“”Chiaroscuro,” I muttered. The evocative effect of strong contrasts between light and dark. This perfectly describes the profound impact of John Durant’s latest masterpiece, “Indonesia,” a stunning charcoal art print poised to become a coveted raffle item at the 2025 San Diego Surfing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Indonesia, a surf chiaroscuro in charcoal was created and donated by professional surf artist John Durant for the 2025 Induction Ceremony event on Sept. 10th, 2025 as a raffle item.
Raffle tickets are available for purchase online until 6 PM on Sept. 10th.
“Charcoal by John Durant” lettering has been added for this digital display, and is not contained in the original work.
The holistic surf artist, John Durant, had graciously invited me into his Sorrento Valley studio to pick up his generous donation for our upcoming raffle. There, on the table, lay “Indonesia,” a 10×10 charcoal art depiction of an Indonesian wave breaking left, rendered in exquisite detail. You can almost feel the offshore conditions feathering the falling lip, and visualize the mysterious indentations down the line that await you mid-ride.
Mindsurfing Masterpiece
In charcoal, “Indonesia” beckons you to mindsurf. You’ll soar in the wind that’s perfectly tapering around your other partner—the lip. Richard Saul Worman, the TED Conference founder, describes anxiety as knowing you are in the wrong place, working on the wrong problems. In stark contrast, “Indonesia” shows you exactly where you want to be, inviting a sense of profound relaxation. The great mystery of the piece lies in how you will choose to navigate the wave’s mysterious intonations. It lures you to ride and asks, “So how are you going to ride this when it only shows up in the moment?” To look at “Indonesia” is to set your spiritual compass in the right direction.
The creator signs off on the creation. A snake eating itself moment if I’ve ever seen one.
The Artist Behind the Evocation
As the door opened to John’s studio, that powerful piece lay there on the table. It was a “snake eating itself” moment when John agreed to let me photograph him signing the piece. He simply asked, “Why would you want to take a picture of me doing that?” as he turned on a few lights. That’s when it hit me again: Chiaroscuro. John himself emitted his own black and white intonations, hovering over the emotionally surf evocative piece as he added his signature.
John Durant is not just a photographer; he is a truly holistic surf artist. His works span professional studio and outdoor photography, drawing, building surfboards, writing, and even museum curation. A professional photographer based in Southern California since 1978 and a graduate of UC San Diego, John is a lifelong surfer. He has lent his photographic talents to iconic surf brands like Rusty Surfboards, Gordon & Smith Surfboards, Bing, Larry Mabile, and Dennis Murphy. His insightful writing about surfing and its fascinating characters has graced the pages of The Surfer’s Journal, The LA Times, and San Diego Magazine.
John shared his lifelong pursuit: “I’ve been near and around the ocean all my life. Hot lazy summers in Santa Monica with my family; cold winters waiting for swing-wide sets at Sunset Cliffs; playful low tide afternoons in Mexico where you can glide through Plexiglas-clear water for two-hundred yards alone on a longboard. And I’ve been trying to find a way to capture that magic with a camera for almost as long.” He credits fellow photographers Jeff Divine, Anthony Friedkin, Lee Peterson for their beautiful wave portfolios, and artists Robert Longo, Art Brewer, and Rick Griffin for influencing his approach to this project. His “Ocean Waves” portfolio, from which “Indonesia” springs, is an ongoing project dedicated to capturing breaking waves in a way you could only experience in your dreams or after sunset – focusing on the rich color and fleeting energy that typically requires being in the water to truly experience.
A Pillar of San Diego Surf Excellence
On the moveable feast of San Diego surfing excellence, John is a constant presence. I see him at event after event: the Mike Hynson Paddle Out, his own curated surf show at the La Jolla Historical Society, and celebrating Joe Roper’s 50th anniversary. His deep involvement underscores his dedication to preserving and celebrating our surf heritage.
Win John Durant’s “Indonesia” for Your Collection!
This incredible “Indonesia” charcoal art print by John Durant is a featured raffle item for the 2025 San Diego Surfing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece that truly captures the soul of the wave.
Raffle tickets for “Indonesia” by John Durant are now available! You need not be present to win, though shipping may be extra.
Learn more about John Durant’s work:
Photography: https://www.johndurant.com/
Journal accounts: https://johndurant.wordpress.com/
3421 Tripp Court #4
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 481-5111
jd@johndurant.com