Surfing Steveston - John D Rosenthal, Painter
John D Rosenthal
He calls himself a “surfer of waves and the streets” —local artist tells us about his Monkeys Go Surfing longboards.
Hi, I’m John D Rosenthal. I was born in Hamilton Ontario and moved to Vancouver, BC when I was two years old.
Since I was young, I wanted to be an artist and to one day go surfing. In my fourth year of elementary school, I decided to spend my time drawing—so I drew characters every day. That year, I didn’t pass grade four, but I did get a few gold stars for my drawings!
After high school I started painting and eventually got a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University, with a Major in Visual Arts. I still paint today, and I’m also an independent author. My career in art has given me opportunities to work as an artist in residence and instructor.
My partner and I have been living in Steveston for the past 15 years. We love working and living in this neighbourhood. I’d like to go surfing more often, but since I can’t, I have made up some long longboards to practice my turns.
About my longboards
Street surfboards are what I propose to make. I glue, shape, paint, and form with function—in order to ride the streets and pathways of Steveston and nearby communities.
My materials are found, given to me, or purchased, then sanded and painted. I collaborate directly and indirectly with others to find, cut, and assemble the 4 - 5 - 6 and 8’ long-boards.
My designs
I draw from my passion for skateboarding, surfing and making something completely complementary, that truly is in the moment. I still paint in the same way I did when I was younger. And in my fourth year of art school, my art moved into the direction of surfing and being in the landscape. My growth in my art practice never stops as I continue to evolve with paint.
Common themes of my longboard include:
Ocean life awareness and promotion to clean beaches and the ocean
A little twist of something unexpected as a celebration of the everyday
Investigation of the symbols and objects from memory and nostalgia
Steveston where I live and work
You will notice that the top deck of my boards are usually blue. That’s because they represent water which brings rejuvenation, peace, and balance: Being at the local pool—jumping in the cool water on a hot summer’s day. The light reflecting from the bottom of the turquoise water is very peaceful. It’s a safe place to mingle and be—a fine balance, a moment of uninterrupted bliss.
Last thoughts…
Riding on a longboard, you’ll feel the sun on your face, the wind, and the earth move beneath your feet. Remember—the long stable board will give you balance. So keep your head up, and bend your knees, push with your foot—and where you look you will go.
8 foot “You can be awesome.” We all need a little encouragement to be awesome at something.
Thank you John for telling us about your art!