Broke my face at Pipeline 🌴Best thing 4 my Art Career

Howdy friends, Many people do not realize that I have been doing art and painting surfboards since I was teenager. I had big dreams for myself, but always felt lost.

Then, a bad accident at the world famous surf spot, Pipeline, put me on my path.

It was 1996 - I was 25, living every surfer’s dream on the North Shore, surfing Pipeline and painting boards for the best in the world. But, it all came to an end one day with a crazy wipeout at Pipe.

I was pitched on a huge wave with the lip drilling me into the lava rock reef, face first. Cracked my skull, 💀 broke my cheekbone, dislocated my jaw and shoulder, and ended up with a concussion that took me out.

I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t work. I lost my job…and my Hawaiian dream was over. My luck changed when my good friend Rob offered me to sleep in his garage (it was my best option at that point!). He lived in San Clemente, California.

I planned to stay just for the summer—a chance to pick up some work painting. I never left.

Leaving Hawaii and starting over was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But looking back… that wipeout changed my life forever.

That was the summer that my art really took off. Thirty years later, I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for a living for so long.

My art, my lifestyle, my dreams—it all came together. The same art style my teachers criticized me for, ended up taking me around the world. That year in 1996 I met some of my best lifelong friends including my beautiful wife and business partner Maria. To celebrate 30 years, 

I’m re-releasing some of my favorite vintage surf art from 1996–2002, and sharing the stories behind them. I’ll be digging into the archives and dropping a new "vintage surf art" piece each week. First drop is this Wednesday. Hope you enjoy the ride. 

Life is good,

Drew 

PS: Do you remember the Lost art from late 1990's? Or are you new to my work? Leave me a comment and let me know!