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Artist Portfolio: Matt Allen

Multi-faceted surf artist Matt Allen shares some of his recent photography, art, and design work - all thoughtfully sourced from the ocean. Enjoy.

BY Matt Allen |

Surf Artist Matt Allen The Ryde Portfolio
  • Left: Penny Farthing art for The Ryde. A couple of injuries kept me out of the water for most of 2009 so I turned to photography to keep me connected and excited about surfing. That involved daily lunch time sessions at Church (top) and trips up to Rincon (bottom). Time well spent.

    Left: Penny Farthing art for The Ryde. A couple of injuries kept me out of the water for most of 2009 so I turned to photography to keep me connected and excited about surfing. That involved daily lunch time sessions at Church (top) and trips up to Rincon (bottom). Time well spent.

  • Left: Artwork for The Ryde. Right: Church stylist (top) and lomo collage (bottom).

    Left: Artwork for The Ryde. Right: Church stylist (top) and lomo collage (bottom).

  • Left: Artwork for The Ryde. Right: Blacks beach bottom turn. Bottom: We've been expanding into the cut-n-sew realm at The Ryde and it has been challenging and fun to find new ways to be creative. These are pieces from our Fall 2010 collection.

    Left: Artwork for The Ryde. Right: Blacks beach bottom turn. Bottom: We've been expanding into the cut-n-sew realm at The Ryde and it has been challenging and fun to find new ways to be creative. These are pieces from our Fall 2010 collection.

  • Central Coast temptation. Right: Low tide Church (top) and San Onofre (bottom).

    Central Coast temptation. Right: Low tide Church (top) and San Onofre (bottom).

  • Top: Artwork for The Ryde. Bottom left to right: I've been spending a lot more time traversing the California coast from this past year. Blacks, Malibu, Rincon, Big Sur.

    Top: Artwork for The Ryde. Bottom left to right: I've been spending a lot more time traversing the California coast from this past year. Blacks, Malibu, Rincon, Big Sur.

  • Clockwise from top left: Steamer Lane sequence. Playing around with brush pens. Artist series shoe for Simple Shoes.

    Clockwise from top left: Steamer Lane sequence. Playing around with brush pens. Artist series shoe for Simple Shoes.

  • Left: Action Sampler fun. Right: I was in Chicago near Navy Pier and I saw this great brick building. I walked across the street to get a photo just as this person was walking by. I had to wait until just the right moment to get the composition I wanted. I added the surfboard later.

    Left: Action Sampler fun. Right: I was in Chicago near Navy Pier and I saw this great brick building. I walked across the street to get a photo just as this person was walking by. I had to wait until just the right moment to get the composition I wanted. I added the surfboard later.

  • Clockwise from left: Action Sampler doodle. Token fin shot. Late afternoon Rincon. Surf structure. Blue Beard for The Ryde's Spring 2011 line.

    Clockwise from left: Action Sampler doodle. Token fin shot. Late afternoon Rincon. Surf structure. Blue Beard for The Ryde's Spring 2011 line.

  • Left to right: Oh Captain my Captain. Heading South from Oregon. Surf Mash-up.

    Left to right: Oh Captain my Captain. Heading South from Oregon. Surf Mash-up.

  • Clockwise from top left: I was tagging along on an Art Brewer shoot for Swell.com and I snapped a few photos of my own. Crossing the street in Venice. Leo Carillo. Grungy Palm. Big Sur coast. Rincon. (Bottom left) This day was amazing. Just two other people out and a super fun right point. I shot this one just before the lights went out.

    Clockwise from top left: I was tagging along on an Art Brewer shoot for Swell.com and I snapped a few photos of my own. Crossing the street in Venice. Leo Carillo. Grungy Palm. Big Sur coast. Rincon. (Bottom left) This day was amazing. Just two other people out and a super fun right point. I shot this one just before the lights went out.

  • Clockwise from left: Jill Hansen at Church. Pencil, pen and watercolors on an old piano roll for Surfer Magazine. Lomo color study. View more of Matt Allen's work at MattAllen.com.

    Clockwise from left: Jill Hansen at Church. Pencil, pen and watercolors on an old piano roll for Surfer Magazine. Lomo color study. View more of Matt Allen's work at MattAllen.com.

Matt Allen Surf Artist

Matt Allen is a multi-faceted artist from Orange County, California. With a list of titles ranging from creative director/artist/photographer/clothing designer/musician/surfer, Allen takes whatever creative pursuit that strikes his fancy and dives in head-first. Matthew spent time as the Art Director at Surfer Magazine and now focuses on his clothing project The Ryde. Injuries kept him out of the water last year, so he turned to photography to stay creative and connected to the sea.

Allen’s clothing company, The Ryde, allows him to combine all of his passions. On a good day, Allen can draw t-shirt designs in the morning, surf at lunch, snap a few photos after he exits the water, head back to the office to design some boardshorts, and goof around on the guitar when he gets home at night. View more of Matt Allen’s work at MattAllen.com.

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