Michael Rumsey Art

Michael Rumsey Art Handcrafted Hollow Wood Surfboards | Fine Art Surfboards | Ocean Inspired Fine Art His designs are often ocean inspired; infused with motion and flow.

A fourth generation San Diegan, lifelong surfer and fisherman, the ocean has been Michael's continual source of inspiration, sport, and escape since childhood. He has worked and consulted with many artists throughout his life, always with an emphasis on sculpture. His works include design and execution of art walls (murals in mixed media), water features, outdoor living spaces, wood tiki carving,

drawing, and painting. Mike retired early from the building materials industry after a barefoot water skiing accident in 1988 caused permanent brain damage, double vision, and seizures. He resumed his art as rehabilitation - his therapy - as he calls it. He is currently creating hollow wood surfboards; functional fine art. Although most boards are properly shaped and glassed to be ride-worthy, one could not imagine doing anything but displaying his artwork in prominent spaces within a home or office. Many of his boards are inlaid with abalone, mother of pearl, or turquoise. He never uses paint or stain. The colors come from within each hand-selected piece of wood. Each board is comprised of at least 200 individual and often very thin strips of wood from a variety of different species including, but not limited to poplar, cypress, padauk, redwood, cedar, jatoba, koa, teak, mango, wenge, walnut, and more. He is keen to reuse when possible and appropriate. For example, one of his pieces includes weathered fence boards. In another piece, he used remnants of mango wood flooring removed from a home in Hawai’i. He also enjoys visiting cabinet and furniture shops to collect their trimmings which would otherwise end-up in our landfills. He uses a strip-build technique and his own system of steam, clamps, straps, and glue to achieve the desired shapes. "Many times I do not have a clear idea for a piece until I start working with the wood. I allow the naturally occurring colors and grain to spark ideas for feathers, fish lips, sunlight, water or just free-flowing designs." ~ Mike

04/23/2026

"Line them up"
Another ready to go to a new home. Constructed entirely from redwood except the dolphins are Koa!


04/15/2026

Tonight's the night. 5pm to 7pm you can find me, my skateboards and surfboards in Encinitas. At The Brewers Tap Room
1456 Encinitas Blvd.



Tomorrow is the night to be in Encinitas.Wood skateboards and surfboards!Come say hi . 5pm to 7pm
04/15/2026

Tomorrow is the night to be in Encinitas.
Wood skateboards and surfboards!
Come say hi . 5pm to 7pm


Rainy day activities included finishing up skateboards and surfboards for a show starting on Wednesday The Brewers Tap R...
04/13/2026

Rainy day activities included finishing up skateboards and surfboards for a show starting on Wednesday The Brewers Tap Room in Encinitas. I'll be there from 5pm til 7pm. Come on by and say hi.
1456 Encinitas Blvd.



04/09/2026

Recent gun now lives in Hawaii!




Thanks for looking.

03/31/2026

My version of a Tom Blake 40s hollow wooden board. Available !




03/30/2026

Another ready for sanding!





Two more wood boards ready for gloss and polish.
03/26/2026

Two more wood boards ready for gloss and polish.


This tail patch was gifted figured redwood by my friend Frank from Producer Sportsfishing. Thanks. I cant wait to see wh...
03/13/2026

This tail patch was gifted figured redwood by my friend Frank from Producer Sportsfishing. Thanks. I cant wait to see what they railing wood looks like on a board!
It's now in Hawaii.


This is going to be a happy table. 23" × 33"Available .
02/22/2026

This is going to be a happy table. 23" × 33"
Available .


Address

San Diego, CA

Telephone

+16198848624

Website

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