Knost is a great example. Don't get me wrong, the dude rips! No doubt about it. One of the most original wave riders of our time for sure. But his art, well, not so much. Looks like a variation on what Thomas Campbell and Ed Templeton have already created. Another example is Joe Aaron. Once again, this kid rips! A nice kid with a nice family. Gives Joel a run for his money. His art work on the other hand is basically a rip off of early Rick Griffin work. In the background he often paints distorted shapes just like Mark Rothko.

I don't hate these dudes at all. I just hate their art. We are in need of some originality ASAP.


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dam dude you hit the nail on the head so hard

murdercity said...

yes please!

A. Swanson said...

it's part of their "image"?

ion dissonance said...

holy shit dude i have such a supplementary post coming right now.

vacuumthevoid said...

more on this at www.vacuumthevoid.blogspot.com

ion dissonance said...

Nevada went to college if you couldn't tell from his rebuttal. I did too (the same college) but forgot how to write when i put down the pleasure reading and started playing Call of duty incessantly.

TJ Ridings said...

yeah, he is right. i really don't hold out to much hope for surf art or surf music. Griffin's surf art was probably a fun side project to what he was really doing artistically. Oh, and Dick Dale's music has nothing to do with surfing. I think Hollywood put the two together.

Anonymous said...

100% agreed

Anonymous said...

Wait... You don't believe in surf art, and yet you feel surf art needs some originality in order that it survives? Do you not contradict yourself? Make up your mind, broheim. Do you or don't you believe in surf art, and do you or don't you want it? Help us out here. What should we believe?

TJ Ridings said...

obviously I am conflicted. I have had a taste of some good stuff and it leaves me wanting more. On the other hand, its hard to believe in. My arguments are often based upon ongoing conversations. My call for originality still stands. good or bad. I mean, create what you want. Copy Ando & Friends all day long if it makes you happy. Just get it out of my face.

Anonymous said...

wanna be an artist...go to art school lazy hipster piece of shit..

Anonymous said...

i thought knost was just mimicking peoples style in the water too.

TJ Ridings said...

had you ever seen anyone surf like Knost before him? I doubt it. We all bite rhymes from the past, but he made the beats his own.