SURF, 60’s PSYCHEDELIA & BORN AGAIN | THE TRINITY OF ARTIST RICK GRIFFIN

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Artists Rick Griffin and Anton Kelley at the poster art exhibit at the Psychedelic Poster shop in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, 1967. — Image by Ted Streshinsky

Rick Griffin– surfer, cartoonist, psychedelic poster artist, legend.  Born near Palos Verdes in 1944, Griffin took-up surfing at age 14.  During the 50s while he was in high school, Mad magazine heavily influenced his comic stylings– but he soon found his own voice, creating his own surf style that would become iconic.  Through his undeniable talent and connections, Griffin was soon working for surf legend, Greg Noll, among others.  After leaving high school he joined Surfer Magazine as a staff artist– creating the legendary California surf scene character Murphy, and working his way up to Art Director by the time he was of 20. But by 1964, Griffin decided it was time to move on and see what the world outside of So Cal’s tight-knit surfer scene had for him.

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His time at the Chouinard Art Institute would set the course for this next stage of his life.  There he met fellow artist and future wife, Ida Pfefferle, and started hanging with the Jook Savages– a group of musicians / artists.  In ’66, with the Psychedelic movement tugging at them, Rick & Ida headed to San Francisco, living out of their van for a while, and regrouped with the Jooks— for who Griffin would create his first poster.  His work was soon in high demand for its trademark creative blend of Native American, surf & psychedelic influences.  Everyone wanted Griffin to do their posters– from Jimi Hendrix, to the band his work is most popularly associated with– The Grateful Dead.  Now among the leaders in the poster art industry, Griffin teamed-up with fellow artists Alton Kelley, Stanley “Mouse” Miller, Victor Moscoso, and Wes Wilson to form the Berkeley-Bonaparte distribution agency in ’67– the ultimate poster art producers of that time.

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Neil Young~ On The Beach. Rick Griffin designed the lettering for the title.

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In ’69, Rick Griffin decided it was time to head back home to So Cal– settling with his wife in San Clemente. John Severson, founder of Surfer magazine, was working on his latest project– a surf film called Pacific Vibrations, and approached Griffin about doing the poster.  What was supposed to take one month turned into an epic six-month drama.

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Rick Griffin

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Rick Griffin surfing

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Legendary poster artist Rick Griffin poses in a window surrounded by his work. San Francisco, 1960s. Images by  Ted Streshinsky

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Rick Griffin

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Legendary surf & psychedelic artist Rick Griffin

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Rick Griffin

Rick Griffin

Sometime in the 1970s, Rick Griffin became a Christian and his work took a radical turn as he embraced his faith.  Gone were the nudes and psychedelia, and in were inspired works of art– the likes of which the Christian scene couldn’t have imagined.  Griffin produced an illustrated version of The Gospel of John, and  through working with Calvary Chapel in Cost Mesa became Art Director of Marantha! Music and produced original artwork for the newly burgeoning Christian music movement– producing cool Griffin-esque album covers, posters and flyers.

Rick Griffin Christian art

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Rick Griffin Christian art