Sleepy August

August, and the waves have gone back to sleep. Last few weeks have been marginal at best. I think I went longboarding three times maybe this month? If that? Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers as they say. Summer surf-life in the Hamptons; hardly any waves, and shitloads of obnoxious traffic and hot humid heat. At least the art game has been picking up. Making and selling fine art prints, installing blue chip art at exclusive homes and showcase houses, things could be worse. But, still, I want some damn waves!

In the meantime I’ve decided to up the ante and book my December trip to my favorite Caribbean surf isle and go visit my godfather. Also decided to break down and spoil myself, with some new custom Cis that are set to arrive round All Hallow’s Eve. So, we shall see... Hopefully hurricane season will kick in soon and start to send us some decent swells with offshore winds. We here in the local surf community could surely use a boost. All work and no play makes for way too much meditation practice and artwork. But again, could be worse.

Meanwhile one of my oldest, bestest mates and I are now teaming up with writing and illustration. My friend Dylan is a big wave surfer and writer, living in Ireland, and we’ve decided that he writes and I illustrate. A super cool way to collaborate. In fact, illustration for the written word is one of my most favorite ways to create. The stories inspire me and then I try to draw something that fits with the story. Something about guide rails and deadlines has a profoundly motivating effect. One of our latest collabs will be coming out soon in print format, I will update ya’ll on that when it’s published.

So yeah not too much surf of late. I even took my log off the roof! Usually I just leave it up there so that it’s ready to surf if waves decide to crop before or after work. That way I don’t have to schlepp it out of the house and tie it to the racks. Saves time and effort to just leave strapped tight atop my ten year old Subaru. The art game of late has been going swell though. Art installs have picked up quite a bit, and my own art has been selling of late, so that’s good. I was able to rake in enough profit to get new brakes and pads for the Sube, order some new boards, and pay down some debts, so once again no complaints.

Moviewise, the Southampton Playhouse has been off the Richter. Odyssey IMAX has been selling out nonstop for weeks on end! Full house after full house, one after next. Spider-Man also. The latter’s not really my cup of tea, but the Marvel fans are all over it. Then in September we will be doing our first Surf Movie night here at the theater, so hopefully our East End surf community members will show up en masse and have fun watching people shred on the big 4k screen!

Lastly, during the down time; lack of waves and days off, still trying to hit the meditation cushion most days of the week for at least 20-35 minutes. When all else fails, when the world lets you down again and again, at least one can rest the mind, breathe deeply, and just be still; taking it all in with-open eyed stride. Pray for surf…