Surfing inspired my affinity with the ocean and my motivation to paint it. I first surfed in Whangamatā, and it has always been a special place for me, so its world-class waves are a pleasure to paint.
I have worked in the surfboard industry as an airbrush, pin-line, and gloss-coat painter, and it was while working in Sydney in the late 70s and early 80s that I began to paint on canvas.
The paintings were appreciated and sold, which was encouraging, and I enjoyed doing them, so I kept painting. I was using acrylic paint on the surfboards, so moving to acrylic on canvas was an easy progression.
The combination of airbrush and pin-lines creates a contrast between hard edges and soft tones and defines my style.
A wave is a reflection in the ocean of the seabed, where it meets the land.
Each surf break has a unique character, defined by the nature of that land, the seabed, and the type of ocean swells that reach its shore.
I paint waves for surfers and strive to capture the character of the break.
I produce prints of my work and enjoy seeing the high-quality reproductions that are possible with modern printing. This makes my work affordable to the people who appreciate it.
Living in Whangamatā and painting images of our coast is both a privilege and a source of inspiration. My work is available at Discover Whangamatā (the Information Centre), Saltwater Surf Shop in Whangamatā, and at Pohutukawa Gallery in Mt Maunganui.
You can contact me at johnquellin@yahoo.com or 021 615 671
Words by John Quellin
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