AK squirt gun

Fun little squirt gun design.

Different realm

  Sometimes you find yourself in certain places that don't seem to be of this world. This picture of sunset is one of those for me. The water was almost glass, misty fog rolling in. Seemed to be a place far away, calm and serene. An abyss of color and light. Moments like this almost always seem to bring internal reflections. Then just as soon as it came, it's gone. The noises that you somehow didn't notice around you slip back slowly. A boat cutting the water, a barking sea lion, a distant car radio. Your piece of mind distracted once again by things. But how great it is to be able to experience moments like these! Just looking at this picture I can feel my lungs fill deeper with air....

Zen and Color. 

Sketches

Few sketches for an up coming painting. Surfer Girl....

Black and white

Color testing....

Few new ones

  Some of the new paintings.

Aloha

Twins

Fin review

 The Chuck Patterson Great White fin does exactly as it claims. A great fin design that allows it to stay stable, yet can easily be maneuvered when needed.

 I took the fin out for two separate tests. One on a downwind run, and one in flat water.

 The first thing I noticed in the downwind run was that the fin kept the board loose while dropping in on bumps. Once in the trough between bumps I found the fin easily let me change direction if I needed to follow, or catch another upcoming bump on the left or right. The fin also kept a very straight track. Some fins are great for downwinding because they don't veer off course, but sacrifice maneuverability when needed in tight spots. This fin has both. You can concentrate on catching and gliding, knowing that the point you're aiming for is still on track. The fin also had speed and didn't seem to have any drag what so ever. Easily gliding from one bump and into the next.

 The next run was over flat water. Some fins seem to work great in one set of certain conditions, while they lack in others. But not this fin. It held speed in flats just fine. Tracked a straight course just as it had in the downwind run. Even into a slight headwind (5 to 8 knts) it held course, and made it easy to concentrate on paddling by not having to switch sides every 3 strokes.

 All in all this is a very impressive fin. At first I liked the aggressive design, hoping that the fin would live up to the name. I had some doubts as some fins work great in some areas and not in other areas. But this handled everything I put it through. It was much better than I expected it to be, and a nice surprise. It does exactly what it says it will. If you're looking for a fin that can go from one set of conditions to another, or just want an all around good fin, this is it. Great fin worth the money. 

You can purchase it here.

The conditions of the downwind test. Fun bumps in about 20 - 25 knt wind.

The fin.

Paintings for sale

 Got a good response to the artwork on my handplanes I've been shaping. So I've decided paint waves on some gesso boards. These are all acrylic on a very smooth gesso. Details about them are below in the photos. I should have pay pal up and running very soon. Until then if you would like one, leave a comment here and I will get in touch with you. Or find me on Facebook.

Blue lip - 5x7 inches on flat gesso board. Ready to frame. SOLD! 

Sunset set - 5x7 inches on flat gesso board. Ready to frame. SOLD! 

Tube vision - 6x6 inches on mounted 3/4 thick gesso board. SOLD!

Detail of 3/4 wood frame.

Small beauty

Sometimes the most impressive beautiful things are right under us. You just need to look differently at the world around you. Finding beauty in small folds of water....

Green means go

Another hand plane painted. A big green lip.

Green is good.

Detail

Looking down the line.

Finished!

Finished painting. 

Painting Planes.

Running through some new hand planes. I'll have a more thorough description of how these are made, and the steps that go into them soon. For now here are a few pics of the beginning of the painting process. Starting with pencil sketching an outline, then moving into the paint. Final pics of these will be up later. 

Pencil Lip pitching

Pencil outline of a wave. 

Going left. 

Think the pencil will make the section? 

Start of painting

Color. 

Winter Sunsets

It may be getting colder, and the sunsets closer to the afternoon. Remember there is still plenty of beauty to see. Crisp winter sun.

Cold winter Shilshole sunset. 

Tropical Dreams

 Just returned from Hawaii. Here are a few pictures (more on the way)of some of the things seen and done. All I can say is I love that place. Friends, waves, surf and sun. This morning it seemed like some kind of lucid long dream than a reality that had happened. So much so that I found most of my thoughts today to be ending about still being there with my wife, on the beach, with the warm breeze,just the sound of waves,palm trees and the taste of salt on the lips.

Waves

A quick edit of a few waves from the weekend.

Picture in the news

Got my first picture in the news today. Thanks to Travis Mayfield and Stoke Harvester for making this happen!

http://ballard.komonews.com/news/business/new-business-gets-ballardites-water-keeps-owner-flip-flops/644606

Yesterdays paddle

Finally got a new racing board after saving for a good while. Tried it out the other day with Mrs.Woods and J Brown. Super fast and glides on any bump. Can't wait for some races! Big huge thanks to Stoke Harvester for helping me get the board/ Few pics from the paddle..more to come.

Elizabeth strikes a pose.

Jon chillin while Elizabeth does a sun dance.

Elizabeth paddling in the sun.

Paddle Training

With the weather getting better every week, it's time to start getting longer distance paddles in. The sun is up longer and the winds are usually not too bad. My friend Jon and I did this route this last Sunday. Nice 9 miler(give or take a quarter or less)to give you a little burn. Good stuff!

9 mile route in red. Fun! 

Spring is on the way!

Seems like the sunny weather is finally starting to get here(even though it's raining now). Finally the temp is starting to get warmer on paddles, and the wind is dying off. A few pics from a recent sunny weather paddle. 

Jon's brand new board(on the right). 

Launching point.

Jon paddling across the channel.

Sea Creatures that lie below the surface! 

Leroy Grannis

 Found out the other day that Leroy Grannis died. It's always a little sad to think that someone who inspired you has passed. Found this photo of his, it's one of my all time surf favorites. The color, mood, body language. Everything about this picture makes me want to go surf. I think that's what makes a good surf photo.  If after looking at it for a few seconds you want to run out the door and jump in the ocean, it's done correctly. Thanks Leroy for all the great images and inspiration.

Pictures of the day

New website is up!

Finally got my new website up and running

www.renickwoods.com