christopher gorman

Like most parents I try to brainwash my children. I want my children to love the things that I love. I want my kids to become surfers so we can surf together. Children’s books are such an amazing gateway to introducing new and exciting things, it seemed like a children’s surf book would be a great start. However, I found a very small number of books for kids that depict surfing. And those that I did find were disappointing.
I wanted a book about kids surfing, not silly animals with lots of ‘pinky-thumb’ wagging and ‘busting airs’. I wanted images that reference surf culture and it’s unique aesthetic with a narrative that isn’t overloaded with distracting subplots… just a book about a kid and some waves. It seemed clear that is should stop looking and just create the book myself.
With enthusiastic participation from my daughter, I used a process that combines studio photographs of her with digital illustration to create a visual beach world that is fantasy but strives to convey the depth, scale, movement and flow of the ocean/surfer relationship. The resulting stylized look has been greatly inspired by decades of exposure to all aspects of surf culture: photography, poster art, silkscreen, surf magazines and street art.
Indi Surfs has a simple story line that follows a young girl named Indi as she goes surfing. Anyone who has tried it will tell you that surfing is a very difficult sport. In the best circumstances it takes years to master and even then the ever changing ocean will constantly put forth variables and conditions that challenge even the most accomplished professionals. Yet countless surfers will tell you they have experienced some of their greatest moments of personal accomplishment, self-satisfaction and peace while in the pursuit of waves. This book celebrates that undertaking.