VERO BEACH — Artist Dave Farrow sees the life and scenarios of a lifeguard through the eyes of one. So painting the three guarded beaches of Vero Beach with lifeguards in action comes naturally to him.
“I love lifeguards because I know what they are about,” said Farrow, who once guarded the beaches of Ocean City, Md. “I know what they think, what they are doing. People don’t really get the professionalism of a lifeguard. They take their job very seriously.”
Farrow, a general contractor and artist, as well as the father of a Vero Beach lifeguard, is donating his time and talent to raise money for the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association.
He is painting scenes from all three guarded beaches; Jaycee, Humiston and South Beach and selling the giclees, high quality prints on a canvas, as well as more standard prints.
Eventually, the originals will be sold or auctioned. The goal is to raise $100,000.
“South Beach Watch” is the first completed painting, and can be seen at Lighthouse Art & Framing on 14th Avenue, which is sponsoring the project along with Mary Bennett who is doing the giclees.
He said South Beach is one of the more challenging beaches for lifeguards because of the way the waves break there.
“South Beach Watch” shows two lifeguards studying a rip current, with a swimmer possibly at risk.
“The idea is that it’s a peaceful beach, a fun time, and the lifeguards are watching, and no one knows what they are looking at,” he says. “The average person on the beach doesn’t have a clue.
“They think that when someone yells, a lifeguard will help them. That’s not the way it works. The lifeguard has to get to them long before the yelling starts.”
The giclees go for $135 to $165 depending on the size – 12×24” to 18×36” – and whether it is framed. So far, 11 have sold, and requests are increasing.
They are sold by word-of-mouth, or else, through the art and framing store.
Farrow, who once used his renderings to design homes as a general contractor, also restores old master paintings, does commissioned pieces and teaches acrylic and oil painting at Lighthouse Art & Framing.
He mainly paints tropical Caribbean beach scenes in oil and acrylics.
The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association is a non-profit organization that promotes water safety and lifeguarding. It formed last year in response to the threat of having unguarded beaches due to budget cuts.
“The city is in a jam,” said Erik Toomsoo, a lifeguard and the group’s president. “As a team, we decided to be proactive to keep us trained and equipped. We are in need of a lot of things the city can’t afford,” such as medical supplies, ATVs other equipment.
Seventeen Vero Beach lifeguards watch over Jaycee, South Beach and Humiston, and the city’s pool, Leisure Square. VBLA includes 45 members.
Some 700,000 people visited the city’s beaches last year, according to Toomsoo. There were two rescues a month, on average, not including numerous medical calls.
“We drill on this stuff,” said Toomsoo, 43. “The training kicks in.”
On the importance of having guarded beaches, Toomsoo added: “The beach is the economic engine of this city. There is an economic and moral obligation to have guarded beaches, to keep it safe.”
“We’re not just sitting up in the tower and looking at girls,” he said. “Most of us are EMTs, paramedics, a nurse. We are first responders.”
Toomsoo and Jordan Farrow, Dave’s son, were on watch at Humiston in early May when a 47-year-old German tourist was bitten by a shark.
Toomsoo swam out to the woman and pulled her to safety. Toomsoo, Farrow and an off-duty lifeguard who is a registered nurse, applied pressure, a dressing and oxygen.
They managed to stabilize the victim before she was taken to Lawnwood Regional Treasure Coast Trauma Center in Ft. Pierce.
“These were a couple of lifeguards sitting on the stand making sure their eyes were peeled,” said Farrow. “A lot of times people don’t get it, they think it’s a ‘Bay Watch’ job.”