SurfPaints Interviewer Series
We hand-select individuals from our community to hear the stories behind their designs.
Hi Nicole, Welcome to the SurfPaints Interview Series!
1. Can you introduce yourself? Age, location, occupation, surfing experience?
I’m a 27 year old full-time artist living in San Diego, CA!
2. What made you want to paint your surfboard?
I actually am not a surfer- just an artist! I grew up near the beach in New Jersey and the ocean was always my muse - it eventually led to friends giving me their old boards to paint etc. I fell in love with it.
3. What Surfboard did you paint, and why that one?
This board was a commissioned piece for a family here in San Diego who bought their dream home in OB during the pandemic!
4. Where do you get your inspiration from?
They wanted something special that represented the town they are in. They grew up there and never thought they’d be able to afford a home there again, so this was really special!
5. How do you rate your artistic skills?
I feel like that’s a hard question - art is so subjective and everyone has their own style .. for what I do I like to think I’m growing every day, striving toward becoming an expert in my craft
6. Roughly how long did it take to complete?
This board took me a couple weeks.. it’s upcycled so theirs a lot of prepping involved in the whole process
7. Any tips for preparing the surfboard before painting it?
It’s just like anything else.. make sure all that wax is off because that can mess up the paint the most! And sand and prime for a full board like this :)
8. What was one tool or technique that helped you achieve this amazing design?
My SurfPaints from start to finish!!! I love them for sketching in my ideas and also for adding in all of my details in the end
9. What is your favourite thing about using Surfpaints?
They cover so well with one coat, and they’re easy to blend !
10. One piece of advice you would like to give others about painting a surfboard for their first time?
Have fun with it! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and you might fall in love with the process like I did, and here I am over 100 boards later! Check ‘em out at artbynicolemiller.com/customboards
