Picture Perfect

Muralist Jason Gaillard hones in on the coastal feel at Harborside Pool Club with the addition of his two vibrant art pieces.

The California resident brings surf vibes with his pieces, visually directing viewers toward the FlowRider and upstairs at The Break. Gaillard breaks down his inspiration in an exclusive conversation with 1926.

The inspiration: “I’ve always loved the way the human figure looks when carrying large surfboards, and this was a big inspiration for the murals. Although I have never surfed, I felt a strong connection to the ocean growing up in New England. We used to go to Cape Cod and Nantucket and go swimming, boogie boarding, and body surfing. We still try to visit Nantucket once a year. Other inspirations for the design of the murals were Japanese woodblock prints, vintage surf posters, and Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas.”

Your definition of “vacation”: “I like to be active on vacations. I usually start the morning with a run, followed by making a small plein air painting. Then we head to the beach for the day and plan a great dinner. You can’t beat a clambake on the beach with good friends and family.”

That feeling when…: “There’s an incredible feeling we get after spending the day at the beach—of being relaxed but recharged. I think it’s because we are physically connected with the elements. When you’re in the sun and the water, have your feet in the sand and the wind on your face, it’s like a reboot. I wanted the mural to have this feeling.”

Team effort: “The whole project was a collaboration. When speaking with Mr. Hostettler about the design of the mural, we felt that it was important to capture the attention of not only the guests and members, but also community members riding by on boats and in the cars going over the drawbridge. The murals look best when there are people walking in front of them, and the shadows from the palm leaves sway across the surface. Some people may notice that we depicted in the murals a couple of professional FlowRider instructors, Zach and Luke, and a professional surfer, Ana, who works in Harbor House.”