Life & Work with Bobbi Bennett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobbi Bennett.

Hi Bobbi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
History of stoked: While curating the Gallery Montecito, I needed to develop a playful concept for a hotel install and decided to put my art on surfboards. As an avid surfer in Southern CA, I decided to use the Santa Barbara local surfboard company, Chanel Islands. I applied a “Sexy Palm” photograph on a vintage Channel Island surfboard, using a technique I developed with resin in my other work. The photograph is mounted, coated with resin, and torched to give a glass-like appearance. After creating the first surfboard, I put it in the gallery and sold it to a major art collector. I decided to make more “Artboards” with a variety of themes. The boards have become so popular; I started a company called “Stoked” and have completed a new line of boards. Stoked also gives a portion to various charities that help with our oceans. I have also been commissioned by celebrities like the Beach Boys, Dennis Quaid, and Miley Cyrus to do my unique style of Art Boards. This past July, I launched my Stoked Rideable Surfboard line and Neon Collection and sold most of my inventory. I was also featured in Malibu Times Magazine, and SB’s life and style were featured on the Montecito Journal cover.

To see more info. Please check the website at www.stokedforsurf.com.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing the artboards was incredibly smooth. It became another art medium. However, creating hand-shaped rideable boards was a different story. I trademarked my company, Stoked Surfboards. To date, I am the only female-owned surf company in the country. I knew the surf industry was a boys club, but I did not know how much. I could have gotten a better response initially, making it difficult to produce the line. I had to prove myself in a way I was not ready for. My line is great, and professional men and women love the boards. So now I’m in.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I started as a fine-art photographer in the early 90’s after graduating from Moore College of Art and Design. in Philadelphia. I had a great career showing in galleries internationally and had a very successful commercial photographic business. I resided in SB, CA, during this part of my career. The themes of my fine art changed every 4-6 years. Themes include Mythical Archetypes, Goddess and Hero, Native Americans, and Angels; everything was created on-set without photoshop. My photographs looked like paintings. In 2015 I won the International Exposure Award, and my piece “Fallen Angels” was included in the Louvre Museum as part of the prize. Once the digital movement came into play, things changed. I had to re-create myself as an artist. There was just too much photography. I had been in the art industry for so long that I started selling other people’s art, opened several galleries, and became an art consultant for luxury residential. While doing all this, I started creating my art surfboards, which have just taken off. Stoked Surfboards and art consulting are my primary focus at this point.

To read more, please visit www.bobbibennett.com
To see the gallery/ consulting, please visit www.montecitogallery.com

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Traveling across the county yearly with my family. By the age of 14, I had seen 50/52 States.

Pricing:

• Rage $1500-$25000

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stokedforsurf.com
• Instagram: Stoked_surfboards
• Facebook: Stoked Surfboards

Image Credits
Bruce Johnston Beach Boys Dennis Quade