Robb Havassy
Encyclopedia
Born in Southern California
on December 2, 1969. Robb Havassy has always had a connection with the ocean, for the first 17 years of his life he lived 45 minutes inland in Arcadia, Ca. He then moved to Newport, Ca. to be closer to the ocean. He started surfing when he was about 17 years old, although his first time on a surfboard was when he was 8 in Waikiki, Hawaii on a big red longboard. Since then he’s always been enthusiastic about wave riding and had a strong love for the ocean.
Robb Havassy is mostly known for his depictions of women, landscapes, flowers, children and animals as well as his sports portraits of Ben Hogan
, Tiger Woods
, Kobe Bryant
, Arnold Palmer
and Jack Nicklaus
.
for the likes of Ralph Lauren
, Calvin Klein
, Christian Dior
and Armani, he modeled from 1982–2002, he didn’t began his formal painting career until 1996 after receiving a beginner’s art kit as a 26th birthday present. Up until that point Havassy’s only artistic expression was in his photographs of his travels around the world and his surfboards. His art was originally discovered by a talent scout in Newport Beach when he was 17. A few years later he contacted the talent scout, took some photos and hired an agent.
for photographer and friend Bruce Weber
, before that he painted his first surfboard in 1989.
for the 2005 tournament was one of the most popular in the events history.” Robb has created a truly unique and recognizable style for himself that has also nabbed him work with Reef, Op, HURLEY
, Surfrider Foundation
, GLOBE, Sector 9
, NVOHK, HOWE Jeans, Robert August
, SIMA and SURFTECH
, etc..
Robb has also began to take another step forward towards " a more socially and environmentally forward lifestyle" with the recent launch of the HAVASSY "eco-friendly signature sandal line. "I wanted to take a great idea and make it even better," says Havassy. "The concept and design of my footwear is creatively similar to the sandals I did with Reef, updated with eco-friendly
bio-foam, along with improvement in the design." This is just one example as to how Robb has mixed art and life. Robb also has an "artist series" of skateboards with Sector 9 and now he is working on the new "Havassy Art model" surfboard with Robert August surfboards, the surfboards basic model is a 5 ft. 8 in., by 20 in. wide hybrid, "rocket fish" inspired. Robb and Robbert August say that "The goal in creating this shape was to make the 'ultimate' wave riding machine...a board that you could rip and flow on mushy slow waves, could handle some juice and a more powerful wave, as well as riding the tube like a dream."
"To say that we succeeded is an understatement...this board is all that and more...The decision for those who've purchased this collector's item is whether to put it on the wall or surf on it. As a literal piece of art it works both ways, but in my opinion it's made to surf." This "Havassy" model will be available as a Surftech model in spring 2009.
Havassy has also been closely involved with the Surfrider Foundation, SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association), and Heal the Bay for much of the past decade, having help raise eco-awareness and close to $50,000 with his art donations, with Havassy's total donations being closer to $100,000.
Last year, Havassy along with REEF created a special edition surf art poster for Tsunami Relief, with 100% of the proceeds going to Surf Aid International. To date it has raised over $15,000 for the ongoing Indonesian relief effort.
, the owner of the Hollister Co.
clothing store chain. Abercrombie & Fitch had 350+ unauthorized replicas of one of Robb's painted surfboard adorned with his art and to Robb's surprise his "RH" signature as well. The boards were placed in front of every Hollister store in the country since 2001, in order to help them brand themselves as an "authentic" surf company, all without ever asking for Robb's permission. Robb stated that "They had no right to create or use my art. Considering the I would NEVER collaborate with a company who is notorious for its unauthorized "use" of legit pieces of the authentic surf culture" As of the summer of 2008 the copyright infringement
lawsuit is finally coming to an end after Robb agreed to have settlement deal, "It was time to stop putting energy into the all the negativity associated with the lawsuit. I wanted to focus on more positive ideas and realized that the only ones truly happy, should I take this to trial and fight on for years, were A&F's lawyers" the terms of the settlement are confidential.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
on December 2, 1969. Robb Havassy has always had a connection with the ocean, for the first 17 years of his life he lived 45 minutes inland in Arcadia, Ca. He then moved to Newport, Ca. to be closer to the ocean. He started surfing when he was about 17 years old, although his first time on a surfboard was when he was 8 in Waikiki, Hawaii on a big red longboard. Since then he’s always been enthusiastic about wave riding and had a strong love for the ocean.
Robb Havassy is mostly known for his depictions of women, landscapes, flowers, children and animals as well as his sports portraits of Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
, Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
, Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
and Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
.
Early life
Before ever becoming an artist, Robb was a international fashion modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
for the likes of Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
and Armani, he modeled from 1982–2002, he didn’t began his formal painting career until 1996 after receiving a beginner’s art kit as a 26th birthday present. Up until that point Havassy’s only artistic expression was in his photographs of his travels around the world and his surfboards. His art was originally discovered by a talent scout in Newport Beach when he was 17. A few years later he contacted the talent scout, took some photos and hired an agent.
First piece
In 1996, On Robb's 26th birthday, he was given a beginners art kit by two close friends, at first he was a little confused as to what to do with, but he quickly learned. Robb claims to have always known that he always had the soul of an artist and thought like an artist but he never thought that he would become an artist, his first "traditional" painting was a small surfing portrait of Duke KahanamokuDuke Kahanamoku
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming.-Early years:The name "Duke" is not a title, but a given name...
for photographer and friend Bruce Weber
Bruce Weber (photographer)
Bruce Weber is an American fashion photographer and occasional filmmaker. He is most widely known for his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Pirelli, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revlon, and Gianni Versace, as well as his work for Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, Interview, and Rolling Stone...
