Studio Visit: Bryce Baker
Bryce Baker is a multi media-artist & pro surfer based in Kauai. As an artist, he creates small and large scale paintings, hand tufted rugs and photo prints - all rooted in merging his inspirations of his Japanese upbringing and the surf community in which he grew up in on Kauai.
When in Kauai recently, I had the pleasure of being connected to Bryce by a mutual friend who said we needed to meet. Over the period of a few days, we visited Bryce’s studio to check out and talk about his practice, bring some SS26 pieces for him, explore the area and even go surfing.
After our time together hanging out in Kauai, we sent Bryce some questions and he hit us back midway through a surf trip in Mexico.
 |
 |
RC: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up every morning?
BB: Hmm, the first thing I do is prolly run to the coffee machine and throw out yesterday's grounds, refill it, get the water going in the coffee maker then go check the surf. Sometimes make a smoothie if the waves aren’t good, check emails, things like that. Usually best to start with a morning surf though!
RC: What is the music playing in your studio when you’re working?
BB: Larry June, Thievery Corporation, Massive Attack, Soulection radio, Body James and the Alchemist. The list goes on nonstop.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
RC: When creating a new piece, do you know what you’re going to do before you start working on it?
BB: It depends! For tufting rugs and things I always have the design drawn out on the monks cloth before starting. I guess you could say the colors change a lot last minute. For canvas spray paint and things, the newspaper and photo collages for the background are usually just montages. Then the spraying has a sort of movement & consistent flow so the pattern doesn’t change much. It is a bit of improv, I'd say.
RC: When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?
BB: Since I was a kid! It's every kid's dream. I mean, when you're younger and you see people doing the same shit that you like, I feel like that sparks an interest. Especially if they could make a living too!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
RC: How do you know when a piece is done?
BB: Well I kind of know what I want it to look like before it's finished, especially the rugs because it has a process. For canvas, it just has a feel, not too overcrowded or anything too intentional, a good feeling.
RC: How do you get over “writers block” or get yourself out of a creative rut?
BB: They don’t usually bother me too much because I'll just go surf or go on a trip and let it figure itself out and whatnot. Eventually everything will swing back into the flow because you’ll get the bug to work on something. I try to always stay busy. If one thing isn’t working for me, I just put it to the side. Eventually you’ll come back to it. Exercise the brain, go surf, stuff like that.
 |
 |
 |
 |
RC: First memory surfing?
BB: Hanalei for sure. Pavilion/pier.
RC: What do you think about when you’re on the water?
BB: Not much honestly, I think that’s why it's so good. Most of the time it just becomes social hour, especially if the waves are slow.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
RC: When traveling what’s the first thing you put in your suitcase?
BB: Inhaler? Haha. That and the passport just stays glued to the bag.
RC: What’s the highest on the list of places you want to travel to?
BB: Depends, I have a ton. Probably Morocco. Trippin I haven’t been there.
RC: What are you making for dinner?
BB: Typically a New York or ribeye, some salad and rice. Tonight I just had a few tlayudas down in the desert of Mexico!!!
You can find more of Bryce’s work on his website, bryce-baker.com.