surf art, by andy davis.
I’m betting that Andy is a fine fellow, and very successful. He’s even flogged an image to Billabong for folding money and if that’s not an indication of how badly wrong things have become in the game then bears don’t shit in the woods.
This particular work of art is many things; a fine composite of muted colours that suggest a deep suntan, one wild seabird and a bare arse with a hibiscus image on the left cheek. The stripes have confounded us, maybe he’s gone the multi-racial path here, after all some of this stuff may well jump off the shelves in the ghetto. Who’s to know, we never go shop there.
The work is called Crosstep. Crosstep. Now that’s a word that was not in use in the day – crosstep. Like walking the plank, a phrase invented for a songline –
You gotta walk the plank, ride the hook
Gonna let them ride and keep it nice and tight
And now the time is growin’ near, you’re movin’ down the wall
As steady as she goes, you got your toes upon the nose
And now you’re hangin’ five, hangin’ five
Hangin’ five toe-oes, upon the Malibu, upon the Malibu
For this we have to thank the Delltones – a Sydney based band in 1960 – that was 52 years ago and Peewee Wilson is still fronting the lineup, probably still singing the same number. Smokin’ stuff.
Back to Andy.
The arts committee here is a little worried by the (1) shape of the board, (2) the mystery blue bog on the nose, (3) the positioning of the stringer, the (4) suggestion of whitewater bottom right frame, the (5) weight distribution of the surfer’s body mass given that he / her / it is progressing down the left rail on a possible right hander. Hard to know here with both water and sky the same dun colour. Dun like dung.
Not to mention 6,7,8,9 – surfing in the nude with a flower tattoed on your bum. Being radical doesn’t cover it.
we like Lance
petebowes.com 
possibly ripping off Bob Copper stripes flowers and all…
bc was dapper – even with the bowler hat
back in a time when having style meant more than getting a few tats getting smashed and dropping your dacks in public and copying gangsta fashion BC had a defining style both in and out of the water …
we watched him put his orange peels in the bin, at currumbin – and the 6′ foot swell rolled through forever. what better wave for a young bloke’s 1st queenslander …
I’ve surfed naked several times and the wax creates a continuing mess that isn’t easily cleaned.
As for the art, Peter, I have a 6 year old neighbor who paints and would love your incisive delve into the intricacies of her work. If considered thoughtfully, it would be perfect editorial for the next Surfers Journal!
As far as I know, Pezman hasn’t “discovered” her yet.
“Modern paintings are like women: You’ll never enjoy them, if you try to understand them.”
― Freddie Mercury
Dun like dung indeed Mr. Bowes.
So much for keeping it nice and tight . . .
and there’s more ..