If you are looking for a fun, easy item to paint, look no further than these decorative surfboards! I’ll show you several different ways you can make these surfboards pop.
Y’all – today’s post is one that is near and dear to my heart…painting surfboards! These handpainted creations are a HUGE part of my story. In fact, these surfboards are how God took me from rock bottom and catapulted me to the top. You can read my entire story and exactly why these decorative surfboards are so incredibly special to me and my family here.
Painted surfboards are literally how I got my start as an entrepreneur. Needless to say, I always get super pumped to share this project with people. It’ll always and forever be a favorite of mine!
Where to Buy Decorative Surfboards
I used to buy all my blanks from a company that no longer sells them—they are actually who I did the video below for. However, there are still several places you can get decorative surfboards to paint!
Of course, you can always try your hand at cutting your own with a jigsaw too! 🙂 That’s what my husband and I did when I first painted these a decade ago! However, looking back I definitely would have ordered the surfboards somewhere had I known that was an option!
How to Paint Decorative Surfboards Step by Step
This project is a great one to tackle for any level of artist. What I really love about this is that you can customize it however you like, and that it can be done in an hour or less.
Paint the Primer
I paint almost all my surfboards white. This primes the board to hold other colors and keep them saturated. I just use a large foam brush to do this.
Add a Base Color
There are literally endless amounts of colors you can use for a base coat! I went with a pretty blue shade in the video, but I’ve painted these in every color imaginable. Don’t forget to paint the edges too. It will help your piece look more finished.
Before I painted my color, I used masking tape to tape off a middle section—we’ll come back to that one later.
By the way, I use craft paints, so nothing fancy. You can literally grab these at the craft store for around $1 per container!
Paint a Stripe
Once you have the sides and edges painted, you’ll be left with a white stripe in the middle. Reposition the masking tape so that it’s narrower, and add a fun accent color in the very middle. So you’ll basically have your first color on the outside, then white (the primer layer), then the accent stripe in the middle of the white space.
Add a Decorative Element
There are SO many ways that you can decorate these boards! I’m showing you two of my favorites here, but again…sky is the limit!
Variation #1: Add Hibiscus Flowers
This may sound intimidating, but I promise it’s a really, really simple technique! I show you exactly how to do it in the video below. I did mine using a liner brush and pink craft paint.
Next, shade in the petals. I mixed my pink paint with an orange for a variation of color and filled in the petals. Lastly, outline the petals in a color that pops—I used hot pink.
Once it dries a bit, I like to add a trio of dots to the petals. It really makes the piece pop!
Variation #2: Add Palm Trees
Silhouetted palm trees definitely add to the beachy vibe of these painted surfboards.
To make these, use a flat, 1″ brush. Load it up with black paint but keep the bristles as thin as possible as you do so. Make the base thicker than the top as you swipe on the paint. To make the palm leaves, add the paint and barely pull the paint down. Again, see the video to get a good visual!
Add Wording
I always like to personalize these with a name or saying of some kind. I show you how to freehand the phrase in the video, but if you have a vinyl cutter at home, that’s an easier way to do it!
Here are a few ideas of what to paint:
- First name
- Family’s last name
- Last name’s bar and grill (like a backyard sign)
- Sports team
- Scripture reference
- Favorite saying
Add a Splash of Metallic Paint
Whichever phrase or word you choose to add, I like to add a bit of highlight to the word with one of my favorite paint supplies – DecoArt 24k metallic paint! It’s so pretty.
Video: Watch Me Paint Surfboards
Now that you have an idea for the process, I invite you to watch this video and see it in action. In less than an hour you’ll have your very own custom painted surfboard!
Teach a Paint Party
By the way, these decorative surfboards are the perfect items to use in a paint party! It’s unique enough to be special, and people will love to display their handiwork after.
Want to teach this at a paint party? Download and read this FREE eBook “How to Teach a Paint Party”!
