BTC Holiday Surfboards
Artist Contest
This year, the Beaches Town Center held an artist contest to redesign a set of surfboards for our annual holiday decorations. Meet the artists below!
Linda Olsen
Linda Olsen's art is profoundly inspired by her lifelong connection to water and nature. Growing up in California with her seven siblings, she developed a love for aquatic themes during sailing trips to the Channel Islands. She studied art at San Diego State University and later taught high school art in Pebble Beach before relocating to Florida in the late 1970s.
For 27 years, Linda worked as a graphic designer and Creative Director before transitioning to professional photography, specializing in weddings, portraits, and fine art photography for 15 years. In 2009, SilverShots International Magazine recognized her as one of the top fine art photographers, and her works have been exhibited in numerous galleries across the country.
For the past 14 years, Linda has been a full-time painter, creating internationally collected artworks. She operates her art studio in Neptune Beach and has participated in various shows and galleries throughout the years. In addition to painting, she enjoys kayaking and swimming, which further strengthens her bond with water. Her art is characterized by its vibrant and joyful energy, reflecting her deep connection to nature.
Sarah Jones
I was born in California, one of six children, but I spent most of my life in MN. In 2020 I had finally had enough of winter and decided it was time to make some big changes in my life so I moved down to Jacksonville. I love going to the beach and seashell hunting, so I started making pictures out of the shells I’d find in shadow boxes in 2022. Currently I sell these at Seaside Shoppes in Jax Beach. Painting was always a desire of mine but never a reality. I started teaching myself how to paint in 2023. It's one of the most relaxing and satisfying things for me. You can find most of my work on Facebook and Etsy under Made By Sarah J.
Milu Rodriguez
Milu is a Colombian artist with a profound passion for life, seeing the world through a lens of unique sensitivity. Through her art, she channels this vision, expressing emotions and sensations that connect with those who view her work. Nature, especially animals, is a constant source of inspiration that fuels her creativity. For over three years, Milu has been an active part of Jacksonville's local art scene, where she’s had the privilege of collaborating on projects such as the redesign of the Mermaid Jaguar sculpture at The Town Center Beaches. Each project is a personal and unique journey, crafted to reflect the true essence of life. She pours love, talent, and professionalism into every piece, ensuring that each one is a truly special creation.
Gail Spratt Cooper
Gail lives in Ponte Vedra Beach and has been working as a graphic designer and illustrator in the Jacksonville area for over 50 years. She began her career working in an
advertising agency and in 1976 started Spratt Design creating advertising campaigns and illustration for local ad agencies, restaurants, book publishers and corporate businesses though out Florida and Georgia. She designed and painted The Kitty of the Sea Jaguar and Under the Sea Turtle public art located in the Beaches Town Center and also know for designing the Dancin’ in the Streets t-shirts for several years.
Gail is well known in the beaches area for her popular children’s after school and summer camps, “Mrs. Cooper’s Art Camp”. Presently she is working as an interior designer creating vibrant interiors for homes and boutique hotels including the Amelia Schoolhouse Inn, a renovated 1800s schoolhouse in Fernandina Beach, FL. “I have been very blessed to have a career doing what I love to do and experience the happiness of creating a bit of beauty and fun to this part of the world.”
Lisa Manos
After 23 years as a speech language pathologist creating art in her spare time, Lisa Manos has dedicated herself to make oil painting a full-time profession. Focusing on the subtle nuances of the sky and sea, Lisa uses oil paints on canvas to create a sense of calm and awe in nature. She has always been inspired by the beauty of nature through her extensive travels and outdoor activities with her husband and two sons. The sky and water are a never-ending muse and a favorite to paint especially since moving to Jacksonville Beach. From breathtaking mountain vistas to the serenity of the beach, capturing the nuances of color to bring a painting to life is Lisa’s passion.
Instagram: @lisamanosart
Wylie Rasmussen
From her studio in Northeast Florida, this Canadian American arrives to us from the coastal towns of half Moon Bay, California, Miami and Jupiter, Florida.
As a fine artist, Wylie creates original works of decorative art for the fun at heart. she predominantly uses coastal object design exclusively on Surfboards. The Surfboard is her only canvas.
