Draw What You Love: Why I Make Surf Art

One of the most common pieces of advice artists hear is simple: draw what you love. It sounds obvious, but it took me years to fully understand what that really meant for my work. For me, that answer eventually became clear - surf art.

I’ve always been drawn to the ocean. There’s something about the rhythm of waves, the energy of the water, and the culture surrounding surfing that sparks my creativity. Even when I’m not at the beach, the feeling of it stays with me. That feeling is what I try to capture whenever I sit down to draw.

Surf art allows me to combine movement, nature, and storytelling in a way that feels authentic to who I am as an artist.

The Energy of the Ocean

The ocean is never still. Waves are constantly forming, building, breaking, and disappearing. That constant motion creates endless inspiration.

When I draw surf scenes, I’m not just thinking about the shape of the wave or the surfer riding it. I’m thinking about the energy in the water...the curve of the swell, the spray in the air, the moment where balance and motion meet. Surfing itself is a split-second interaction between a person and a powerful natural force, and capturing that moment visually is something I find endlessly interesting.

Every wave is different. Every ride tells its own story.

That unpredictability keeps surf art fresh and exciting for me.

The Culture Around Surfing

Surfing isn’t just a sport - it’s a culture. It’s early mornings, salt in the air, sun-bleached boards, and the quiet anticipation of waiting for the next set to roll in. It’s road trips down the coast, beach towns with their own personalities, and a shared respect for the ocean.

That lifestyle has influenced art for decades, from classic surf posters to board graphics and coastal illustration styles. When I create surf art, I feel connected to that tradition while also finding my own voice within it.

I’m inspired by the colors, the atmosphere, and the laid-back attitude that surrounds surfing culture. Sometimes my pieces focus on the action of the wave, and other times they focus on the mood of being near the water.

Either way, the ocean is always at the center.

Urban Runoff 2 - Original Art by Nathan Gibbs

Why Drawing What You Love Matters

When you create art around something you genuinely care about, the work changes. It becomes more personal and more honest.

If I tried to force myself to draw subjects that didn’t excite me, the process would feel like work instead of creativity. But when I’m drawing surf art, hours can pass without me noticing. I’m focused on the details - the shape of a board, the texture of a wave, the flow of a line across the page.

That passion shows up in the final piece.

People often connect with art not just because of the technical skill behind it, but because they can feel the enthusiasm that went into making it. Drawing what you love creates that authenticity.

Capturing a Feeling

One of my goals with surf art is to capture more than just an image. I want the work to evoke a feeling.

Maybe it reminds someone of their favorite beach. Maybe it brings back memories of a surf trip, or even just the calming sound of waves hitting the shore. Art has the ability to transport people to a moment or a place, and the ocean is a powerful setting for that kind of connection.

Even for people who don’t surf, the imagery of waves and the coastline carries a certain sense of freedom and adventure.

That emotional connection is a big part of why I keep coming back to this subject.

Always Returning to the Water

Artists evolve over time, and I’m sure my work will continue to grow and change. But the ocean will likely always be part of what I create.

Surf art reflects a combination of things I’m passionate about: nature, movement, and the culture that forms around the sea. It gives me endless material to explore and reinterpret in new ways.

In the end, the advice is still true: draw what you love.

For me, that means waves, surfers, and the energy of the ocean. And as long as that inspiration keeps pulling me back, I’ll keep putting it into my art.