About this artwork
A massive wave rears up and curls into a hollow tube, its lip feathering into spray that blows back in a white haze. The inside of the barrel is smooth and dark, streaked with lines of moving water, while the sea in front lies textured and black. There is no boat, no surfer and no shore, only the wave and the weather.
"Learn to Surf" is placed on the dark water in two lines of silver capitals. A gold rule separates it from the italic quote "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." The contrast between bright foam and inky sea gives this wave quote print plenty of depth from a distance. Its message is about adapting rather than resisting, so it suits people navigating change at work, at home or in their health, as well as surfers who simply love the ocean.
About the Quote
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf" is most often credited to Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, who used it in his book Wherever You Go, There You Are. In that context it describes a mindful response to stress: you cannot control everything that happens, but you can build the skill to stay balanced as it arrives. That is why it turns up in therapy rooms, classrooms and offices as often as in surf shops.
How to style it
Ideal for a coastal living room, a bathroom with dark tiles or a calm home office; it suits Scandinavian, coastal and monochrome schemes. Pair it with the stormy-sea sailing design for an ocean pair. Explore the full Motivational Posters collection.
Choose your format
- Unframed Art Print on 250 gsm archival matte fine-art paper with a soft off-white tone. Ideal if you already have a frame.
- Natural Wood Frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Black Metal Frame, a slim matte-black aluminium frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Aluminium Print, printed directly onto a rigid 3 mm aluminium panel for a sleek, frameless look.
- Wood Print, printed directly onto a 2 cm wood panel for a warm, natural, gallery feel.
Sizes
Seven portrait sizes from 20 × 30 cm (8 × 12 in) to 50 × 70 cm (20 × 28 in). Not sure which one? Read our size guide.
Shipping
Free tracked shipping to most countries. Every print is made to order and produced close to you, in more than 30 countries across Europe, the UK, North America and Australia, which means shorter journeys and fewer surprises at the door. See shipping & returns.
Questions & answers
Who said "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf"?
The line is most often credited to mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, who used it in Wherever You Go, There You Are. Versions also circulate in yoga and surf culture without attribution.
Does the wave print feel aggressive in a living room?
Not usually. Despite the size of the wave, the image is mostly soft grey spray and dark water with no harsh colour, so it reads as atmospheric rather than violent.
Is a frame included?
Only if you choose a framed format. The Natural Wood Frame and Black Metal Frame options arrive assembled with acrylic glazing and are ready to hang. The Unframed Art Print arrives without a frame, and the Aluminium and Wood Prints need no frame at all.
Which size should I choose?
As a rule of thumb, choose art about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it. 50 × 70 cm makes a statement above a sofa or bed, 30 × 40 cm suits shelves, desks and gallery walls. Our size guide shows every size to scale.
How is my print made and shipped?
Each print is made to order for you, then shipped with tracking from a production partner close to your address. You receive the tracking link by email as soon as your order leaves production.
Specifications
| Format | Unframed Art Print, Natural Wood Frame, Black Metal Frame, Aluminium Print, Wood Print |
| Print Size | 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in, 30 × 40 cm / 12 × 16 in, 30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18 in, 40 × 50 cm / 16 × 20 in, 40 × 60 cm / 16 × 24 in, 45 × 60 cm / 18 × 24 in, 50 × 70 cm / 20 × 28 in |
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