INTRO

It’s 6:33 am in a foggy Santa Barbara, CA. So instead of spending my morning swimming in the ocean, I figured it would be a nice time to write about it. The coffee is poured, the marine layer is soothing, and the creativity is blooming.

Welcome to the State of the Art — A Swim in the Sea, let’s dive in.

THE PREP

Each swim starts before I get to the ocean. There’s something about that quiet morning energy, before the world awakes, where you feel a different kind of peace and focus. I tap into that with a 10-20 minute meditation and a big glass of water upon waking up. Then it’s off to brew a coffee and pack my beach bag with my camera before putting on my wetsuit under the last remaining stars in the dawn sky. And before my toes touch the water, I take a moment to be thankful for what’s in front of me as I feel life flowing in and out of the ocean.

 THE PROCESS

Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. Immersing one’s self in the ocean is all about exactly that. Consistency, discovery, curiousty. With a feel for the buoy and beaches surrounding Santa Barbara, I’m able to get a sense for where the waves are going to break best on a daily basis. Over time, this adds up to new photos with fresh swells, changing tides, and seasonal lighting situations. I love to be in all of it. To feel the forces of the planet coming together in the shorebreak. My photography is a product of dedication, focus, and flow.

THE PHILOSOPHY

Life changed for me quite a bit when I found out I had cancer at 20 years old. Through that experience and recovery, I found peace in impermanence, wealth in health, and power in passion. My flow is influenced by both a go get ‘em mindset of the west and the zen mindset of the east. This fusion feels like the perfect combination of athleticism and awareness in order to provide sustained energy to grow with. Waves remind me to embrace the emotions of the ocean, go with the flow, and continue to be a student of life. The fact that no wave breaks twice inspires me to never miss an opportunity to shoot as well as reflect on my life as though it is a unique wave in itself. I hope my art can inspire the same feelings.

THE GOALS

First and foremost, my goal is to create a legacy of ocean artwork. There’s nothing that excites me more than scoring the shot and sharing it with the world. Waves are uplifting by nature, and I believe that feeling is important and impactful. Beyond that, my continuous goals include staying healthy, writing about my work when the moment comes, and getting beautiful pieces into grateful hands. My promise is to always learn, continue to create, and inspire myself and others through ocean art for as long as I physically can. One step at a time, with purpose on my mind and sand on my feet.

THE ART

Sometimes, the best things are left unsaid. But perhaps a few words are nice.

I love sharing my work, having it be collected is the pearl of the oyster. I hope everything written above is infused into my pieces. Most of all, if I can stay true to my inner compass, the map for this path called life will reveal itself.

THE ARTIST

My name is Collin Dewell and this is what I love.

Creating ocean art in the shorebreak at sunrise and sunset and sharing it with the world.

Join me as we set sail.