Matt Beard is a Northern California artist whose work has become recognized throughout the world, having been published in the Surfer’s Journal, Surfer, Surfing, Longboard Magazine and others. Despite the attention he’s received for his art, he is no stranger to struggling though each month , somehow, managing to get by and feed his kids through his tireless pursuit of making art.
Beard’s recent endeavors are driven by a humanitarian desire to make a difference in the lives of those with greater needs. He recently created a website and organized an ongoing project called the Board Art Benefit. The project has been a huge success, raising over $13,000 to date for SurfAid International.
Beard was inspired to create this year’s artwork for the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships by the thought of a grueling open ocean paddle that resonates with him as an artist. Trying to make a livelihood from making art can be a test of endurance like no other. Artists often wonder if they’ll even make it to shore, and Beard is no different. But one thing he knows is to just keep paddling. That said, he wouldn’t mind if a boat full of sandwiches and beers pulled up next to him once in awhile.
Matt Beard’s website www.beardart.com will soon host samples of his art. Look for more of his work to be incorporated into the race as race day gets closer.
