JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kirsten Lahmann doesn’t prefer to paint on a traditional canvas.
Her passion for repurposing retired surfboards is not only a way to create sentimental pieces for surfers, but to avoid putting their beloved boards into the landfill.
Lahmann's passion for this level of artistry began in San Diego when her brother growing up would grow a collection of broken or worn out surfboards.
"He goes out every day, it's his therapy," Lahmann told First Coast News. "And he breaks his boards he's been using them for so long that he doesn't necessarily want to get rid of them. So, he would bring me his boards."
The Jacksonville resident and her family would have their own collection of worn down surfboards in their garage, collecting dust until she took paintbrushes out.
“Taking those boards that surfers are maybe attached to, but don't want to get rid of, or boards that are just out of commission, taking up space, I kind of give them new life,” Lahmann said.
Illustrating the waves they once rode not only into display art, but turning them into coffee tables.
"I love the action of taking something that maybe would have ended up in a landfill and transforming it into something else," Lahmann said. "But, I think it's breeding creativity."
So, how does she get the surfboards? Lahmann says she typically receives the boards as donations from other surfers who don’t want to see their boards in the trash and purchases used ones online or at art marketplaces.
Surfers like her brother have a hard time just pitching the boards into a dumpster.
"He would spend a lot of time on his board," Lahmann said. "He would spend a lot of time in the water with it. And so, he would be very attached to it and wouldn't necessarily want to get rid of it."
Lahmann now has created an entire art career from her conservation project, showing other artists how they can use their skills to turn trash into treasure.
“Artists should think differently about the things that they are just how to express their art. It doesn't always have to be canvas, it doesn't always have to be paint on canvas,” said Lahmann.
Lahmann adds she can spend up to a month refurbishing a surfboard, as the part that takes the most time is smoothing out the edges along the board.
"That's why you don't really see the style that I use on these surfboards, or on surfboards in general because resin doesn't work well on curvy surfaces," Lahmann said. "So, I've kind of worked out a way to have my designs on the board and freeze on the board and not just slide off."
To learn her process, Lahmann is a part of the American Landmark Artist in Residence Program, a grant program where it brings in artists and gives them a place to stay rent-free in exchange for teaching art to the residents once a week. You can find her class schedule here.