Every surfer has moments that only fellow surfers can truly relate to.
The wave that closed out just before you could catch it. The exhausting paddle that led to nothing. The buddy who always seems to snag the best waves.
These fleeting experiences often vanish as quickly as a surf session wraps up. Yet, there’s someone who values them.
Giulio Pompei breathes new life into these moments with his pen, paper, and a keen sense of humor.
The Rome-based illustrator behind @surfcartoon has cultivated a growing following by highlighting the lighter side of surfing.
His illustrations resonate with anyone who has spent time in the ocean, while also being accessible to those who have never set foot on a surfboard.
After all, you don’t need wax on your feet to appreciate a good laugh.
Hand-Drawn Humor, One Idea at a Time
With a background in graphic design, illustration, and advertising, Pompei has worked on various editorial projects, YouTube content, magazines, blogs, and private commissions over the years.
His artistic repertoire extends beyond surfing, encompassing travel sketches, architectural illustrations, satire, comics, watercolor art, and pencil drawings.
Illustration has always been his primary means of expression, with surfing emerging as one of his favorite themes.
Despite the polished digital finish of his artwork, each Surfcartoon piece begins with traditional hand-drawn sketches.
Pompei starts on paper before adding color and refining the final product in Photoshop.
New concepts rarely come about by chance.
He maintains a collection of Post-it notes filled with observations, jokes, and ideas that eventually evolve into sketches for his Instagram posts.
This straightforward method helps him capture those fleeting moments that every surfer knows all too well.
Surf Culture with a Lighthearted Twist
As you scroll through the Surfcartoon feed, one thing becomes clear: Pompei is observant.
His cartoons highlight everyday scenarios in the lineup, surf trips, wave aspirations, gear, clichés, behaviors, and the quirks that make surfers chuckle (or even laugh) at themselves.
Rather than pursuing dramatic action shots or perfect barrels, he finds humor in the common experiences that often go unnoticed.
This approach broadens the appeal of his work.
Veteran surfers see themselves reflected in the illustrations, while newcomers get an entertaining insight into a culture built on passion, patience, and the occasional frustration.
Pompei has also expressed interest in creating more educational surf content, paving the way for illustrations that explain surfing while maintaining the playful style that has garnered him popularity.
However, it’s primarily the fun aspects of surf culture that shine through and receive enthusiastic applause from online audiences.
Taking the Art Beyond the Screen
Many fans first encounter Surfcartoon on Instagram, but the project extends beyond social media.
Pompei produces high-quality art prints in Italy, collaborating with local businesses and employing sustainable production practices.
Orders are carefully packed with protective sleeves and shipping bags before being sent to surfers worldwide, where the illustrations often find homes in living spaces, surf shops, or personal workspaces.
He frequently shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of new print runs, expressing gratitude to supporters for enabling the project’s growth and the development of fresh ideas.
His online shop also features t-shirts adorned with selected illustrations.
And there may be more to come.
After receiving numerous requests, Pompei has hinted at the possibility of publishing a small full-color book compiling his surf drawings.
This project is still in the early stages, but it reflects the ongoing interest in his cartoons.
Be sure to follow Giulio Pompei’s work on Instagram at @surfcartoon.
He is arguably one of the most active and entertaining surf cartoonists today.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com