From Trash to Treasure: Steve Barton answers 7 questions about his original surfboards
“Turn things around sometimes and look at life from a different perspective”
-Jean Wilson
Perspective is key, I’m sure you have heard this before. The fact that you’re reading a blog post with the title “From Trash to Treasure” proves that you are someone, at the least, remotely interested in a good flip, or changing of tides if you will.
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using the links in this post we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
When it comes to innovative thinking, Steve checks all the boxes. He is someone who can look for solutions to a problem in new ways, and is creative and remains flexible in his approaches to his art. We chatted about his recycled surfboards, and he answered the questions you might have about how that began and what the process looks like. After all these aren’t new boards he is painting on to create his stunning original pieces. These surfboards are “upcycled” into these one of a kind beautiful pieces of Barton’s imagination.
7 Questions With Steve:
1. When was the first time you painted on a surfboard and where was the board from?
The first time I painted on a surfboard a client approached me for a commissioned piece. This was the late 2000’s, maybe 2008-2009. It was a woody and a sunset. They had a surfboard that they loved and it was ready for retirement. He wanted to keep it forever with something special on it.
2. Did you know right away that these were going to be one of your most popular original art works?
When I first painted it, I didn’t know it was going to be one of my most popular subjects to paint on. But it fit incredibly well, and people were really excited to see them done. So I did one, then I did another… and another. You get the picture.
3. Can you tell me a little bit about how you get your hands on boards that are headed to the trash or retirement.
“Well it’s actually been a progression. At first the boards were all brought in by the owners. They wanted to memorialize their boards to put on the wall. Most of them were custom pieces of their favorite surf spots. Which I loved. That process sparked the idea. I actually live in San Diego one of the meccas for surfing and so it’s not surprising that you will see a board in someones trash on the curb when it’s done in, or like for me I drove past a yard sale where they were selling a grip of older boards that needed some TLC and that is what started me on upcycling the boards into substrates for original pieces. I would give some local kids some cash for boards and they would hunt them down at junk shops, look at yard sales or second hand boards for sale that were needing work and bring them to me. And this actually worked out really well because I then met a board shaper who I would get boards from, and the kids would bring in their finds and trade out for the newer boards or different shapes they wanted to try out. And it was like a cycle in itself… always trading and bartering boards ”
4. What are the steps to revive a trash board?
“ So the process is you start by stripping off all the old wax, and get it prepped to be sanded. Then you’ll sand it and primer it. And by doing that primer coat it will actually highlight all the imperfections that you will want to go back in and fill with a bondo type material. And something you’ll notice in the final piece is that I like to leave the dents and some of the imperfections from where they were used. I think it tells the full story that these boards were actually surfed on, and now they get to hang on someone’s wall. So, once that bondo over any cracks or big issues is dry you do another coat of primer and a final sanding. There you go, now it’s a blank canvas ready to be painted on”
5. How many boards do you repurpose in a year?
“I recycle anywhere from 50 to 75 boards a year”
6. Where are these original surf boards available for purchase?
“ These surfboards are available in most galleries I show in and the special events that I do throughout the year. So follow my socials or visit my website to stay connected”
7. What does upcycling mean to you? Why is it important? Do you practice this concept in any other areas of your life?
“ Personally I have always looked at things that have served their time and thought “how can i reuse this?” So the surfboards are a great way for me to use something that is headed for the trash and give it new life. I have used old doors to make a chicken coop, I practice rainwater collection, and food scrap composting. I save a lot of stuff and I do my best to repurpose. The surfboards gave me momentum to keep a wider scope on what I might be able to paint on… and actually sparked the recycled wood pieces that I love so much. I get wood scraps that would most likely have ended up in a chipper and I turn them into art.”
Don’t you love when you can sit down with someone creative and get that peek into how ideas sparked for them? It makes you feel inspired to broaden your thought process and maybe be willing or brave enough to do something new too! If you’re looking for current show dates where you might get to meet Steve or see some of his original works in person visit the Events page on his website!