Client Spotlight: Caribbean Sands — A Surfboard Inspired by the Pink Shores of the Caribbean

When Manish reached out to me in May 2025, he had a clear vision — and a unique one. He wasn’t just after a decorative surfboard. He wanted a coastal sculpture that felt like an aerial glimpse of the Caribbean: pale sand, pink shoreline, turquoise water, and soft white surf. It was a palette I hadn’t worked with before — and I was instantly intrigued.

“I see a lot of pink sandy beaches in the Caribbean… The colour scheme is mainly pink, sand colour and a lot of white surf along the length of the board.” — Manish, Shell Cove, NSW

This became the beginning of Caribbean Sands, a commissioned wall-mounted board that pushed my creativity into new territory — blending colour theory, resin layering, and natural wood curation into something both bold and elegant.

From Concept to Collaboration

Our dialogue began over email. Manish had seen my work through Etsy and Instagram, and while the aesthetic aligned, he wanted to explore a palette I rarely use — pink. Not a vibrant hot pink, but a musky, soft, pearl-toned pink. The challenge was creating this in a way that felt organic and true to nature — without looking artificial.

Initially, we explored using Camphor Laurel, but quickly pivoted when Manish expressed the need for a very pale timber to simulate white sand. I sourced a beautiful slab of White Oak — light enough to contrast the resin, but with enough grain variation to keep the visual warmth.

“The wood will perhaps have to be the lightest of light shades… I’m aiming for a white sand look as opposed to the golden sand vibe.”

I drafted early Photoshop concepts to spark ideas — blending pink into turquoise and showing examples of my whitewash wave technique.

Photoshop concept prior to production

Blending a Unique Colour Palette

Pink isn’t a common request in my work, but I embraced the creative stretch. Together, we decided to blend a musky pink pearl pigment directly into the resin, flowing from the wood’s edge into the turquoise "ocean", then layering white waves over the top to create motion and softness.

“I would really like pink to dominate the turquoise… the home is in really neutral tones with a lot of white and beige.”

To keep the composition balanced and not too heavy on the resin side, we followed a rule-of-thirds approach, with about one-third resin to two-thirds timber — creating visual symmetry and allowing the wood’s natural beauty to breathe.

“You certainly have an eye for proportions... I trust that by the end of this, this creation will stand out.”

We also incorporated pearl pigments to catch the light — especially important since the piece would be hung on a wall where natural sun would hit it.

Final Design Specifications

Once we had the concept locked in, I sent over the specs:

• Size: 1800mm x 450mm x 22mm

• Design: Finless, swallow-tail, wall-mounted surfboard art

• Timber: White Oak with natural edge

• Resin: Turquoise-to-pink blend with musky pink pearl pigment and pearl white wave effects

• Finish: High-gloss

• Mounting: D-Hooks to back

• Includes: Signed & dated Certificate of Authenticity

The final piece was packed and shipped to Shell Cove, NSW, fully insured.

A Note on Natural Edges & Artistic Balance

One of the most important changes we made during the process was choosing a more interesting wood slab — not just pale in tone, but with a natural edge shape. Straight edges can feel rigid and predictable. This new piece of White Oak had curves and character, which brought fluidity and coastal motion to the layout.

I’ve always believed the wood’s shape is the unsung hero of these boards. It sets the tone for everything else — the flow of the resin, the energy of the waves, the realism of the coastline.

Trust, Collaboration, and Colour Outside the Lines

What I loved most about working with Manish was the mutual trust in the process. He challenged me to incorporate a colour I hadn’t worked with before — and trusted my ability to do it in a way that felt natural, not synthetic.

“It’s daunting and exciting to do something different… That’s where your experience with colours will come into play.”

In the end, Caribbean Sands became a reflection of both of our visions — his dream of a coastal art piece that complements his home’s warm, neutral palette, and my pursuit of craftsmanship that evokes the ocean in all its forms.

Thinking About Your Own Custom Coastal Piece?

Every board I create is a one-off — no templates, no repeats. Just the timber, the tides, and your vision.

If you’re interested in working together to bring your coastline dreams to life, I’d love to hear from you.

Contact me here to start your custom commission.