Matthew Allen is a former Surfer Magazine Art Director who has also moonlighted as a clothing designer and photographer. Much of his fine art and photography revolves around beach and surf culture. Matthew works in a variety of mediums including pen and ink, pencil, linocut prints, and watercolors. Matthew began making art in high school after suffering a seizure while surfing in Hawaii. Ordered out of the water for over a year he used the down time to foster his creative gifts. Matthew's work is inspired by quiet moments at sea, the joy of surfing, the tools of the trade and the characters who enjoy the pastime. When he's not making art, or traveling the world showing his art, Matthew can be found in the water surfing, tooling around on his guitar, working with foster kids, or doting on his niece and nephews.

This fin is made of Alaska yellow cedar used in the reconstruction of the Western Flyer boat, considered by many to be the most famous fishing boat in the world. John Steinbeck, Ed "Doc" Ricketts and crew sailed this 77-foot sardine boat into the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico in 1940. The following year, Steinbeck published his book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez, about the adventure. Learn more about this amazing boat and Ventana's use of its wood.