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Neptune, the Roman god of the water and the sea, has been showing up in my sketchbook lately.  I haven’t painted my tribal looking faces in a few years and for some reason I got inspired to paint a few more the other day.  And since surfing is my only religion, I figured I’d pay a little tribute to the ancient sea God with his beard of fish scales and his crown of coral.  Apparently he rode in a chariot pulled by giant seahorses called Hippocamps and loved women from North Africa.  He must have loved surf trips to Morocco. Find the larger images of these pieces HERE

I’ve been busy in the studio quite a bit lately.  The 2 pieces above were painted to vibe with the Reef Pro Artwork because these and a couple others will be shipped off to Hawaii this week to be Auctioned off at the Reef event to benefit the North Shore Community Land Trust.  Check out 6 new paintings in the art section HERE.  

Pretty cool to open up the new Surfing and Surfer Mags and see full spreads of my artwork for the Reef Hawaiian Pro… Yeeeww!

Just finished up a sister piece for a client.  Here’s the first commissioned piece from last year…

“The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills. Sometimes the task in hand covers both bases, but not often. This tense duality will always play center stage. It will never be transcended.” - Hugh Macleod

I’ve been pretty stoked to have several of my recent and current projects cover both these bases.

Autumn in Ventura has got to be one of my favorite times of year.  The marine layer disappears, the Channel Islands are crystal clear, NW swells start to show their face and all the points wake up again… and my favorite; Evening glass offs!   It’s a good place to be a surfer… and better, a regular foot.   There was a pretty good run of waves this last week… Roberts’ Modern 80′s and Black Dump Truck models are blowing my mind!

No matter how busy, no matter what kind of bullshit there is going on, when the waves are good nothing else matters.  Like life and it’s issues don’t even exist.  Surfing is a seductive mistress that only stops through town once in a while, where you have to get your fill with her while you can… not that I would know what that is like, but I can only imagine.  Ventura Autumn, I love you.

Yep… my Mo got the knife today.  RIP little buddy.  It was fun while it lasted.  Gross and creepy, but fun. And all women secretly liked it, and if they tell you different they’re liars!

Iron & Resin presents Freedom Riders – A group art show celebrating the “Live Free” spirit, inspired by vintage motorcycles and surfing. Featuring the photography of Scott G. Toepfer; artwork by Glenn Gravett, Erik Abel; and surfboards and resin art by Zeph Carrigg. Live music by the Phil Cody Trio.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show!  It was packed, the band was rocking and the vibe was great!

You can view all my new work for the show HERE.

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “no” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs

Here’s a little peak at some of the beach rocks I’ve been painting for the installation in Thursday’s art show,  “Freedom Riders” in Santa Barbara, CA.  Loving how these things are turning out!  There’s something intriguing about painting on something so old.  These are the earth.  Trippyyyyyyy….