Mike Butkus

Surf's up! Why coastal comforts lured the artist to his California home

My studio has seen quite the evolution over the years - from the bustling streets of Burbank, California, to the laid-back vibe of Hawaii, and now to a peaceful little town on the Central Coast of California: Morro Bay. Each location has had a huge impact on how and when I work, and every time I've set up a new studio, it feels like a new chapter.

Back in Burbank, I was in a large studio, with all the bells and whistles I could ask for but also the terrible LA traffic and smog, and I never quite felt at home there. It was a convenient location in that the ad agencies were just an hour's drive away, but it lacked the inspiration I needed. So, when the chance to move to Hawaii came up, I jumped on it.

I downsized to a smaller studio in the home but the difference in lifestyle was profound. I'd work in the morning, then spend the afternoon with my son, snorkelling or surfing in the clear, warm water before returning home to enjoy the sunset on our porch with my wife and a glass of wine in hand.