September 15, 4:30PM – 8PM • 25 Central Square, Seaside, Florida

Richie Guzdan
In 2012, Richie Gudzan was a corporate executive that set out to secure a side venture, “I started a rootsy little clothing brand using my artwork on t-shirts. I called it Paddle Out, built around my passion for surfing, fishing, and paddling both freshwater and salt.” It was a great way for Gudzan to tap his creative drive, and to have some fun. The Paddle Out line would soon gain traction along the Gulf Coast when surf shops and boutique retailers scooped up the brand. “I started thinking, that maybe if I pumped a little effort into this it could be something.” That December, Gudzan and his wife Mallory had a little girl, Ellie, and his world changed. “Suddenly that corporate ladder didn’t really seem to lead anywhere, and I decided I wanted my life’s work to be something my little girl could be proud of; something that influenced other people, and allowed me to effectively use the creativity I’d been given.”

Gudzan knew that it would never be easy to unplug from his corporate job, but in May 2013, he made a bold move and cashed in his 401(k) and jumped in head-first into a new endeavor: becoming an artist. “I’ve spent the last several years painting more than I ever have before, and looking for opportunities everywhere to showcase my work and grow my little Paddle Out brand and begin creating works of art. It’s led to some really incredible opportunities, and a few mistakes too, but I am living by my faith, finally understanding what it means to be free, and enjoying being part of a great story.”