From the kitchen to the studio, Melton remains authentic
By: Darby Moore
Bearing in mind Melton’s nature-inspired style of painting and affinity for our small surf town, we knew that he would be a perfect fit for our collector’s artwork surfboard series. Using a combination of materials, Justin created a piece that captures the old-Florida feel of St. Augustine. He faithfully rendered a view familiar to us all: our world-famous lighthouse located just north of the Surf Station. This original piece of art is available for purchase now, as we look forward to more surfboard art to come from this talented creative.
Surf Station: Okay, so we’ll start out easy. What’s your full name (yes, I’m dying to know everyone’s middle name) and age? Occupation?
Justin: Justin Reese Melton, 28 years of age. I’m an aspiring chef and part-time commissioned mixed-media artist.
Surf Station: What materials do you usually use to create your work?
Justin: When creating, I normally find myself with acrylic, spray paint, paint pens, water colors, ink, or some variation of all those combined.
Surf Station: Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
Justin: Originally, my fascination for art came from museums I visited as a child and during my young adulthood. Growing up in Jacksonville, FL, I had the Cummer and the Museum of Contemporary Art at my disposal. Later on, I lived outside of our nation’s capital and would go to the Smithsonians in Washington D.C. while I was in elementary school. After graduating high school, I got the opportunity to see more art outside of the U.S., like the Louvre in Paris and Reina de Sophia in Spain.
Along the way though, two artists stuck out to me the most: Mucha and Dali. I loved their colors and compositions. They signified the selling of an idea, their art truly seemed like a product to me. Returning home after some failed attempts at college in Gainesville, what spoke to more of what I consider my style were artists the likes of Wayne Satterwhite, Anthony Rooney, and Nicole Holdenbraugh. These artists really captured my heart with their attention to detail, their support of local businesses and general love of what they do with such unique flair.
Surf Station: How would you describe the style of the work you create?
Justin: A good friend of mine told me that my style was “messy detail”. I agree with that. I like to leave my work open to interpretation and hope it is ever-changing. I guess you could say messy beach pop art.
Surf Station: What disciplines do you typically work in? It’s clear that you’re a very talented painter, but do you dabble in any other fields?
Justin: I think my discipline in art is that I am never really satisfied with my work. I had an artist tell me that the fact that I always see flaws is that I still have room to grow. That statement has stuck with me for a long time. I dabble in food. I’ve been cooking on and off for ten years professionally. I have shaped a surfboard, I worked for Ocean Rescue for the City of Jacksonville Beach as a Surfman. I consider myself an avid waterman, sailor, surfer, explorer, reader, writer, traveler, gardener, photographer, and musician.
Surf Station: What’s your process when creating work? What sort of space do you enjoy creating in?
Justin: When creating, I don’t really have a finished product in my mind. I normally have an object, like a structure, (or as of late, birds). I try to exemplify that object and create an atmosphere for it to live in. Normally, I start with a photo or an idea, and then just kind of go for it. I walk away and come back. Sometimes for minutes, sometimes for days, and paint with a brush, or finger or marker. I think, “oh, a little here, oh and right there, and maybe a line there would be nice.”
My happy place to paint in is a studio where I can just have all of my supplies laying around in an organized mess. Proper lighting, good ventilation, printers, projectors, tools of the craft. Normally I’m hunched over a desk or on the floor with a semi-decent lamp and a telephone for image references.
Surf Station: How was the process of painting your board that’s currently in the shop? Did you face any challenges painting on a surfboard?
Justin: The board wasn’t a very different form. I’ve done it in the past, except this time it’s for the Surf Station brand. I really wanted to demonstrate my craftsmanship as well as who I am as an artist, yet let it be something people would enjoy having as well. The challenge for me was finding something that said “St. Augustine”, while letting me flex on something I am comfortable painting.
Painting on a surfboard can be a little tricky because it is not a flat surface, also having no idea where it will end up when it is completed made me wonder: okay, if I walked past this, how can it pop? From different angles does the image still hold true? All in all, I had fun and am grateful for the opportunity from the Surf Station.
Surf Station: How has the coronavirus madness affected your work, if at all?
Justin: In my professional work, I was actually in a very difficult spot financially and one of the owners of my place of business kept me employed during the quarantine. I am and will be forever grateful to that family for allowing me to be able to work during the pandemic. I would have lost my home, and I don’t know what I would have done without them.
Surf Station: What are some future goals that you have for your artwork?
Justin: I would honestly love to be a full-time artist. Art has been a passion of mine throughout all of my ups and downs (there have been many). Sketching and painting are things that have been a constant since I was around 4-years-old. It’s something I would like to do forever. Seeing people smile and want to take a piece of my art, a piece of me, around with them is one of the most satisfying things I have felt in my life.
