Women Making Waves: Art, Surf, and Sisterhood
- Sophia Buddenhagen
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
A few weekends ago, I was invited to lead a creative workshop at the Women Making Waves Retreat, founded by the remarkable Nicole Miller Art. It was three full days of art, surf, sunshine, and uplifting energy. Sharing my love for painting in a space filled with creative, kind, and talented women was truly inspiring. Each participant brought her own style and story, every surfboard artist adding a unique kind of beauty to the weekend.
For my workshop, we painted surfboard fins and transformed them into small works of art. Brushes moved, colors blended, and before long the space was alive with laughter, conversation, and creativity. Somewhere between the paint and the coastal breeze, strangers became friends. It is remarkable how naturally that happens when you combine art, good company, and salt air after a great dinner.
Huge shoutout to Tomorrow’s Artist, Zibra Paintbrushes, and Ho Stevie for donating supplies, you guys helped make the weekend so colorful in every sense.
The next morning, we joined Southern Spears Surf Shop at the beach, who generously provided longboards for everyone. Some of the women were surfing for the first time and totally stoked to catch thier first wave in Texas. The beach was filled with cheers, laughter, and high fives. When we were not catching waves, we collaborated on a surfboard together having fun and doodling with paint.
There was more to the weekend than painting and surfing. There were so many great moments from dinner at Sugar and Rye, to live painting at the Texas Surf Museum, to a Q&A with Maria Brophy along with tons of helpful insight on the business side of our art careers, and improve our online presence. Every bit of it reflected the heart Nicole poured into this retreat. It was something special.
By the end of the Women Making Waves Retreat, we all left with more than painted fins, surfboards and sandy hair. We carried home new friendships, renewed inspiration, and a deeper connection to creativity, community, and the Gulf Coast.
Be sure to check out these lovely ladies work.
Alex Mason is a contemporary artist whose textured, vibrant paintings burst with bright florals and bold patterns, celebrating color, joy, and creative energy.
Alexx Gray is a Florida-based artist known for her vibrant surfboard art, detailed mandalas, and ocean-inspired designs.
Jess Oatman is an artist whose work captures the beauty and rhythm of nature, blending inspiration from mountains, waves, and desert landscapes.
Jenny Krieger transforms worn-out surfboards into vibrant, one-of-a-kind art pieces that bring coastal charm to any space.
Luz Helena Thompson is a Colombian-born Marine Corps veteran, expressive arts educator and mosaic muralist based on the Southern California coast whose work fuses healing, art and service through community engagement and creative transformation.
Maggie Sudek is a Wilmington-based artist and muralist who brings color and creativity to every wall and canvas she touches.
Nicole Miller is a coastal-inspired artist and muralist whose love for the ocean shapes her vibrant, expressive works, blending her background in art education with a passion for creativity and connection.
Sophia Buddenhagen creates vibrant, expressive art infused with coastal energy, skate culture edge, and desert warmth, where color, motion, and memory collide in every piece.
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