The idea of SurfJoy was first born 11 years ago, when I had just moved to Hawaiʻi. I was incredibly lucky to be taken in by locals who saw my effort in the water (often paddling for waves I definitely didn’t have the skills for yet.) Slowly, my whole world brightened as surfing became a regular part of my life.

I had always drawn these little “peanut” characters, but something shifted after being in the ocean. I’d come home, still covered in salt, and start drawing these beachy little personalities before even rinsing off. It felt like they were visiting me.

Surfjoy is currently live as a artist-led retail brand. I recently launched a snail mail club to drive interest to the SurfJoy universe, and have illustrated surf lessons with the characters that have been well received on social media. I have dreams of developing SurfJoy into an animated series that is enjoyable for children and adults alike. I want to tell stories that I hope will spark even a fraction of the joy I’ve been so lucky to experience living in Hawaii.