The art of the spray: Josh Dowling

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Form Guide

By now you would've read the story about Victorian shaper Josh Dowling and his reluctant exit from the industry. And if you haven't you'll find it here and here.

Josh is most noted for his precision handiwork in assembling boards but we here at Swellnet are a superficial mob. While the connoisseurs admire the complexity and the detail of JD's work, we're roused by the colourful shit that lays on top.

It's our opinion that Josh's colour work deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other great surfboard artists such as Martyn Worthington, Jim Davidson, and Shane Egan. And when you consider that not only did Josh spray the damn things but built 'em too, you realise his will be a sorely missed talent.

Here's just a small slice of Josh Dowling's portfolio. If you own one of them then consider yourself a lucky bastard.

Comments

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 12:23pm

This has been a great series Stu. Nice work

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 9:27pm

Any collectors looking theres a beauty in W.A for sale on gumtree
6'10" with 4 way fin system and Joshs art spray - $380 neg ..very nice

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 12:41pm

Its all about the Board : Vimeo

Tarzan71's picture
Tarzan71's picture
Tarzan71 Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 12:51pm

love that blue egg shape 5th from bottom, reminds me of my Gold Coast groveller

helmet-not-hose's picture
helmet-not-hose's picture
helmet-not-hose Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 4:05pm

Fucken hell! And he's had to quit???

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 4:09pm

Yeah he had to quit unfortunatley. hes the only composite guy i knowof doing 4 and 6 channels too. Lovely work, looks like tedious but reawrding work.And the boards are art pieces.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 4:23pm

Definitely, works of art.

Form and function.

spelled3's picture
spelled3's picture
spelled3 Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 9:08pm
Joseph Yates's picture
Joseph Yates's picture
Joseph Yates Tuesday, 14 Mar 2023 at 9:16am

Hi. I'm looking to get an idea of the price of a 7'9 Josh Dowling board. Never ridden. It's a master piece but don't have room it.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 9:18pm

Nice
Makes the one in W.A a steal

foreday rider's picture
foreday rider's picture
foreday rider Monday, 3 Jul 2017 at 11:32pm

These boards are worth $5grand each without thinking about it...and worth every cent

Tarzan71's picture
Tarzan71's picture
Tarzan71 Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 5:50am

Bit hard to commit 5 large mate. The market would be quite limited no matter how beautiful the work is.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 8:34am

Nice, I'm sure his boards will be collectable in the future.

spiggy topes's picture
spiggy topes's picture
spiggy topes Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 4:46pm

Remember Van Gogh? Didn't sell a painting or make much money during his life. This work is fab, and not just skin deep. Note the vents up forward where the sun lands. Five from the bottom looks like a top little kneeboard. Hyperreality is a striking visual style for a surfboard. Maybe just paint pictures and surf for fun, JD? Great work Stu, fine commissioning.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 9:32pm

Awesomeeee! that is French for Awesome!

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 9:34pm

They should do this on spaceships, no, I mean like gaming spaceships. I have just started Elite, I am little bit all over the place, but a paint job like this would improve me.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 9:38pm

Damn Josh, I hope you are earning good money.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 10:01pm

I am a genius, virtual spraypainting, really, I am a genius.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 10:23pm

Here's a Poem

The Art of the Spray

Templates and good faith
Imagination and boards
Boards and minimisation

Minimisation and Love

Love and spraypainting

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 4 Jul 2017 at 11:00pm

Get Fucked.

Beerface's picture
Beerface's picture
Beerface Tuesday, 18 Jul 2017 at 1:01pm

The 5th from the bottom is mine, as well as timber bottomed blue tinted 7'4". I also owned a timber bottomed twin keel fish, I dare say the only keel fish he ever made. Loved it but sold it after knee injury. Regret it, but won't sell the others, even though I'm a weekend warrior these days. Great boards and a great bloke.

Blue one is 5'4" x 21 1/2" x 2 1/2 with concave deck. At 88kegs and hardly surfing I can paddle it fine and it catches small waves fine. Light and fun. 7'4" is 21 x 2 1/2 rockered and foiled ( relatively speaking ) for good waves for an intermediate surfer. Don't see many of those now lol, but it's a keeper.

Wish josh nothing but success, great bloke and a craftsmen as well.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Tuesday, 18 Jul 2017 at 11:43pm

Sounds like a fishing boat.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017 at 12:10am

your that beer dude.