NAME:  Chris Kemp

AGE:  36

VEHICLE: 2018 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT CARGO VAN . . AKA. “SIL-VAN-STER STALLONE”

OCCUPATION:  ARTIST 

RESIDENCE:  CHARLESTON/FOLLY BEACH  SOUTH CAROLINA

LOCAL WATERING HOLE:  CHICO FEO ON FOLLY BEACH…AMAZING TACOS, NUM PANG, AND  RAMEN…GOOD TUNES AND LIVE MUSIC…BACKYARD VIBE

HIGH TIDE SPOT: LOCALLY, FOLLY PIER HAS A REALLY FUN LEFT WHEN IT’S WORKING… ALL-TIME FAVORITE IS AVALON PIER IN KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC…

WHAT’S IN YOUR QUIVER: ALL OF THE TOYS?

4th GEAR FLYER MAT

DAFIN FINS

VIPERS FINS

PARTY MISSILE HANDPLANE

SOFTECH BOOGIE

10’6” RICKY CARROLL SKIPPER GLIDER

9’6” BING LIGHTWEIGHT PINTAIL

9’6” CHRISTENSON DEAD SLED

9’2” TAKAYAMA TERRAMAR

7’6” WILLEY SURF CORKBOARD

7’4” TRIMCRAFT HALEY PIN

7’2” TRIMCRAFT RE.BOWLS

6’0” CLOWER CRAFT BONZER

5’10” MR

5’9” TRIMCRAFT SIDECUT FISH

5’9” CHANNEL ISLANDS SINGLE FIN 

5’7” BING CLASSIC FISH

5’7” HOOKED FISH

5’6” HOOKED PALMETTO BUG

5’2” LONGTOE MINI SIMMONS

WHAT’S IN YOUR VAN? A FEW WAVE RIDING VESSELS AT ALL TIMES, ART SUPPLIES, A BOOK, SLEEPING BAG AND PILLOW, GOAL ZERO BATTERY TO KEEP ME CHARGED ON THE ROAD, EXTRA WATER. 

FIRST EXPOSURE TO MAT SURFING? MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO MAT SURFING WAS LEARNING ABOUT SURF HISTORY AND GEORGE GREENOUGH IN LATE COLLEGE.  WE SPOTTED GEORGE IN ENDLESS SUMMER AND TRIPPED OUT.  CRYSTAL VOYAGER AND INNERMOST LIMITS OF PURE FUN WERE ON IN OUR APARTMENT.  I MET JAMIE MCCLELLAN A FEW YEARS AFTER WHILE LIVING ON THE OUTER BANKS, NC.  I BARTERED SOME ARTWORK FOR A SURFMAT FROM HIM.  SMILES EVER SINCE!

DID YOU GET THE MAGIC STRAIGHT OUT THE GATE? I GOT THE MAGIC RIGHT AWAY.  BY LOWERING MY EXPECTATIONS FROM STAND-UP SURFING AND FOCUSING ON ONLY HAVING FUN SLIPPING AND SLIDING AROUND THE MAT I GOT A WHOLE NEW FEELING.  THERE’S STILL A LEARNING CURVE FOR ME BUT, THAT’S PART OF THE EXCITEMENT!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU RIDE POOL TOYS VS. BOARDS, BODYSURFING ETC.....? 30-40%?? IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY, THE CONDITIONS, ETC.  I LIKE TO BRING A FEW VESSELS TO THE BEACH AND PLAY AROUND ON EVERYTHING (ON THE IDEAL DAY)

ON MEMORABLE SESSIONS OR SUDDEN LEAPS IN PROGRESS ON A MAT?  LATE SUMMER LAST YEAR, I SURFED IDEAL HEAD HIGH WAVES ALL DAY AT FOLLY...WITH MY ARMS FEELING LIKE JELLO, BUT STILL FROTHING, I WANTED MORE.  LOW TIDE DRAINED IT OUT SO MUCH BUT IT WAS STILL BARRELING. LONGEST SHOREBREAK TUBES I’VE EVER HAD ON THE MAT! AND I ONLY ATE SAND ONCE!

ALSO, ONE DAY WALKING OUT ON A GOOD DAY, I OVERHEARD MULTIPLE KIDS MUTTERING “NOW I’VE SEEN IT ALL” AND LAUGHING ABOUT MY POOL TOY.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, I THINK I’M THE ONE WHO HAD THE MOST FUN.

WHAT DO YOU RUN FOR INFLATION?  USUALLY AROUND 40-50%.  WITH LESS INFLATION I GET PAST SOME OF THE FLAT MUSHY SPOTS AROUND LOCAL BREAKS. 

DOES SIZE MATTER? I’VE ONLY HAD AND TRIED THE ONE MAT I HAVE.  I’D LOVE TO TRY OUT SOME OTHER SIZES MORE FAVORABLE TO THE SMALL, MUSHY STUFF AROUND HERE THOUGH!

HOW ARE YOU PASSING QUARANTINE TIME? I’M MAKING THE MOST OF A BAD TIME.  GETTING BACK TO DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT ART IN MEDIUMS I DON’T USUALLY HAVE THE TIME TO MESS WITH AS MUCH.  I’VE BEEN READING SOME BOOKS, I REPLANTED MY GARDEN, TENDING TO THE YARD, DOING SOME DING REPAIR. BIKE RIDES.  LUCKILY, I WORK AT A SHOP ON THE BEACH AND GOT A PASS TO STILL GO WHEN THE WAVES ARE WORTH IT (THEY RECENTLY CLOSED ACCESS TO THE BEACH RATHER THAN LOCALS OR BUSINESSES).  DRINKING A LOT OF REVELRY BEERS (THE BREWERY I DESIGN FOR), AND BUILDING RANDOM STUFF AROUND THE HOUSE WITH ALL OF MY SCRAP WOOD (I JUST RAN OUT OF RANDOM SCREWS, DAMN!).  I’VE SOMEWHAT BEEN ENJOYING ALL THIS TIME, BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS, I’M MISSING GOOD TIMES WITH MY MATES FOR SURE. 

ON GOALS, PLANS, FUTURE ENDEAVORS…. WELL, I’M SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED THIS OCTOBER....WE’RE CROSSING OUR FINGERS THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN.  IN THE MEANTIME, PLAYING THIS WHOLE THING DAY BY DAY.  MAKING NEW ART REMAINS TO BE A CONSTANT GOAL.  I’D LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER A BODY OF WORK AND HAVE A SHOW SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.   THESE TROUBLING TIMES FOR THE WORLD ARE BOTH DEPRESSING AND INSPIRING AT THE SAME TIME.

CHECK MORE OF CHRIS KEMP’S ARTWORK AT ARTOFKEMP.COM AND ON INSTAGRAM @sea_kemp