Adventure

Meet Kevin Butler, the artist who draws Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

Surfers have a relationship with their cars like no other. Think back to the era of the Woody’s and how it further emphasized the “cool” when one of them had a board on top.

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That feeling, while it’s altered a bit over the years, is still prevalent today amongst us water-riding folks. And if you’re a purveyor of rad things, then you’ve probably heard of or seen an ongoing project called Rad Surfboards with Rad Cars. If you haven’t heard of it, well then let this be your introduction to one of the raddest art/surf/car projects to ever exist.

Some of our favorite Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
Some of our favorite Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards is the brainchild of artist/surfer Kevin Butler. He’s been doing it for many, many years now and has drawn more than 400 Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards — and we lose ourself anytime in them scrolling on his Instagram or his website.

We caught up with Butler to get some insight into his process and what the project is all about.

2002 Toyota 4Runner and 9'6" Brian Wynn. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
2002 Toyota 4Runner and 9’6″ Brian Wynn. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

Who are you, where are you from, what do you do, etc?

My name is Kevin Butler. Husband to Scarlett, dad to Ozzie, best friend to Betty the dog. I’m originally from Santa Cruz California, currently living in Venice Beach. I draw cars with surfboards on them.

1983 Volvo 240 DL Wagon and 9'8" Anderson Noserider and 5'4" Anderson keel-fin fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1983 Volvo 240 DL Wagon and 9’8″ Anderson Noserider and 5’4″ Anderson keel-fin fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

How did the concept come about?

I drew my rad car — a mustard yellow 1982 Volvo wagon, with my prized T. Reynolds log on top. Then I drew my friend’s classic Landcrusier as a gift. Then I drew a few of the cars my family had growing up. Then it just kept on going. Next thing I knew I had done 100.

2010 Ford Sportsmobile and 10’ Takayama SUP and 9'2" Stewart Hydro-Hull. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
2010 Ford Sportsmobile and 10’ Takayama SUP and 9’2″ Stewart Hydro-Hull. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1984 Toyota Landcruiser and 9'9" Noserider by Travis Reynolds. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1984 Toyota Landcruiser and 9’9″ Noserider by Travis Reynolds. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1972 VW Super Beetle and quiver. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1972 VW Super Beetle and quiver. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1956 Nash Metropolitan with Camper and 9'8" Almond Surf Thump, 9'4" Dyer Brand “Jetson” and 5'2" Almond “Sea Kitten”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1956 Nash Metropolitan with Camper and 9’8″ Almond Surf Thump, 9’4″ Dyer Brand “Jetson” and 5’2″ Almond “Sea Kitten”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

What is Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards all about?

It’s a combination of the two things I love most. But if you go a little deeper, it’s really about optimism. About happiness. About the emotional connection we have to these objects. The things that get us from A-to-B and the things that we slide around on. Cars and surfboards are things people enjoy collecting, looking at, dreaming about and needing to be out in/on. Including me.

1974 Ford Bronco and 9'2" Fineline. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1974 Ford Bronco and 9’2″ Fineline. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and 9'0" Matt Garbutt. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and 9’0″ Matt Garbutt. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 EH Holden Wagon and 9'6" Almond “lumberjack”, 6'9" Claus Jones “Dirt”, 6'8" Almond “Joy” and 5'4" Jim Hines Quad. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 EH Holden Wagon and 9’6″ Almond “lumberjack”, 6’9″ Claus Jones “Dirt”, 6’8″ Almond “Joy” and 5’4″ Jim Hines Quad. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 Chevy Impala SS and 5'8" City Fog “The Level”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 Chevy Impala SS and 5’8″ City Fog “The Level”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

How has the project evolved over the years?

I think in the early days I was looking for rad cards to draw. These days they find me. I get tagged on Instagram a lot. I get lots of emails and spend most of my time addressing commissions and doing projects for brands. I don’t have as much time to blue sky it. But it hasn’t gotten any less fun for me.

