latro12

Just made it back to the states yesterday from my trip down to Nicaragua. I can’t say enough thanks to Tony, Nancy and Andrew at The Surf Sanctuary for their hospitality and good company. We finished up the mural on the last day, caught two sessions of 4′-6′ Playa Santana and avoided the stingrays. The mural turned out better than I ever expected and everyone was super stoked on the final product – not bragging but it’s nice to surprise yourself sometimes on what you can do. Got a verbal on my next commission from Lance at Surfari Charters and am already planning my next trip back down that way. Enjoy the pics and contact Tony if you are planning a trip down that way to see the mural first hand.

Two full days left and the mural is coming together nicely, I haven’t been this stoked on a painting in a while. Had a little set back yesterday morning after being hit by a stingray while wading out to surf. That laid me up for most of the morning but with the help of two rum shots, a macau (local rum drink), some ibuprofen and herbal meds I was up and about just after lunch. The marlin, chicken dolphin and bull dolphin are just about finished, we’ll probably tweak them a little more to add that extra punch. Hopefully finishing out the bait ball and tuna today so we can just play tomorrow before catching the red eye tomorrow night. Enjoy the pics.

Eric got down to The Surf Sanctuary a few days ago and is having a great time.

Started working on the mural and really liking where the process is going. We have a marlin tagging up on some dolphin on the right wall. In the center wall the there is a large bull dolphin swooping in on a bait ball of sardines that bends around the center bulge. On the back side of the bait ball, on the left side of the front wall, is a sailfish flashing and pushing the ball apart. On the left wall we have a school of yellow fin tuna schooling in towards the bait ball.

Hey guys, Tony from the surf sanctuary and I had some SHAPES tees made down here in Nica. We sent 40 mens tees and 20 womens tanks back home to Jay as a “thank you,” for making such great surfboards!

Learn more at shapesbyjaygordon.com

Everyone seems to have one of “those clients” who are always trying to get something for nothing, or abuse the designer to their benefit, or even trying to tell you how to do your job. In sitting through presentations, talking with other designers and reading about other’s experiences, this is obviously an inevitable situation for designers. So when it does happen what is the best course of action? As with any difficult situation there is never a cut and dry answer. One thing that seems to reign in every one of these situations is the lack of respect for the designer. So why is that and how, as designers, do we shift this train of thought for our clients? Continue reading »