Welcome to the WAVE ARCADE SURF PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
MEET THE ARTIST:
ETHAN ORENSTEIN
Every Wave Arcade print is hand-designed by one person, from a small studio on the coast of Southern California in North County San Diego.
Hi, I'M ETHAN
I'm a surfer, father, designer, and the sole creator behind Wave Arcade. I live in Encinitas, California with my family (my wife, my son, my dog, and me).
The Wave Arcade project started out with the goal of creating hand-crafted, sustainable surf gear - locally-sourced bamboo fins, palm tree handplanes, wetsuit beer koozies, 90s-inspired graphic tees. You know, the essentials. Evidently, my focus has shifted since those early projects over a decade ago.
Wave Arcade's WPA SURF POSTER SERIES started with a simple idea: what if the WPA artists who designed America's iconic National Parks posters in the 1930s had turned their attention to the coastline? Berkeley isn't all that far from where I grew up surfing after all.
At least that's how I try to imagine myself when I make these. Each one is hand-drawn, pulling inspiration from the bold color palettes, compositions, and timeless serigraph aesthetic that make up the original WPA posters. You can learn more about the history of those prints here.
While my website, marketing campaigns, and checkout flow may certainly seem pretty slick, at the end of the day WAVE ARCADE is just me, a stylus, and a deep love for the ocean.
HAND-DESIGNED
Every print is an original work created by hand. I put lots of thought and care into the composition and colors of each design. Heck, I even created the hand-drawn font for these posters.
MUSEUM QUALITY
Printed on heavyweight archival paper with premium inks built to last. Framed in natural oak with UV-resistant glass. Made to be kept, not replaced. I want each print you receive to feel as special as the memories that tie us to the places they represent.
GIVING BACK
Wave Arcade is a 1% for the Planet member. 1% of every sale goes to non-profits like Surfrider Foundation to protect the coastlines that inspire this work.
In the Wild
WAVE ARCADE OUT THERE
Early Days
WAVE ARCADE Origins
HOW EACH WAVE ARCADE WPA PRINT IS MADE
Research & Sketch
Every print starts with the spot itself. I study reference photos, visit (or even better, surf) when I can, and rough out the composition.
Design & Refine
The final design is finished on an iPad using Procreate, pulling inspiration from WPA color palettes and poster compositions from the 1930s.
Print & Frame
Printed on heavyweight archival paper with museum-quality inks. Available in 6 sizes, framed in natural premium oak or unframed.
While I started the WAVE ARCADE WPA SURF SERIES because I really love the style and aesthetic of those original National Parks Posters, I continue to expand the series because of folks like you.
What has become one of my favorite parts of this project is hearing from customers about their memories and connections to the different spots featured. Everyone has their own reasons why different beaches are meaningful to them.
It brings me a lot of joy to know that I can help provide a little portal to those memories that they can hang on their wall or give their loved ones. Thank you very much for your stories.
GIVING BACK TO THE COAST
Wave Arcade is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. 1% of annual revenue goes directly to organizations like the Surfrider Foundation to support ocean conservation, beach access, and coastal preservation. Every print you hang on your wall helps protect the place that inspired it.
YOUR FAVORITE BEACHES,
ON YOUR WALL
Explore 80+ (and counting) hand-designed surf spot prints.