Surfrider Foundation’s 2015 International Surfing Day

A resident of Big Sur, California, Frank Chenault has built a successful career as an acquisition director through his time at Quantum Group and Chenault Enterprises. Outside of his business pursuits, Frank Chenault is a professional surfer and supports the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans and beaches.

On June 20, 2015, the Surfrider Foundation celebrated its 11th annual International Surfing Day (ISD) at events around the world. In the US, people hosted 83 ISD gatherings, including barbecues, movie screenings, and surfing contests. Participants everywhere also cleaned up their local beaches. Since its inception, ISD has motivated more than 1 million people to remove 70 tons of garbage from waterfronts in 30 countries.

This year, the ISD event at Huntington Beach, California, drew the largest crowd, with 229 people helping collect a total of 116.5 pounds of trash from the beach. In addition, 66 surfers garnered a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to simultaneously ride a single surfboard. Attendees also enjoyed live music and a number of prize giveaways sponsored by local vendors.

Improving Oil Paintings

Experienced businessman Frank Chenault serves as the head acquisition director of Chenault Enterprises, a tower industry company that he established based on his experience in a similar role with the Quantum Group. Currently residing in Big Sur, California, Frank Chenault enjoys a wide variety of hobbies, including oil painting.

A favored medium among many artists because its longer drying times allow color to be manipulated later, oil painting can be challenging nonetheless. Fortunately, there are several ways artists can improve their oil painting skills, including some of those provided below.

- Learn to draw. Although some of today’s artists go directly into painting, many art students in the past first had to learn drawing. By helping oil painters become more familiar with line and form without considering color, drawing can significantly improve oil paintings.

- Change brush size. Different brushes and brush strokes create hugely disparate effects on oil paintings. Rather than sticking with one size or one type of stroke, the integration of variety makes it much easier to differentiate between the painting’s various objects and planes.

- Create a concept. Artists are more likely to finish an oil painting when they begin with a clear idea of where they are going. Without direction, oil paintings may become haphazard in appearance or just end up unfinished.

- Use complementary colors. Complementary colors are those that are situated across from one another on the color wheel. Although they produce gray when mixed, using them side by side creates a clear contrast that can add depth to oil paintings.