We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Silver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alex , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve recently been asked to participate in the opening of the new Boys and Girls Club of Malibu called Third Space. It’s a new creative space located in the Malibu Cross Creek area designed for kids and all community members to explore their creative ambitions. I’ll be showing some of my surfboard pieces on their gallery wall as well as teaching art classes to the kids.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always been a passionate creative, but my journey to art did not follow the traditional path. I started my career as a firefighter in San Luis Obispo County, where I found the desire to focus on a career of helping others in my community. This propelled me into the world of science and medicine, where I completed my Bachelor degree in science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2012, followed by a Doctorate degree in Chiropractic Medicine from Palmer College Chiropractic West in 2017.

When the pandemic hit, like many others, my career as a Chiropractor was brought to an abrupt holt as the spread of the virus made the job impossible to perform. As an avid surfer of 25 years and unable to practice Chiropractic in a hands-on environment, I felt an urgency for a creative outlet that incorporated two of my greatest loves, surfing and connection. It was in this moment, spurred on by the global pandemic that a new creative path appeared. What existed as a weekend hobby transitioned into an everyday practice. Diving deep into H.A.N.D. Art’s Surfboard Series, I utilize recycled, broken surfboards as a way to honor the life of a surfboard. Each surfboard can live on, serving as a platform to promote my positive messages- Be Kind to All, Treat Others With Respect, and Love Yourself. The artwork takes something that had a finite purpose and restores it with a new reason for being. Each surfboard created embodies these artistic principles, serving as a physical representation of the fundamental philosophies I choose to live by. A majority of the surfboards I paint on have been donated by other surfers in the community- all of which who’d like to see their surfboard live on for a greater purpose.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect I would say is having a creative outlet that allows me to express my own feelings in the moments that I’m designing a new piece. I believe creating art with a purpose opens dialogue with each individual differently and am grateful when the messages I present offer a moment of deep introspection.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal and mission is to spread love, positivity, and connection through as many creative outlets as possible. I feel like the world around me is as a blank canvas- I’ll literally paint on anything. If I see a refrigerator being thrown away on the side of the street, I’ll run and grab a paint pen to scribble some meaningful messages for cars driving by. If there’s a tire on the side of the road, I’ll paint it, put L.E.D lights on it, and turn it into swivel chair. I’m inspired to paint on recycled materials and restore them with a new purpose for living as a way to promote my positive messages.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.handpaintco.com
• Instagram: @h.a.n.d.art

Image Credits
Simone Staff Emanuel Hahn Dylan Van Mieghem