Surf Art ; The Art of Clark Takashima

Clark Takashima was born in Hawaii on May 28th, 1963 and raised in Peal City on the island of Oahu. Clark began drawing at the age of 5 with the basics of line drawing taught by his father.  From that point on, art became his passion along with hiking and surfing. He would explore the islands beauty, come home and convey his experiences on canvas. His summers were spent on Maui with his four brothers and grandmothers each year, inspired by its spectacular sights he was successfully painting seascapes and sold his first painting at the age of 15.

Clark was primarily self taught until he earned an Associates of arts degree at Leeward Community College, University of Hawaii. He worked for an Art gallery as a visual merchandiser where he studied various modern master's works. He has also traveled the world from Japan to Europe, visiting the works of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and many influential artist's works of all time. Clark has painted in different styles and developed his own blend of impressionism and realism which creates  magically breathtaking works that give the viewer the feeling of "being there". He has also worked as a freelance graphic artist/designer for various businesses and created some timeless designs still parading Hawaii's streets today.

Clark continues to delight us over the past 25+ years with art and sculpture, but in 1999 he wowed us with an 18 x 32 foot mural of a huge wave of the famous surfing beach, The Banzai Pipeline. This mural was featured across the dance floor at Honolulu's premiere nightclub Pipeline Cafe'. It was so well received, it opened a whole new medium for Clark, and he has since thrived in a world of murals. He has painted countless scenes in nightclubs, restaurants, wine bars, clothing stores, surf shops, and many other businesses and private residences. Works of art ranging from Hawaiiana to Italiana, portraits and accents to faux woods and marble.

It is an exciting time in Clark's career with an expanding climate of home improvement, he constantly is and will be for years to come, commissioned to paint something new, challenging, and exciting.

All of Clark's paintings depict insightful views of his chosen subject matter. His art brings you into an experience. As with his surf art, he brings the non-surfer as well as the expert to experience this feeling so many yet so few live to feel. With his unique mix of impressionism and realism, his work shows  mood through color and you are magically transported to the place where a feeling or action is realized. "If you have ever been in the presence of an original Rembrandt, you'll find where he wants you to focus, is highly detailed, the paint -very thick. You can see he spent hours going over layers upon layers to gain perfection in color, hues, and values. The areas where your eyes get to relax took him mere seconds to paint but is vital to the composition as the support  of the whole. The conceptual  bowl, holding the contents together as one subject, Yin &Yan, quiet, surrounding loud".

Whether you're seeking an unique piece of art, a beautiful sculpture a mural or special accent in your home or business, Clark is a true renaissance man, you'll be delighted by his creative ability, professionalism, warmth, and friendliness. If you can dream it.....its not a matter of "if" Clark can paint it, but when.