New Pelican Newspaper, Catching The Ocean View

Mar 21, 2023

DENNIS FRIEL

Spotlight with New Pelican Newspaper

This South Florida kid grew up fishing, diving, surfing and spending time on the ocean. It was a great complement to being an artist.

The Atlantic Current Artist Dennis Friel
Connected By Water by D. Friel, Award Winning Artist
The Atlantic Current Dennis Friel Pompano Beach Bridge
Source Article  New Pelican Newspaper

Catching the Ocean View: Artist Dennis Friel wants everyone to be Connected by Water®

BY Jim “Chiefy” Mathie

Marine artist Dennis Friel shows us why we’re all Connected By Water®.

His projects range from tiny, such as being an Artist Infusion Program (AIP) coin designer for the United States Mint, to creating a massive mural under the Atlantic Boulevard Intracoastal bridge in Pompano Beach.

Throughout his life, Friel says he’s “never stopped painting fish.”

My interview took place at his Pompano Beach art studio as he was finishing up painting a guitar (with fish pictures) for the Jimmy Johnson “Quest for the Ring” National Billfish Tournament.

He’s especially proud to have been the artist for the event since it started, even back in the day when it was held at Big Chill, Johnson’s restaurant in the Florida Keys. It’s held now at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood at the Guitar Hotel and is the richest tournament in the world with a guaranteed $1 million purse.

For Friel, it’s a complete event for him to showcase his talent as the official artist including providing all of the logos, attire, guitar and even playing cards for the participants. And of course, he was able to record his Connected by Water Podcast featuring Johnson.

This South Florida kid grew up fishing, diving, surfing and spending time on the ocean. It was a great complement to being an artist. He graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in 1992 and went on to art school at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota.

The Atlantic Current Dennis Friel Connected By Water
The Atlantic Current Dennis Friel Connected By Water

high level, award-winning experience

He then became the senior creative director for Alliance Entertainment in Coral Springs for 17 years, on the marketing side, with a creative team of 20 designers. Besides managing worldwide projects, he learned to produce “digital assets” and create printing on apparel and quality merchandise. It’s how he’s been able to continue his success in the art business today.

But he “never stopped painting fish.”

He would do local fishing tournament logos in his spare time and even now does the annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival logo and apparel. However, he came to a crossroads that would allow him to paint fish full time and, along with his wife Liz and two children, took the leap of faith by opening his art studio.

In 2019, the city reached out to him to create the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge mural, which serves as a huge canvas for his marine artwork. Technically it’s a wrap, which is designed to weather the harsh environment for many years.

His most recent mural was hand painted with a brush at The Cove Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar in Deerfield Beach, giving the newly renovated iconic upscale location a brilliant, colorful and magical marine scene.

Four years ago he added Harris Katz as a business partner, launching a series of Connected by Water Podcasts.

Friel likes to use the Podcasts as “recording a little history,” giving the marine scene something to be proud of with a “true message of conservation.”

I’ve had the good fortune to be on two of his podcasts with female National Spearfishing Champion Julie Higgs, and there’s always an underlying message of marine conservation in every broadcast.

The podcasts are presented by Joey Accardi car dealerships and fueled by Papa Pillar’s Rum.

Friel strives to deliver the highest quality as he believes “that should always reflect in an artist’s work.” He never wants to give up traditional painting and envisions himself in the middle of a painting when he finally leaves this earth.

So for Dennis Friel, “he’ll never stop painting fish.”

D. Friel, Custom Art Murals Pompano Beach Atlantic Bridge
D. Friel, Marine Life Artist, Founder of Connected By Water
Award Winning Artist D. Friel, Connected By Water

The Connected By Water® Podcast is fueled by Papa's Pilar Rum and features the most legendary names and influencers in the world's fishing, diving, and waterman communities.

Check out Connected By Water's new online shop, podcast, gallery collection and more.

Post Tags: Connected By Water, Dennis Friel, New Pelican Newspaper, Partner, Sponsor
Connected By Water by D. Friel, Award Winning Artist

ARTIST, FISHERMAN, CONSERVATIONIST, & PODCASTER

Tune in weekly to our Connected By Water Podcast

Bio: D.Friel Award Winning Artist Connected By Water

We Are All Connected By Water