Interview

When did you discover Art?
I have always been someone who likes to draw.  As a small child my mom would give me a pen and paper to keep me occupied and as a result I always keep some sort of drawing implements with me.  If nothing else is going on like waiting at an airport or waiting for a friend I can keep busy drawing.  

I realized in my mid-teens that I was only going to be able to go to art school as I wasn't interested or good at anything else.  I can do other jobs but they are just jobs and there hasn't been anything else that I enjoy doing as much as I enjoy painting and drawing.
 
Who and what influences your art?  
People who love to draw and people who are just really good technical painters/craftsmen.  I am always trying to be as good as I can at what I do and seeing painting/drawing/art making done well gives me a lot of drive to get better.  That isn't too say I only like academic work.   I like tonnes of other ways of working and art making I just get really excited when I see art that is done to the best of the artists ability.
 
How does the board sports culture influence your art?  
It gives me the curiosity to see the world.  There are spots to ride all over the world and you know that once you get your fill of your local spots there are hundreds of more to find and experience.  I have been around the world thanks to my board and by traveling you are going to encounter new ways of seeing the world and new imagery and creativity.  For me it was so key to opening the world as I grew up in a northern mining town in Canada.  Culture was a low priority in most people’s minds when I was growing up.  Boardsports have created their own culture with music, fashion, art, magazines and personalities.  The board culture is rich and diverse and if you are open to it you can find your horizons expanding endlessly
 
How do you feel about wood as a medium?
Wood takes paint and pencil allot better than canvas, I find it's easier to get a smooth surface with wood than canvas.  Also it takes pencil allot easier than canvas.  I guess it's a lot more like working with paper as you can lean on it without damaging it.  With canvas you have to float your hand and arm over the surface but with wood you can rest your elbow on it without denting if.  For some reason I like the way paint looks on it.  It's hard to explain, I'm sure someone with more technical knowledge could explain it better than I can.  It really comes down to I just like painting on it, I'm sure that will change soon enough.
 
As a rider and artist, how important are board graphics to you?
Art can be wherever you want it to be, truth be told the board will ride the same with or without the art.  For me it's all about the function as long as it rides the way I want then I could care less about its looks.