1989 Land Rover Discovery and 5'6" Andreini Mini Simmons. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1989 Land Rover Discovery and 5’6″ Andreini Mini Simmons. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1997 Volvo 940 and 7'2" Almond "Joy" and 5'2" "Sea Kitten". Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1997 Volvo 940 and 7’2″ Almond “Joy” and 5’2″ “Sea Kitten”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 Ford Econoline Pickup and 7'6" Ryan Lovelace "V Bowls". Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1964 Ford Econoline Pickup and 7’6″ Ryan Lovelace “V Bowls”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

Do you go out searching for the cars? How does that process work?

I definitely snap pics of things i see out on the street. But these days a lot of them come to me via instagram Das. tags and email. No shortage of rad cars to draw these days.

You have a book and do lots of prints, what other mediums does the project encompass?

I also did a coloring book and have done a few tee shirts. I’ll do an occasional screen printed poster. I occasionally partner with brands to make one-off items like this big collaboration with Herschel Supply. We made a bunch of bags.

A Herschel Supply collaboration party. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
A Herschel Supply collaboration party. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

I did a few tees with the Parks Project where the profits went toward the National Parks. I made some pins with Design Kids. I am currently working on a cola with CandyLabs where we are going to make a physical Rad Car toy. I am very selective with who I work with because this is really just a passion project for me.

#radcarswithradsurfboardsonthem is with @herschelsupply at @agendashow #basecamp come by and say hi.

A photo posted by Kevin Butler (@kbut) on

You’ve stacked a bunch of boards on cars in the past and done murals, what have those happenings been like?

So fun. Those are really the best part of this. The joy Rad Car events bring people is great. I have so many amazing conversations. People tell me about the car they owned way back when. Describe the car their dad loved. Or how he always had an old G&S on the roof of his ’72 Pontiac. It really re-lights the stoke for me to hear people’s stories.

Thing Super Stack commission is going to be printed 9ft x 6ft and put in the window of Plum Concept in Beirut. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
Thing Super Stack commission is going to be printed 9ft x 6ft and put in the window of Plum Concept in Beirut. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1985 Toyota Van and 9'7" Mikey DeTemple Log. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1985 Toyota Van and 9’7″ Mikey DeTemple Log. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1955 Chevy BelAir 2-door HT and 5'5" KG fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1955 Chevy BelAir 2-door HT and 5’5″ KG fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1984 Vanagon Westfalia and two 9'7" Travis Reynolds Logs. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1984 Vanagon Westfalia and two 9’7″ Travis Reynolds Logs. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

What’s your ultimate Rad Car/Rad Surfboard combo?

I can’t answer that — there are so many different ways to go. I mean it’s pretty hard to beat a Synchro Westfalia with a vintage log and a keel fin fish on the roof.

Are there more plans for the project in the future?

Always! I have so many things I want to do, but it’s really just a matter of time.

Time Lapse of the #SuperStackMural #radcarswithradsurfboardsonthem #radcarswithradsurfboards

A video posted by Kevin Butler (@kbut) on

Anything else you’d like to mention about Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards?

A quick message to all the companies out there: Please pay for art instead of “borrowing” it.

1971 VW Thing and 12’ Skip Frye Single Fin Glider. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1971 VW Thing and 12’ Skip Frye Single Fin Glider. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1965 Ford Falcon Wagon and 8'0" Almond "Joy". Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1965 Ford Falcon Wagon and 8’0″ Almond “Joy”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1982 Subaru GL wagon and 6'2" Rusty and 5'8" Zippy Keel Fin Fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
1982 Subaru GL wagon and 6’2″ Rusty and 5’8″ Zippy Keel Fin Fish. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
2003 Ford E250 and 9'6" Almond "Cy’s Aquatic Almond" and 7'6" Almond "Joy". Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards
2003 Ford E250 and 9’6″ Almond “Cy’s Aquatic Almond” and 7’6″ Almond “Joy”. Photo: Courtesy of Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards

You can see more Rad Cars with Rad Surfboards on the website and on Instagram @Kbut or #RadCarsWithRadSurfboards and on Facebook.

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