The 13th Annual SURF ART BLOG. PLUS: Actual Surf, Comedy Shows, and Surfing With Smiles.

Like I've been saying for the last few weeks. This 13th Annual Surf Art Blog is in memory of John Severson. For those of you who do not know who John Severson is, here's a short biography of the man who basically changed Surfing forever. John Severson, born December 12, 1933, is well known as the creator of Surfer Magazine. He grew up surfing off the beaches of Southern California. Born and raised in Pasadena and San Clemente, California, Severson was a creative type, an art major noted for having painted an abstract scene of the San Clemente Pier and beach with 'bebop' surfers and pointy little surfboards. He began his career as a painter when still a graduate student, selling his first works to support himself while finishing his Master's Degree at Long Beach State College. In the 1950s Severson became the first person to create a large body of art relating to the Hawaii-California surf culture. Since then he has provided a steady output of oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints. Often he uses soft watercolor stylings to capture images of woodies, surfboards, or perfect breaks. Before John Severson, it may be said that there was really no surf art, no surf magazines, no real surf films, no surfwear industry, no pro surfing as we know it. In a very large sense, he made it all happen by synthesizing the sport of surfing into various expressions of his art. One of his early works, 'Huntington Gothic', may be considered an autobiographical painting, going back to the days when he was introduced to the massive Huntington Beach pier cement structure of the '50s. Severson remembers at first being awed and fearing the pilings, which he soon learned were his friends because they were shapers of the pier surf, harboring holes where wave power would back off. Usually, because of a lucky bit of scheduling, his Long Beach State classes didn't start until afternoon, so John started many days of the '55-'56 school year greeting the morning surf at the pier. A later work, 'Paddling Out' is an acrylic, done in the early 1980s when Severson was moving from his pointillism phase, toward extreme looseness of brushstroke. Severson has always been a multifaceted artist. Over the years he had been a high school newspaper editor, hobby photographer, prolific painter, cartoonist, and high school art teacher. When he was drafted and found himself in the army, stationed in Hawaii, he made a surf movie. Between sessions with the army surf team, he filmed the North Shore and Makaha action of the winter of 1957-'58. This footage became his first film, "Surf", released in 1958. Severson advertised the movie with a poster of a surfer traversing a giant wave, printing it off on an Army printing press and hand-decorating it with red ink. John continued to use his art, photography, and surfing passion to create a series of popular surf movies, including the titles 'Surf Safari', 'Surf Fever', 'Big Wednesday', and 'Pacific Vibrations'. The posters he created were widely popular in the '50s and '60s, and remain collector favorites. While posted in Hawaii, he met his wife. "I was selling paintings on the hedge at the Royal Hawaiian. When I was in the Army I got on the General's staff as an illustrator. I was color-contouring maps, and on the side I'd paint little doodles. I have to take my eyes off the maps for a while of course, and during the break I'd paint little surf ditties. Four by six or six by eight inches, very small, and put them on the hedge with a little mat on them for $3 or $4 or $5, $8 for the big ones -- unfortunately in disappearing ink...Louise was from San Clemente, my home town, and I had known her sister. She came up to see, not the paintings I think, but the kooky surfer from San Clemente who was selling paintings in Waikiki. We talked a bit, but no sale. Then she came to an Art Show of mine in Laguna and a film and we started dating. And when we started dating we just kept dating. We had a daughter, Jenna in '63, and Anna in '65. When asked who were influences on his art, Severson has said: "As an art student I was getting new art images all the time. Including that of my classmates. I respected what they were doing, and my early art hero was George James. I loved what he did, and he was with me in a couple of art classes at Orange Coast College, and again at Long Beach State. I learned a lot about whimsy from him. Gauguin and Van Gogh always knocked me out. With the founding of "Surfer Magazine", John's art focused on the magazine and graphics. "Surfer" gave him an outlet for not only his paintings, but also his prints, photographs, and designs. A 1963 cover, 'Surf Bebop', that he did for "Surfer" was named the most outstanding cover painting of the year by "Communication Arts" magazine. During the '60s, he authored two surf books for Doubleday. In 1968, "Life" magazine ran 10 pages on Severson's family and surf success. It is arguable that Surfer's success spawned the lifestyle and industry now known worldwide as surf culture. The magazine created a medium for advertising, which allowed surf-related businesses to talk to a specific audience. It also allowed editors to give shape to an expanding network of surfers. John created this cover for the March issue of SURFER in 1969. As a surfer, Severson was known for riding big waves, and for his innovative performance style in big surf. In 1961, he won the Peru International Surfing Championships and was a finalist in the U.S. and Hawaiian Championships. Editing didn't leave much time for surfing though, so eleven years after he began the magazine, Severson quit. President Richard Nixon and his entourage of bodyguards had moved in next door to his home at Cottons Point in 1969 and Severson opted for change. He sold "Surfer" in 1972 and moved with his wife and two daughters to Maui, where he resumed his passionate pursuit of photography and painting. He surfed and then started windsurfing. He designed and launched "Wind Surf" magazine and, for several years, contributed art and photos, making it the leader in its field, took his family to Hawaii, and devoted himself to surfing and painting. Over the years, John had continued a parallel career in photography. His work has appeared in "Life" magazine, "Sports Illustrated", "Paris Match", and several other publications. He was voted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 1993, the Walk of Fame at Huntington Beach in 1995, and given a lifetime achievement award by the Surf Industry Manufacturers' Association as Waterman of the Year in 1997. The longboard renaissance of the '90s and the accompanying era of nostalgia brought renewed interest and appreciation to Severson's surf art. His oil and watercolor paintings, as well as his block prints, have grown in demand in recent years, and he has designed hundreds of prints for Hawaiian shirts made by Kahala. John Severson passed away on May 26th, 2017 he was 83 years old. Reprinted with the kind permission of Vallejo Gallery, Newport Beach California

"Surfing and Surf Art Heals All Wounds"

This week's Ed's corner pic is from August 1st, 2013. The surfer is Kai Nichols and the location is The WALL. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

Now for Some Local Surf Artists
These are some of my favorite local surf artists.



