Surf, Tears, and Acrylic Paint: My Pura Vida Art Experience

When I walked into an art studio in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was stepping into. I thought it might be a traditional painting class, something structured with instructions.

Instead, it was something completely different. A quiet, open space to create freely - but it was also bursting with color and energy. The studio itself, Art by Junior, is vibrant. Surfboards painted with wild colors line the walls, bold canvases beam from every corner, and the air just felt alive.

That night, I met a lovely woman named Denzy, who worked there. It ended up being just the two of us. She handed me a little cup and said, “Pick 3 or 4 words out of here. Let those guide your painting.”

I pulled out: mountain, waves, eyes, and moon.

And the words hit me right in the heart.

Just the day before, I had gone surfing for the first time. It was much harder than I thought. At one point, sitting on the board frozen with nerves, my instructor looked me in the eyes and said, “Breathe.”

I took a short, shallow breath.

“Again,” he said. “Deeper.”

I tried one more time, but instead of air, I let out tears. He saw the anxiety I was holding and softly told me, “Just breathe,” one last time… then gave me a little push into the wave.

When I told Denzy the story, I cried again.

So when I began to paint that night, I reached for a sharp little seashell that I brought with me and used it to carve “Just Breathe” into the paint. And then I added two more words: “Pura Vida.”

Because that’s what this moment was. Pure life. Raw, real, unfiltered. No pressure. No performance.

Painting that night felt like the most natural thing I’d done in a long time. It was fun. It was freeing. It reminded me what art is supposed to feel like - not what it’s supposed to look like.

I wasn’t thinking about what people would want to paint in a class. I was just… present. I added a small yin-yang symbol in honor of Denzy (it’s her favorite symbol) and it felt right.

This painting was a reminder - one I didn’t know I needed.

I’ve spent so much time trying to create the “right” paintings - the ones that people will like, or want to recreate. But this? This was just for me. And it’s probably the most honest painting I’ve ever made. I know I’ll paint like this again.

This experience took place at Art by Junior, a truly inspiring studio in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. If you’re ever in the area, go make something there - it’s pure magic.