The Art Of The Spray: Josh Dowling
By now you would've read the story about Victorian shaper Josh Dowling and his reluctant exit from the industry. And if you haven't you'll find it here and here.
Josh is most noted for his precision handiwork in assembling boards but we here at Swellnet are a superficial mob. While the connoisseurs admire the complexity and the detail of JD's work, we're roused by the colourful shit that lays on top.
It's our opinion that Josh's colour work deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other great surfboard artists such as Martyn Worthington, Jim Davidson, and Shane Egan. And when you consider that not only did Josh spray the damn things but built 'em too, you realise his will be a sorely missed talent.
Here's just a small slice of Josh Dowling's portfolio. If you own one of them then consider yourself a lucky bastard.
Comments
This has been a great series Stu. Nice work
Any collectors looking theres a beauty in W.A for sale on gumtree
6'10" with 4 way fin system and Joshs art spray - $380 neg ..very nice
Its all about the Board : Vimeo
love that blue egg shape 5th from bottom, reminds me of my Gold Coast groveller
Fucken hell! And he's had to quit???
Yeah he had to quit unfortunatley. hes the only composite guy i knowof doing 4 and 6 channels too. Lovely work, looks like tedious but reawrding work.And the boards are art pieces.
Definitely, works of art.
Form and function.
JD for sale
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ocean-grove/surfing/josh-dowling-shapes…
Hi. I'm looking to get an idea of the price of a 7'9 Josh Dowling board. Never ridden. It's a master piece but don't have room it.
Nice
Makes the one in W.A a steal
These boards are worth $5grand each without thinking about it...and worth every cent
Bit hard to commit 5 large mate. The market would be quite limited no matter how beautiful the work is.
Nice, I'm sure his boards will be collectable in the future.
Remember Van Gogh? Didn't sell a painting or make much money during his life. This work is fab, and not just skin deep. Note the vents up forward where the sun lands. Five from the bottom looks like a top little kneeboard. Hyperreality is a striking visual style for a surfboard. Maybe just paint pictures and surf for fun, JD? Great work Stu, fine commissioning.
Awesomeeee! that is French for Awesome!
They should do this on spaceships, no, I mean like gaming spaceships. I have just started Elite, I am little bit all over the place, but a paint job like this would improve me.
Damn Josh, I hope you are earning good money.
I am a genius, virtual spraypainting, really, I am a genius.
Here's a Poem
The Art of the Spray
Templates and good faith
Imagination and boards
Boards and minimisation
Minimisation and Love
Love and spraypainting
Get Fucked.
The 5th from the bottom is mine, as well as timber bottomed blue tinted 7'4". I also owned a timber bottomed twin keel fish, I dare say the only keel fish he ever made. Loved it but sold it after knee injury. Regret it, but won't sell the others, even though I'm a weekend warrior these days. Great boards and a great bloke.
Blue one is 5'4" x 21 1/2" x 2 1/2 with concave deck. At 88kegs and hardly surfing I can paddle it fine and it catches small waves fine. Light and fun. 7'4" is 21 x 2 1/2 rockered and foiled ( relatively speaking ) for good waves for an intermediate surfer. Don't see many of those now lol, but it's a keeper.
Wish josh nothing but success, great bloke and a craftsmen as well.
Sounds like a fishing boat.
your that beer dude.