John Olvey combines saltwater, acrylic and soul to create an artistic expression of the surf lifestyle, offering a secret glimpse into the challenging lifestyle surfers have chosen. It’s a mystical existence where man meets nature, and conquers it without ever defacing its beauty.
John’s work portrays the pure perfection of the moving canvas a surfer chooses to ride, and the pure euphoria of being one with nature. As a renowned surfer, John has proven his skills in the watery medium at numerous state and national competitions for more than forty years. He has won over 17 first place state titles and three first place national titles.
Over the years, John’s artwork has moved from the top of a gliding surfboard, to his painting studio in Corpus Christi, Texas. John takes his skill and knowledge of the ocean to dramatic and fantastic depictions of his life experiences.
Click here to see photos of John >
Surfing History
I started surfing at a very young age, nine years old, in the early sixties. Surfing was featured as an exhibition sport a couple of times on ABC’s wide world of sports program. The movie The Endless Summer was on once a year on the Sunday evening movie of the week. Gidget and all the Hollywood movies were the rage. I lived in Texas and these images were from far away galaxies. We did not have the blue water of Hawaii, the huts on the beach like Gidget and Moondoggie nor was there a way to check the surf and get home to grab the board. I was in elementary school and it was over an hour drive to the beach.
I surfed to be a part of the culture. I did not know what that meant however. I was just happy to be in the water with my eyes peeled on the horizon for a wave that no one else was already riding. I was part of the youngest group at the surf spots. We were mostly occupying space, in the way of the older guys, those that could actually maneuver and surf like the folks we saw in the movies.
As I grew older and stronger I became one of the pack or kids who could hang in the spot with the best. I still knew my place in the pecking order, very low, but I was encouraged more every day to get better.
In 1966 I began entering surfing competitions. I was a good little league baseball player, and had even met one of my idols, Mickey Mantle. But I wanted to surf. I was small in frame and never had the speed, size or skills to excel in team sports. But I could surf better than any kid in my school. Surf contests were to be my validation that I had chosen a sport I could excel in. Texas had rapidly grown into a retail market for the growing surf industry in California. In 1966, in Port Isabel Texas, there was an annual Easter surf contest. This year dozens of California “surf stars” were in town promoting the newest surfboards. Back then, everyone picked a favorite surfer they wanted to surf like. These guys were in all the industry trade magazines and now, this year, many were at the beach, surfing alongside me in the water. I was star struck. One particular surfer from Huntington Beach California, Tom Lonardo, took a liking to me, a 12 year old kid. He asked me to be his surfing partner in a tandem event where two people ride on one board and perform tricks. I had seen this on TV and in the magazines. I was very excited and we actually placed third in the contest for this. I now had a new Mickey Mantle. Tom left me his own personal surfboard when he left. I was so proud of it, I rode it every day, even though it was way too large for me to handle.
Since then I have always thought of the days of the surf legends I have met. Like going to the baseball hall of fame, but you have actually been on the fields with them in a game situation, like one of the players. Because of my involvement in surfing competitions and my volunteer work in surfing organizations, I’ve met Tom Lonardo, Jackie Baxter, Herbie Fletcher, Doc Paskowitz, Greg Noll, Rell Sunn, Bernie baker, Mike Doyle, Robert August, Mickey Munoz, Bob Olson, Ben Aipa, David Nuuihwa, Donald Takayama, Corky Carroll, Steve Pezman, Mike Purpose, Midget Smith, Jock Sutherland, Randy Rarick, Linda Benson, Joyce Hoffman and many more. These are my surf heroes, and it is not very often any fan ever gets to meet their sports heroes. I look at my accomplishments and always ask if I measure up to the skill level of these guys and girls.
I met the Ventures when they played in Corpus Christi at a Surf Art exhibit, I met Dick Dale when he played here, I’ve partied with Corky and Munoz and Lonardo and August and Ole. I’ve had a much fulfilled life in this sport and it continues.
Two of my very good friends who I went to elementary school with are rather famous artists in the surf industry, Wade Koniakowsky and Glen Frances. Wade took me painting outdoors on the beach in La Jolla California with his friend, Norm Daniels, who works a lot with Greg Noll. I use to help Glen make surfboards in Corpus Christi. Another friend I use to surf with as a kid in Port Isabel is one of the most famous modern art makers in New York, Julian Schnabel. Julian was often at the University of Houston when I was in the Fine Arts Department. That’s the last time I saw him before he hit the big time. He just won a best Director’s award for a movie at the Cannes film festival.
