Watching a lot of surf contests on the Internet, the movies that glorify the sport year in year out, and even scouring through second hand boards in various surf shops you probably already noticed that sometimes certain boards standout from the rest. I’m not talking about shapes and sizes but about the message they can convey if you consider them a canvas. Of course, for filling a canvas first you need an idea, and image in your head of what you want, after all a white surfboard is like a empty piece of paper, and to write on that paper you need a pen. In this case I’m talking about permanent waterproof markers that can withstand sand and lots of salt water.

I’ve been searching for some way to do something on my surfboard without using an airbrush and expensive brush colors for a while. About a year ago I found a Japanese company that makes special art marker pens that can stick to almost any surface. They come in different shapes and sizes and have an enormous amount of colors available. On top of that you can literally draw one color on top of the other. Now ordering these over the Internet can be a very expensive thing if you consider a pen that cost a few dollars, the postage you’re going to pay to get it to Slovenia can very well exceeds 20 bucks. Then, of course, you could also go to the 58surfshop at Baleal next time you’re in Portugal.

Well checking the stuff they have in the shop for the third time in just a few days there they were. Next to the entrance I found a giant Posca marker shrine and I had to get myself a few. Getting home I couldn’t wait for too long. I had a few ideas in my head and I quickly started sketching them in my sketchbook with my Wacom Inkling. Check out my design from sketch to finished work:

Now, there are a few minor things that you should consider before using the pens:

1. You need to have some basic drawing skills.

2. Thinking about something cool doesn’t are dramatically make it cool.

3. Make the drying something personal something unique.

4. Have it convey some of your personality.

5. Waterproof does not mean hundred percent waterproof.

6. Even permanent markers are not permanent. If you don’t want them to be.

7. Have fun experimenting with different ideas and different color tones.

After completing my little customization with the markers after a few days I noticed that some color on the sides had gone off. After making myself smart about all the possible ways of making my drawings permanently permanent, I came to the conclusion that I might add, or want to change something in the future. Therefore, I decided that sometimes it’s better something is semipermanent with the option of changing, adding and removing still at hand. Well, some of you might think that putting an extra layer of finish with a spray on your POSCA painting will make it totally permanent, you have to consider that maybe one day you might have to sell your board, and your potential buyer might not exactly like your personal design preference. Another thing, you could be like me, have a personal story connected to your drawings which you might want to move to the new board and not leave for some stranger to paddle out on when you are gone. In conclusion, when trying to say is that these semipermanent permanent markers are a really cool thing and if you like to make your stuff more personal, they might just be the thing for you. Check out some masterfull designs by Mr. Poscaman Drew Brophy.