After two years of housing my uroko apparel line under my fine art website ascSTUDIO.com, the time has come to branch off and give uroko it's own web pathway. This has been a dream of mine since I started making t-shirts and hats under the uroko brand name a little over two years ago. With your support, uroko has grown fast! 2015 was a stellar year for me and I am really excited for the new tees, sweatshirts, and hats that I will release throughout the upcoming year.
This year I am working hard to find the perfect cut tee for women ... I am getting closer. I am also looking forward to connecting with all of you who have found my tees at the retail stores that carry my gear or on ETSY.com/theartsea. I plan to use this blog to not only talk about the new apparel I release, but to also use it as a platform to share your fishing stories (tall tales welcome) and learn about your wave riding adventures. I will feature interviews with artists I know, and share stories from my own experiences as an artist, designer, and wave rider. (More info on sharing your stories to come.)
Next, I have a new Instagram account for uroko. Follow "urokolife" on Instagram for all things that combine fishing, wave riding, and art. My "ascSTUDIO" Instagram account will still continue to document the water oil paintings that I do and art work I create for uroko.
Last but not least, I wanted to dedicate my uroko brand to my Grandad, Col. John Gregerson. He passed away in 2015 and was my hero. A veteran of World War 2 (he survived the Iwo Jima landing), Korea, and Vietnam, my Grandad served in US Marine Corps for 35 years. When he retired, he focused his energy on his love for fishing. I was fortunate to be his partner in crime in a majority of his fishing escapades as I got older. From Mexico to British Columbia, we fished for everything we could. He taught me how to dig for clams, shuck oysters, catch crab, smoke my fish, and can goods. He taught me the ins and outs of pulling a trailer when driving and how to navigate the ocean. Most importantly, he taught me how to be a respectful and gracious human being. I was a very lucky grand child.
So, to all of you out there ... lets fire this thing up and see where it goes.
(pictured: Grandad, my sister Katie, and me holding my younger brother Ethan: circa 1982)