Surfboard Art, Andy Warhol And Standing Nudes
Tim Bessell Talks Pop
words and cell phone pics by Rob Rowsey
Tim Bessell is building a number of Limited Edition surfboards inspired by the art of the pop icon Andy Warhol. They’re not cheap, either. The tall, blue “Dance Steps” longboard pictured below goes for $8,000. It’s one of ten of that version being made.
Bessell said that last year the shorter black and purple flower-design Warhol board was purchased for $18,000 by the late David Copley, one-time owner of San Diego Union/Tribune newspaper. Out of this the shaper volunteered to me that he earned between $1,000 and added that maybe it was more like up to $1,800. He wasn’t too sure about his exact fee. This is an artist that seems more dedicated to integrity in his art and contributing to his community than interested in money.
“It was a donation and bought through the San Diego Museum Of Art at auction, at their bi-annual benefit auction. It was bought for the intention of giving it to his assistant,” said Bessell.
“He (Copley) died a couple of months later. It was sad. He never got to see it… He had major heart problems, a heart transplant.”
In one of the photos below the board third from the left is for sale for “$6,600 – because of the size. It’s 6-6,” said Bessell. “They’re all one of ten.”
When I stopped in to Tim Bessel’s La Jolla shop today he was out front on the sidewalk rolling up a large canvas banner with an picture of an AK-47 and he made mention of it being from a recent collaboration with another La Jolla artist, Glenn Chase. Bessell also had some images he’d recently created that looked like resin-covered photographic panels that he was impregnating with crushed glass, or “diamond dust,” as he called it. “Very dangerous stuff,” Bessell said.
He’s also expanding his catalog of fine art images to a series of standing female nudes derived from photos of a dark-haired model he has worked with – a new genre for him , from what I’ve seen. Tim has mostly been about surf-art culture and pop art up to now.
Open to the public, you can come and get them or just take a look at the epic surfboards lining the walls and on display or the hanging art in Tim Bessel’s studio/office/gallery, where there’s always some sort of project going on and a friendly face to be seen, at Bessell Surfboards, 515 Westbourne, La Jolla, CA 92037, phone 858-344-7080.
Tim Bessell’s Andy Warhol Series can be ordered through Alex Salazar Fine Art, 640 Broadway Suite A, San Diego, CA 92101, phone 619-531-8996. Inquiries can be directed via email at alexandersalazarfineart@gmail.com.