, before that he painted his first surfboard in 1989.
Art career
12 years and more than 2,000 paintings later, Robb has been highly regarded for his "eclectic mix of style, motion and inspirational subject matter." Robb's work was also featured as the official cover art for the 2005 AT&T Pebble Pro Am of golf, one of PGA golf's most popular events and one known to have featured some of the world's most prominent sports artists. Cathy Scherzer Pebble Beach Co.'s director of marketing said that “"Robb Havassy's cover artCover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
for the 2005 tournament was one of the most popular in the events history.” Robb has created a truly unique and recognizable style for himself that has also nabbed him work with Reef, Op, HURLEY
Hurley International
Hurley International is a clothing company located in Costa Mesa, California founded by Bob Hurley. The company puts emphasis on skateboarding, surfing, music, and "fun"...
, Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501 grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves, and beaches...
, GLOBE, Sector 9
Sector 9
Sector 9 is a skateboard manufacturer and subsidiary of Billabong International. The company was started in La Jolla, California in 1993.. Steve Lake, Dave Klimkiewicz, and Dennis Telfer are the cofounders of the company...
, NVOHK, HOWE Jeans, Robert August
Robert August
Robert August is an American surfer and surfboard shaper. Raised in Huntington Beach, California, he attended Huntington Beach High School where he was ASB President his senior year. He is most famous as one of the subjects of Bruce Brown's 1966 surf documentary The Endless Summer, along with his...
, SIMA and SURFTECH
Surftech
Surftech is an American surfboard manufacturing company. It specializes in mass-produced expanded polystyrene boards pressed in molds designed by established surboard shapers...
, etc..
Robb has also began to take another step forward towards " a more socially and environmentally forward lifestyle" with the recent launch of the HAVASSY "eco-friendly signature sandal line. "I wanted to take a great idea and make it even better," says Havassy. "The concept and design of my footwear is creatively similar to the sandals I did with Reef, updated with eco-friendly
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
bio-foam, along with improvement in the design." This is just one example as to how Robb has mixed art and life. Robb also has an "artist series" of skateboards with Sector 9 and now he is working on the new "Havassy Art model" surfboard with Robert August surfboards, the surfboards basic model is a 5 ft. 8 in., by 20 in. wide hybrid, "rocket fish" inspired. Robb and Robbert August say that "The goal in creating this shape was to make the 'ultimate' wave riding machine...a board that you could rip and flow on mushy slow waves, could handle some juice and a more powerful wave, as well as riding the tube like a dream."
"To say that we succeeded is an understatement...this board is all that and more...The decision for those who've purchased this collector's item is whether to put it on the wall or surf on it. As a literal piece of art it works both ways, but in my opinion it's made to surf." This "Havassy" model will be available as a Surftech model in spring 2009.
Havassy has also been closely involved with the Surfrider Foundation, SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association), and Heal the Bay for much of the past decade, having help raise eco-awareness and close to $50,000 with his art donations, with Havassy's total donations being closer to $100,000.
Last year, Havassy along with REEF created a special edition surf art poster for Tsunami Relief, with 100% of the proceeds going to Surf Aid International. To date it has raised over $15,000 for the ongoing Indonesian relief effort.
Lawsuit with Abercrombie & Fitch
Robb had a 2 year long legal battle with the apparel giant Abercrombie & FitchAbercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers aged 18 to 22. It has over 300 locations in the United States, and is expanding internationally....
, the owner of the Hollister Co.
Hollister Co.
Hollister Co., sometimes advertised as Hollister or HCo., is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. The concept was originally designed to attract consumers aged 14–18 through its SoCal-inspired image and casual wear. Goods are available in-store and through the company's online store...
clothing store chain. Abercrombie & Fitch had 350+ unauthorized replicas of one of Robb's painted surfboard adorned with his art and to Robb's surprise his "RH" signature as well. The boards were placed in front of every Hollister store in the country since 2001, in order to help them brand themselves as an "authentic" surf company, all without ever asking for Robb's permission. Robb stated that "They had no right to create or use my art. Considering the I would NEVER collaborate with a company who is notorious for its unauthorized "use" of legit pieces of the authentic surf culture" As of the summer of 2008 the copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
lawsuit is finally coming to an end after Robb agreed to have settlement deal, "It was time to stop putting energy into the all the negativity associated with the lawsuit. I wanted to focus on more positive ideas and realized that the only ones truly happy, should I take this to trial and fight on for years, were A&F's lawyers" the terms of the settlement are confidential.
External links
- Hollister?s use of art prompts suit (The Columbus Dispatch)
- Surf Artist Files Copyright Suit Against Abercrombie and Fitch (Surfermag)
- Behind the Scenes/ Orange County; Striking a New Pose (Los Angeles Times)
- Fine artist; what do you get when you cross a super-fine model with a can of paint? You get yourself one... (Daily News Record)
- Check out the best-ever surfing book (The Orange County Register)
- Calif. Artist Presses Lawsuit Against Abercrombie & Fitch (Artinfo)
- Surf artist defends a culture (Orange County Register)