Enchanting waterfront murals painted while balancing on a surfboard

Jacopo Prisco, CNN
1 minute read
Updated 7:32 AM EDT, Fri June 26, 2015
From his floating studio, a paddle board, Sean Yoro creates stunning portraits of women, whose lifelike features barely escape the waterline. <br /><br />The artist, also known as <a href="http://www.hulaaa.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Hula</a>, is based in New York City but is originally from Hawaii: "I grew up on Oahu, where I was surrounded with everything nature had to offer," he told CNN. "The ocean was my playground and art didn't enter my life until my later teenage years."
From his floating studio, a paddle board, Sean Yoro creates stunning portraits of women, whose lifelike features barely escape the waterline.

The artist, also known as Hula, is based in New York City but is originally from Hawaii: "I grew up on Oahu, where I was surrounded with everything nature had to offer," he told CNN. "The ocean was my playground and art didn't enter my life until my later teenage years."
courtesy sean yoro
The artist is coy about the location of the murals: "I can't say specifics on where they are located, but I can say I chose places that looked abandoned and lifeless. One of the exciting things about painting portraits is being able to bring life and emotion to objects and surfaces that were once without. Also these figures just seem to match with the moods. A mysterious surreal combination. "
The artist is coy about the location of the murals: "I can't say specifics on where they are located, but I can say I chose places that looked abandoned and lifeless. One of the exciting things about painting portraits is being able to bring life and emotion to objects and surfaces that were once without. Also these figures just seem to match with the moods. A mysterious surreal combination. "
courtesy sean yoro
The artworks are created with traditional oil paint: "I use it in a traditional old masters' technique, mixing both loose brushwork with very tight strokes of sharp lines. I'm always trying to make the paint have a juicier texture to really help the portrait come alive."
The artworks are created with traditional oil paint: "I use it in a traditional old masters' technique, mixing both loose brushwork with very tight strokes of sharp lines. I'm always trying to make the paint have a juicier texture to really help the portrait come alive."
courtesy sean yoro
The water and the elements could ruin the artworks any minute, so these portraits have an expiration date by design: "Oil paint outdoors definitely isn't the best and it doesn't last nearly as long as acrylics, but I kinda like that my figures have their own lifespan."
The water and the elements could ruin the artworks any minute, so these portraits have an expiration date by design: "Oil paint outdoors definitely isn't the best and it doesn't last nearly as long as acrylics, but I kinda like that my figures have their own lifespan."
courtesy sean yoro
Yoro is a painter and tattoo artist, and his previous project involved similar portraits made on old surf boards. His <a href="https://instagram.com/the_hula" target="_blank" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account has exploded with followers since these images have started going viral.
Yoro is a painter and tattoo artist, and his previous project involved similar portraits made on old surf boards. His Instagram account has exploded with followers since these images have started going viral.
courtesy sean yoro
There is not a lot that Yoro can do in advance before working on each artwork: "Since the walls I find are all so different, each with its own set of problems and variables, there's no one way to prepare. I try to do enough research in advance so that things will go smoother."
There is not a lot that Yoro can do in advance before working on each artwork: "Since the walls I find are all so different, each with its own set of problems and variables, there's no one way to prepare. I try to do enough research in advance so that things will go smoother."
courtesy sean yoro
Each painting takes anywhere from a whole day to three or four days to complete, depending on the size and detail.
Each painting takes anywhere from a whole day to three or four days to complete, depending on the size and detail.
courtesy sean yoro
On his decision to leave Hawaii for New York, Yoro says: "I left with nothing but $800 and two boxes of art supplies and clothes. I had no plan and no school. I wanted to chase my passion, and thought that at the least the experience would be a good story to come back home to."
On his decision to leave Hawaii for New York, Yoro says: "I left with nothing but $800 and two boxes of art supplies and clothes. I had no plan and no school. I wanted to chase my passion, and thought that at the least the experience would be a good story to come back home to."
courtesy sean yoro
Why portraits? "One of the exciting things about painting portraits is being able to bring life and emotion to objects and surfaces that were once without. Also these figures just seem to match with the moods. A mysterious surreal combination."
Why portraits? "One of the exciting things about painting portraits is being able to bring life and emotion to objects and surfaces that were once without. Also these figures just seem to match with the moods. A mysterious surreal combination."
courtesy sean yoro
Unsurprisingly, Yoro is a surfer: "Surfing has been part of my life since I was a kid, so naturally I had broken surfboards lying around the studio. One day I decided to put one on the easel and paint a face. I loved the composition and feel, so I made a whole series of them. It just made sense to me."
Unsurprisingly, Yoro is a surfer: "Surfing has been part of my life since I was a kid, so naturally I had broken surfboards lying around the studio. One day I decided to put one on the easel and paint a face. I loved the composition and feel, so I made a whole series of them. It just made sense to me."
courtesy sean yoro
Painting from the precarious balance of a floating board might seem like a very stressful task, but it's actually not as bad as it looks: "I use a lot of ropes and anchors to keep me in place and steady, and the board itself is pretty stable when it's locked in. I usually choose places with minimal waves and tide changes too, so it feels just like any other platform. Having a strong surfing background probably hasn't hurt either!"
Painting from the precarious balance of a floating board might seem like a very stressful task, but it's actually not as bad as it looks: "I use a lot of ropes and anchors to keep me in place and steady, and the board itself is pretty stable when it's locked in. I usually choose places with minimal waves and tide changes too, so it feels just like any other platform. Having a strong surfing background probably hasn't hurt either!"
courtesy sean yoro
What's next? "Like most things in my life, I don't try to plan too much into the future. I only plan to stay true to my passion and see where it takes me. Currently in the works are more water murals and even hopping onto land for some figures who blend in with their environments."
What's next? "Like most things in my life, I don't try to plan too much into the future. I only plan to stay true to my passion and see where it takes me. Currently in the works are more water murals and even hopping onto land for some figures who blend in with their environments."
courtesy sean yoro
Enchanting waterfront murals painted while balancing on a surfboard
CNN  — 

Hawaiian artist Sean Yoro has taken his painting studio along for a ride on the waves. Browse through the gallery to see all the images.