Felicity Palmateer is not the type to live her life in fear. She exudes a spirit of bravery — whether that means pursuing a career as an artist, or facing off with colossal waves. The multi-talented 22-year-old doesn’t hesitate to share her secret, either.
“Just being in the moment,” she says. “Not thinking about the future, just slowing everything down and trying to not put too much pressure on myself.”
It’s a very Zen approach and one that’s worked wonders for the Australian lifestyle artist. Surely, it was this sort of self talk that helped prepare her for a day at ‘Cow Bombie’ — one of the most intimidating slabs of ocean on the planet. Last year, Palmateer became the first woman to ride the wave when it was truly firing, with swells measuring roughly 22 feet.
In an era when panic seems to dominate the headlines, this brave approach to life stands out. It feels boldly innovative. And it’s not just about professional surfing, either. The same fearless thought process and willingness to take risks has helped Palmateer cultivate her other talents. Most notably, her art.
Inspired by her creative parents, Palmateer draws dreamy, ocean-infused designs with inks and watercolors — often on surfboards. She’s also launched a line of beach gear through her sponsor, Billabong.
“Surfing and art go hand in hand,” she explains, “I gather a lot of inspiration from the ocean and try to transmit the ocean’s fluidity with the mediums I use. And of course, surfing is sort of an art of its own — just the movement of it, the flow.”
Palmateer uses her notoriety — both as an artist and as a pro surfer — to speak out for her favorite cause: ocean conservation. The sea wall at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, one of the city’s prime surf spots, features a conservation-themed mural of her creation. Last year, she went on a Galapagos expedition with Jacques Cousteau’s daughter, Céline.
This sort of hybridized career — part artist, part surfer, part spokeswoman — is something people didn’t really know how to wrap their heads around a few decades ago. In 2016, it’s embraced and celebrated. And with Palmateer’s active social media following, her various pursuits work synergistically.
“Instagram is a massive tool for sharing my world and connecting with fans,” she says. “It’s instantaneous, too. You can post something and it’s there and people are interacting with it right away.”
That immediate gratification can easily lead to narcissistic obsession, but Palmateer manages to keep things in perspective. “Most of the time I’m in the water and, when I’m painting, my phone is just playing music, so I’m not spending too much time on it…which is good because it can be a rabbit hole.”
Social media fame can also be short lived, something Palmateer is well aware of. Surely her hybridized job titles will continue to morph and shift as her career progresses. One year, she might focus on qualifying for the pro tour, the next she might chase big waves. Her drawings could show up in an art gallery, as they did last year, or you might spot them painted on a board in the lineup. Change is inevitable, but, to use the common Aussie phrase, Felicity Palmateer is “not bothered.”
She knows she loves surfing, she knows she loves art, she knows she wants to advocate for the ocean, and she trusts that the money will come.
“I’m always going to continue doing these things,” she says with a laugh, “I’m not going to stress over them. That’s easier said than done, but I just try to live in the moment. Right here, right now.”
In a world filled with anxiety, that perspective is spot on. The point is clear: Though it might be Palmateer’s talents that have made her successful, it’s her outlook that makes her so unique.
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