A $250 deposit is required to place an order. After that, you’ll share your design concept with me, along with details about where you plan to hang the piece, and we’ll collaborate until a final concept is decided. I’ll then begin creating a sketch while sourcing a fiberglass surfboard—please note that epoxy boards and kneeboards cannot be used. If you already have a suitable board, that can speed up the process and lower your overall cost. Otherwise, I’ll find one for you; the cost of the board is transferred directly to you. Prices typically range from $70 to $350, with about 90% of boards costing under $200. Once the sketch is ready, I’ll share it for your approval—or, if you prefer, you can let the artist be creative and enjoy the surprise when it’s finished.
The carving process typically takes about 6 weeks, depending on the complexity of your design. Since I’m retired and carve when inspiration strikes, I don’t approach this as a job with strict deadlines — each piece is created with care and creativity. If you’d like to commission a board, a deposit puts you on my schedule. Carving into fiberglass, polyurethane, and/or polystyrene releases particles into the air that are known carcinogens. I wear full safety gear to protect myself during this process, but for safety reasons, I cannot allow anyone else in the area — no spectators are permitted. Upon completion, the final payment is due at the time of delivery.
The total price includes the cost of the board plus the artist fee. A simple carving (such as my previous Octopus board designs) would be $1,200 plus board cost.
More complex designs increase the price accordingly, and it’s not uncommon for the total carving cost to reach $2,000.