Tofino Surf Artist. Art inspired by the Sea and Surf of Tofino and Ucluelet BC.

Photo of me and my favourite surf board by Kaitlyn Shea

Tofino is a small town best known for the surf and stunning wilderness. In my case, Tofino, Ucluelet, the waves, and the wilderness helped me remember that I am an artist. This beautiful place that I feel fortunate to call home rekindled my love for art, oil paint, and inspired me to become a Tofino Surf Artist.

I spent most of my childhood landlocked wondering why I hadn’t been born by a beach with surf. I was a competitive swimmer, and spent most of my time in the pool, but I was dreaming about the sea and I was painting it every day at the art school which I attended. I’ve been told that I was known as “The girl who thought she was a mermaid and only wanted to paint the ocean”. My art teacher suggested that I ‘Paint something other than water’, a suggestion that did not go over well. I continued to paint what I loved.

I moved to Tofino after doing an internet search “Where can you surf in Canada” and since the first moment I stood with my toes in the sand, sunset reflecting on the waves and surfers carving infront of me, I knew I was in the place I needed to be. I felt ‘home’ for the first time.

I took one surf lesson and from there, I was in the ocean every chance I could get. 11 years later, I can tell you there is no better feeling in the world for me than being in the ocean.

The surf has been my biggest artistic inspiration. When I paddle out on my surf board I often find myself entranced in the sea foam fizzling around me, the reflections, the light, the energy. I’ve been so distracted that I’ve had waves rip me off my surf board. I’ve zoned out and missed perfect sets staring at fleeting ripples. When I am in the sea, I am often wondering how I would paint what I see and what I feel.

My state of mind when I catch a wave is a lot like it is when I am painting. I am ‘in the moment’. There is a sense of fluidity between my body and my mind. Time has a way of slowing down when you are gliding on a wave or sliding a wet paintbrush along a canvas.

My hope in creating my art is that the viewer has a moment where they too experience this sublime flow state feeling. I strive to capture the essence that I experience while I am in, or next to the ocean. The wave’s power. The dance of light from the sky and into the depths. The impression of colours and the feelings of marvel that I experience in the waves.

If I were to leave you with one piece of advice today it would be to surround yourself with what you find beautiful. Do what makes you happy and follow your dreams. We may as well be spending our lives doing things that we love.

You can browse my Tofino surf inspired art on my website in my painting gallery.

Hope to see you in the surf!

Photo taken by my surfing bestie: Kaitlyn Shea