I never liked really big waves, they scared the heck out of me and living in Texas I never had practice time in preparation. I’ve been to Hawaii many times, often in winter when the surf is telephone pole tall for weeks. I was unprepared and knew my limitations. I went around the island till I found surf small enough to have fun.
Having fun is more important to me than any other single aspect of surfing. It can be terrible conditions, but if I am having fun, it is very satisfying. Being with friends in the water is fun. Being in perfect surf is fun. Surfing on New Years Day when it is cold is fun. Painting my life is fun. If I paint what I know I will never go wrong. I will try new techniques, new perspectives and new materials. As long as I have fun with the format and enjoy what I am doing, my work will show my soul. It is all good.
John's Surfing Timeline:
1963 Began surfing in Galveston Texas
1965 Began surfing competitively
1966 First medal in surfing, Tandem division, ( I was the small partner)
1968 First State Individual medal 3rd place, Boys 14 and under
1976 First State Championship Title, Longboard
1995 First National Title: First Place Longboard 40 and over division
First Place Kneeboard all ages
1998 First Place National Title: Longboard 40 and over division
2001 Last Competitive State Title, 1 St place Open Longboard ( all ages)
2006 Last Contest entered/ won (retired immediately)
Served on Board of Directors for State and National Amateur Surfing Associations
Texas Gulf Surfing Association: Past Treasurer, Surfer/ Athlete Representative, Competition Director
United States Surfing Federation: Past Treasurer
Artistic History
My mediums include oil on Canvas, acrylic on canvas, guache, pencil and graphite drawings, ceramic sculpture and pottery.
It all started when my grandfather taught me how to draw horses when I was 5 years old. I started with crayons and always was enrolled in art classes through elementary. I always embellished by using all the colors in the box of crayons. In elementary school I was inspired and taught from fellow classmates Glenn Francis and Wade Koniakowsky who are now successful artists in Calfornia. By the time I was in Jr. High I was still dabbling in sketches and drawing and learning how to paint in classes. In high school I received best in show at the annual student exhibit.
Bridging my two loves, surfing and art, I crafted my first surfboard in high school, designing my own logos, artwork and color schemes. In 1975 I enrolled at the University of Houston as a Fine Arts major. I completed my degree in management at U of H where I created their logo for the college which is still being used today.
I’ve also studied and produced art with famed surf artists from California and Hawaii. In March 2007, I traveled with Wade Koniakowsky to Carlsbad, California to study. We did Plein air painting in Laguna beach with Norm Daniels.
Honors
Due to my experience in surfboard crafting and art, I received commission by St. Pius X church in Houston Texas to create a sculpture for the Ukrainian Orthodox church. The project was a monumental sculpture of a Ukrainian hand painted Easter egg to be placed in the courtyard in front of the church. I was also commissioned to do a series of portraits for the winners of the most prestigious award in the Texas Gulf Surfing Association, known as the Spirit of Surfing award. In addition, I produced art for the American Advertising Federation 10th District Addy Awards presentation by hand painting 200 miniature surfboards for the annual ADDY© Awards show.
I have been actively involved in assisting the Texas Gulf surfing association as a full time judge at all contests. I also advise the board of directors at meetings, and am a co-founder of the “Great Surfboard Paint Off," a fundraising concept which seeks to recycle old surfboards rather than sending them to land fills. I am currently a member of the Art Center of Corpus Christi and the Flour Bluff Art Association.
My art is currently on display at the Texas Surf Art Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas, Texas Art Center for the Islands in Port Aransas, Texas, and both Wind and Wave Surf Shop and the Port Aransas Surf Company.
Show History
I have been featured in several shows and exhibits in 2007:
March: One man show, Seventh Heaven Bob Hall Pier
April: Corpus Christi Art Center all member show
May: Mullet Gumbo Movie premier and art Show, rice university media Center, Houston Texas
June: Water Street Music and Art Fest, show and Exhibitor
June: Corpus Christ Aids Foundation: Art Under the Stars Show
Exhibitor and creator of new logo
July The Great Surfboard Paint Off, Port Aransas Texas