Stan Chew has always had his own unique style. The paintings he submitted for the BLOG this week are some of his older works. But you can clearly see that "CHEW" style. From his white water, to his palm trees, and to his mountains. I can pick out an original Stan Chew from miles away. I'm stoked that he's still stoked on both surfing and surf art. Oh, and let's not forget his love of music.



OK there's nobody doing what Erik Zak does. NOBODY. His cool as shit wood carvings are a MUST have for any surfer. They are the coolest wooden waves that look great in your home or office.

He has an ad on this BLOG so if you like what you see hit him up.



One of my all time EVER Surf Artists is this woman. Hannah Vokey. Her sheer volume of work is worth mentioning alone. The woman is a painting and drawing machine. Seriously it's hard to keep up with her new work. She and her super talented hubby Sam, are a force to be reckoned with. Between the two, they have the incredible current art scene all wrapped up right here on our seacoast.

In fact, there are more Hannah Vokey paintings in our house than there are of my own. We were counting them the other night. We have a dozen of her paintings all over our house.



I look forward to the surf Art Blog each year, because I force myself to do a new painting each summer. I did this painting (above) on my Birthday this past week. I'm calling it "My Mexico" . Never painting a sand bottomed point break before.

Question is, where are we going to hang this baby?

KSM Photoshop of the Week
Wait you didn't know that our boy KSM was an artist? Heck, Ole Khaliddy has been painting ever since he arrived at GITMO. He started out doing finger painting, and then he got an affection for painting Bunny Rabbits. He claims it soothes his Terrorist Soul.



So my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of "Paint By Numbers" at Home Depot this week.

Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
Prayers and positive thoughts to surfer Jason Kooken's recovery.

Here's a Worthy Fund raiser that's worth your time and donations.
Click on the image below to see how you can help.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bobby Wickers July 30th, 2017!
REST IN PEACE Hannah Vokey's dad



DONATIONS ACCEPTED!

See the short trailer for this movie down in the movie section. I plan on making the final edit about 30-45 minutes long. It will definitely be under an hour. It's going to be available on DVD in the local surf shops. Or you can order from the Surf Free Or Die site once it's done and packaged up for distribution.



Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) Sam has an eye for clean looking rights. Sam Vokey July 30th, 2017
Paintings by Sam Vokey *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- SURF ART July 30th, 2017
Paintings by John Severson



(Above) John's paintings were all about "Surf Stoke". I remember his work from the 60's and 70's. You couldn't help but smile when looking at his work. July 30th, 2017 Paintings by John Severson
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) We all used to laugh and smirk at John's little surfers riding impossibly big waves. Who's laughing now? With waves like JAWS, MAVERICKS, and
other hairball slabs . July 30th, 2017 Paintings by John Severson
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- SURF ART July 30th, 2017
Paintings by various artists



(Above) I love this painting by Stan Chew of a local NH dream wave.
July 30th, 2017 Painting by Stan Chew
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I'm so stoked that Phill Munson is still painting waves being as busy as he's been. I remember when he was a stoked grom just starting out.
July 30th, 2017 Painting by Phill Munson
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) I have been painting and drawing waves since the 60's. I don't paint nearly as much as I'd like to, but when I do I really enjoy it. I call this one
"My Own Mexico" July 30th, 2017 Painting by Ralph Fatello
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- SURF CARVINGS & SCULPTURES July 30th, 2017
Paintings by various artists



(Above) Can't say enough about Erik Zak's work. Except, I honestly believe
that every surfer should have one of his carvings in your home or office.
July 30th, 2017 Wood carving by Erik Zak
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Crowley Gentile made the most of the bumpy bump. July 25th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Lars Hamilton on what appears to be a head high wave.
July 25th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Ryan McGill oblivious to the cluster f*** behind him. July 25th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Second "Surfing With Smiles" of the Summer.
July 25th, 2017 Photos by RALPH



(Above) This is why it's called Surfing With Smiles. July 25th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The look on Lindsay Mercer's face is another reason why it's called Surfing With Smiles. July 25th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) That's two, one more to go on August 10th! Hope to see you there! Surfing With Smiles. July 25th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Running With "Patch" July 25th, 2017
Photos by RALPH



(Above) The dog who is not a big fan of water, was suddenly into it.
Patch in the Frog Pond July 25th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The 7th Annual Hampton Beach Comedy Festival
July 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH



(Above) Local boy Jimmy Dunn is the man behind the HBC festival. And he's also the man out front of the HBC. His new material was great. Kudos Mr Dunn for bringing such talent to our beach. July 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Dave Rattigan has been with Jimmy for all 7 years at the HBC.
He's a very funny human being. July 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Lenny Clarke is a national comic and a good friend of Jimmy's. His comedy is a flurry of rapid fire jokes that never seem to end. July 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Jimmy Dunn shuffling off to his next show. I'm already looking forward to next year. Hampton Beach Comedy Festival. July 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- It Was a week Of Comedy in Hampton.
July 27th, 2017 Photos by RALPH



(Above) This guy was hilarious. Corey Rodrigues at the Victoria Inn on Thursday July 27th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery