What’s your name and what fills your time?
Sean Mattison. I’m an avid surfer/designer who is grateful for the life I’ve been given. My family moved to Atlantic Beach when I was 4. My dad wanted to move to Florida so he could sail all year long. My mom and dad set up a rust proofing business in Jacksonville as well as purchasing the historic Casa Marina.
As for surfing, my mom would love to sun bath on the beach in Atlantic Beach so that’s when I noticed surfing first hand. I started at age 5. Later, I took my surfboard for show and tell in my kindergarten class at Atlantic Beach Elementary.
Around this time,my parents started renovations on the Casa Marina.They had decided to covert the two studio apartments on the third flood, adding the ocean room and a back master bedroom in the back to make our new home. Shortly after the completion of the penthouse, our family moved into the Casa Marina. Over the years they owned it, they added a restaurant and bar to the Casa Marina. The move for me was amazing. Oceanfront living for a grom surfer!
Anything special going on for this summer?
I plan to be painting surfboards this Summer. I’ve been airbrushing surfboards as an added layer to my surfboard brand Von Sol. A long time ago, when I was attending Fletcher Jr High and Senior High School I loved to do art. I won a few awards doing art which was a surprise to me back then. I really just liked doing art and surfing. Never took it seriously.
Photo Glenn Shuck
For me, Art has been a way to connect with some people that I normally would not have associated with, tell you the truth, its been really fun creating and connecting. Over the last six months I’ve been painting with one of the original psychedelic artist of the 1960s and 70s. Star Shields from Laguna Beach, painted not only Surfboards but also many of the famous rockstar’s T-shirts and stage gear for legends Robert Plant, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, George Harrison of the Beatles to name just a few. He also painted many of Mike Hynson’s surfboards under the Rainbow label. These guys (John Bredin, Star Shields and Peter St. Piere) were the first to paint on surfboards during that era. I see it as a great opportunity to learn new techniques and hear great stories of the past from these guys.
Any hobbies or interests worth telling us about?
Enjoying Family and being a Grandpa. A Friend called me a Grom-pa ! Surfing, Surfboard Production and painting.
What’s one thing (funny, different, cool) that many might not know about you?
I am a board short collector. I probably have about 70 pairs of board shorts. I have a closet with some of my collection hung up like a surf shop.
Anything else that you would like to tell the community?
I’m really proud and grateful that the Aqua East Stores carry my surfboards in Neptune Beach and St. Augustine. Driftwood Surf Shop in Fernandina also carries my Von Sol boards. These shops all have a wide selection of my Surfboard designs.
Instagram @vonsolsurfboards @seanmattisonart
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Mike is a native First Coaster and was a leading figure in surfing and skateboarding for most of his life. After promoting music for many years on the local music scene, Mike now brings a unique perspective to FirstCoast.Life as a contributing writer.
