Purveyor of RAD: Daniel George
Waterman, artist, and entrepreneur are just a few words that describe Daniel George. This guy spreads so much Aloha in and out of the water and also rips with so much style! We sat down with the 'flying uke' and talked about designing, shaping, and his favorite seasons for barrels. Drop into the interview and images below!
The Base, Ventura County
Where are you from?
Born in Gainesville Florida
Where did Flying Uke come from!?
What was your first experience with the ocean?
Gainesville is 90 min from the beach. Never even knew about surfing until a friend drove me to the beach and got me out there when I was around 22. I was later hooked after a six month adventure in Central America.
How did you land in Malibu and when did you know if was your new home?
I met a gal in Costa Rica on that trip. After returning to the states I moved to Encinitas with her. She knew about Malibu through a friend, when we made the move north, to the la zone the beached was the goal and I was lucky enough to land in Malibu.
Walk us through a typically day for Daniel?
Really depends on how good the waves are.
Tell us a bit about your recent project ‘Sticks and Mud’
The recycling of materials is pervasive throughout my art and life..
Describe what it’s like to use recycled materials and produce art? What are some challenges and rewards here.
As I mentioned, using recycled or repurposed materials allows me to have to make less decisions. The materials have a story which I am adding to, while putting my own spin on it. Pedestrian materials can also be made magical by changing their context or juxtaposition to other elements of the piece. I guess the only real challenge for me is that I'd like to shape long boards, which require more foam. The rest of the recycling aspect actually makes my job easier. Sometimes a blank canvas can be intimidating. For me, an old kitchen drawer from the trash with coffee stains and maybe some 70s pattern liner paper, is a much easier to work into a piece of art.
We won’t ask you too much about where you surf but tell us what is your favorite season for waves in Malibu and why?
Spring and fall are $$$. A combination of less people and mixed swell directions precipitates into some good tranquilo sessions...
Tell us about some new and or exciting projects are you working on now?
I got a few tricks up my sleeve. Stoked on the freedom mixed media sessions, which I like to do myself, but also dig facilitating for others. I teach small clay classes out of my studio and enjoy sharing stoke about creativity with others. It's an amazing affirmation of my passion and a golden opportunity to make the world a better place. I've realized that using my creativity to blast out good vibes Into the world is a grande part of my purpose on this planet.
What are you most looking forward to in 2017?
Learning to shape better, and glass a board is high on the list. These sticks will hopefully be in another art show along with some more stuff made out of mud. I also get very inspired while Travelling, so I hope to take a couple surfart trips ( Japan) and have at least one big art show.
Where do you live now? is it RAD?
It is Rad! I live in an adobe cave like structure up in the hills of Malibu. Ping pong table out front, veg oil recycling station, container workshop, front porch potting zone, instruments and vintage logs hanging inside with recycled wooden crates comprise the majority of the storage, antique furniture and repurposed redwood tables create a flex kitchen and extension of the pottery studio. Pretty cozy, stoke filled and conducive to art making.
Favorites:
Food?
Wave?
Song?
Tangerine by Led Zepplin, Voodoo Chile slight return by Hendrix or a number of early Bob Marley tracks.
Least Favorites:
Drink?
Transportation?
Airport?


1 comment
Inspiring- exciting -and genuine are what come to mind when i read your ‘Bio’ ! Thanx son of my cousin?♻️☮? Elissa