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For years I’ve wanted to make art with my skimboard — not just on canvas, but also by capturing the process on video. I’ve always thought it would be cool to use the board and the "Slide" as the paint brush itself. 

Working with my videographer Conner, I was able to finally bring the idea to life and document the whole thing. What you don’t see are the hours that went into testing beforehand. I did a lot of trial runs on smaller canvases to figure out paint consistency and how the colors would react. It took time to get the mix right so the paint would spread properly without just pooling into a mess.

When it came time to do the full-scale piece, I was honestly pretty nervous because I really only had one good shot at it. I wasn't sure if id throw the board down and just STOP, or even just stop and pull the canvas apart along with the plastic cover. I figured the best way to go for it was fully commit, and give it a true full speed slide. 

 

This piece is part of a collection I'll be doing. Because this piece required 3 slides on my skimboard, This art piece is named 'Slide 1-3' 

Artist Statement — “Skim 1-3 ”

Tidal Momentum captures the raw intersection of athletic precision and artistic surrender. Created by world champion skimboarder Austin Keen, this piece was born from movement — not brushstrokes. Multiple pigments were poured directly onto canvas, and instead of a traditional tool, the artist skimmed across the surface, allowing speed, weight, and edge control to shape the final composition.

The result is a collision between intention and unpredictability. The same forces that govern the ocean — timing, flow, friction, and release — are embedded in the paint. Every streak represents motion. Every blend reflects the split-second decisions that define performance at the highest level.

This work explores the relationship between control and chaos. As in skimboarding, mastery is not about eliminating unpredictability — it’s about riding it.

By transforming his board from a vessel of competition into an instrument of creation, Austin Keen bridges sport and fine art, turning kinetic energy into permanent form. Tidal Momentum is not painted — it is performed.