For 36 years Wylie‘s passion for surf culture (and saving the earth one Surfboard at a time) rests in those that love salt in the air and wind in their hair her lighthearted, whimsical coastal designs concentrate on sea, palms, surf and tropical flowers.
Her multifaceted multi layered technique starts with the hard grind of stripping sanding and preparing her boards. She applies acrylic paints mixed with watercolors and trims with pens, these paintings spring bright by highlighting, hot pink, lime greens, electric reds, and yellows with seafoamy bright blues. The turtles smile, the mermaids glide, the gators grin and the palms sway.
Wylie‘s decorative surfboards have been shown in multiple shows throughout the east coast including Hilton head South Carolina, Bethany Beach Delaware, Saint Simons Georgia, Ponte Vedra Beach, Saint Augustine, Stewart, Jupiter, Juno Beach and Venice Florida.
Brooke McKinney
Hi! I’m Brooke McKinney, a Florida-born artist living and creating in Atlantic Beach. I earned my Master’s degree in Arts in Medicine from the University of Florida, which fuels my passion for blending art and healing.
As an Artist-in-Residence with Art with a Heart in Healthcare, I use creativity to bring comfort and joy to kids in the hospital. When I’m not working with the non-profit, I’m busy creating artwork for sale and taking commissions.
Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or by email—I’d love to hear from you!
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Instagram: @mermaidmakesart
Ro Pacifico
Ro is an artist and illustrator from Florida. She began her career in corporate strategy but decided she wanted to focus on her favorite part… making things beautiful! She began Calling It Something as a way to explore her creative journey. Her art can be seen on Minted, Spoonflower, Etsy, and other outlets. She loves bright colors, flowing lines, quirky details, and stripes that get incorporated into her eye-catching illustrated and abstract designs.
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Instagram @callingitsomething
Gary Trbovich
Gary has been a resident of the Beaches area for over 40 years. Primarily self taught, Gary has only started painting since he retired six years ago. From beach houses to iconic motels, Gary’s approach uses a spontaneous brush and the vivid colors found throughout the First Coast beach communities. “I draw my inspiration from walks on the beach, and also by just living in the Beaches community. Many of my paintings are of area buildings, some existing, some no longer standing. I love to stir the memories of residents and former residents with depictions of the places they grew up, especially of those residents who have moved to other parts of the country,” Gary Trbovich explained.
Gary’s art is available as prints in his Etsy store and can be reached using the link below:
Nancy Ruppert
I grew up in the shade of the Atlantic Beach pier. For me, the ocean is a source of inspiration. Sunrises, moonrises, clouds, ocean storms; and pelicans, sea oats, palm trees, and sand dunes, swimming, sandcastles, walks on the beach, or reading under the shade of an umbrella are treasures I enjoy alone and/or with friends and family. The Jacksonville Beaches hold memories of places and people I love and care about. My father always said, ‘There’s no place like Atlantic Beach.’ I agree with him, that, ‘It doesn’t get much better than this.’
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Every morning we get to share ‘performance art’ over the Atlantic Ocean…clouds, sky, breeze, pelicans, dolphin, bikes, paddle boards, surfers, dogs, people fishing, walking, running, swimming….all to the drumming of waves, I call it the symphony of dawn. I love calling this precious place ‘home.’
Beth Haizlip
I call myself a happy colorful expressionist artist. I love using bold colorful brushstrokes that makes the painting exciting and not like you are a viewing a photograph. I have been painting for over 40 years and teach acrylic art classes at Whitey’s Fish Camp and Atlantic Beach Arts Market where I have my art work for sale. I have a studio in my home at Fleming Island and Jacksonville Beach. My favorite subject to paint is seascapes especially sunsets and sunrises of the Beach.
If you are interested in classes or seeing my new work please join my newsletter by going to this link below:
instagram: @beth_haizlipart
Fena M. Foley
Im a local artist from Jacksonville Beach Florida. My main medium is acrylic and subject matter varies. I love the natural world and the ocean. Fantasy and sci fi. I do mainly customized works and have been an artist all my life.
More information about our Holiday Celebration & Season of Lights