Scott Richards: Surf Dreamer + Artist + Surf Industry Vet & The Creative Mind Behind The Iconic Brand; Slightly Choppy
Scott Richards grew up 2,500 miles from the Pacific but fell in love with surfing early. As a kid, he scoured surf magazines from front to back to front again; dreaming of surf… long before he made his big move to Southern California.
There he found his wife, art school, surf culture (in full force) and spent the next two decades living his dream; working in some of the most coveted roles for some of the biggest and most influential surf brands in history.
Scott shares his story of following his passions, taking big risks, making bold moves and all the incredible mentors, professional experiences and world views that culminated in his dreams truly becoming reality.
Today, all of these influences and experiences have converged in Scott’s awesome and distinctive brand… “Slightly Choppy.”
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Travel
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Mentor
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Slightly Choppy
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Where It Is Today
0:00 – Childhood in Detroit: sports, chores, & outdoors.
5:35 – Grew up in church; strong community bonds.
11:06 – Moved to California for surfing.
16:26 Burnout led to surfing & dropping out of school.
24:34 – Transitioned from traditional art to digital art.
25:55 – Designers help artists with resumes & portfolios.
35:00 – Hindsight: Lucky start during surf heyday.
39:01 – Mentorship inspired lifelong creativity and continual learning.
42:33 – Evolved from graphic designer to art director at Quicksilver.
48:13 – Quicksilver enabled global travel and creative expression.
56:05 – Mentor encourages learning and interdepartmental understanding.
1:01:16 – Found a new career in fashion after layoff.
1:02:54 – Embrace challenges, work hard, & stay inspired.
1:08:01 – “My imperfect art resonates and gains traction.”
1:20:27 – “Mentors shaped my work ethic significantly.”
1:24:43 – Achieved dream after turbulent & confusing journey.