Thank you surffoils, I'll start a book-- and keep it on the table next to my bed. Perfect!
Word of advice… quit now before it consumes you.
All I’ve ever wanted to do since the winter of 1968 is surf. Made that decision when I was in the 4th grade right after the little league season ended. That was the last time I played on a little league team, and except for playing waterplolo in high school that pretty much was it for other sports.
Everything I’ve done has been around surfing, even work. Until last year, I’ve been lucky enough to have a job that allowed me enough slack to get out there when the waves are really good. Even the wife and family have had to take a back seat at times.
Since I started making boards again about 4 or 5 years ago, it’s all I can think of. I have a bunch of board ideas in my head and several in various unfinished stages. I try to keep from getting too far ahead, but I’m already thinking about the next board before I’m finished with the boards I’ve started. Most of the time I get so impatient that as soon as I get the glassing to the sanding stage, I’m done. Forget about the glossing and polishing, I want to ride that board.
I hope your boyfriend or husband is understanding about this addiction because it’s pretty bad.
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Whitney, as an old dog I can offer that while you are young and have creative ideas ,that you should write down your designs and draw all your artwork ideas, and put a date on them too. Later in life you might not have the time to be so creative and sometimes the inspiration fails as other things fill your life too.
Put them down on paper and keep them safe because in years to come you will have a library of personal ideas and art and you can see how your work, and you, have developed over the years.
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Good call...I used to do this as habit. But it takes discipline. A dollar for every bright idea lost, undocumented and faded with age.
The strike rate may not be anywhere high for idea vs. actual execution, but there could be one, one truly worthy one. As an artist and shaper I tend to trust the sparks I get, not intellectualise but go for it, then refine it in variations.
Josh
Whitney, maybe EPS is the way for you?
The cheapest canvas you can find… A perfect way of refining shapes, and exercising your artistic side without breaking the bank.
Cheap enough that you can experiment and not worry if you trash a blank. Just recycle the messy ones, and glass the ones you like.
Then again, there is something to be said for the fear you get when trying not to mess up a pristine PU shape… the pressure makes you concentrate, and the value of investment makes you follow through.
You’re lucky that you have the passion for the artistic side as well as the performance.
This thread is already pretty touchy-feely, so I thought i’d take the opportunity to add how damn cool it is that shaping is a mixture of pure engineering, pure expression, form and function all rolled into one. Hey, kinda like surfing itself really?! Multifaceted… Pretty sweet how it can be an adrenaline sport, escape, fitness pursuit, expressive medium, lifestyle, career, rebellion and release all at the same time. Oh yeah its good fun too 
Kit
Errrr Josh, stop that.
I can’t afford an air brush and several years of investment right now.
So how 'bout you stop filling my head with all the incredible stuff you do?
There’s an act to follow, hot shapes, high tech, and sick art. weeeheee!
those who lose dreaming are lost
Speed:
I love your work! What can I say?
Kind regards,
Surfding