A couple of weeks ago, David Sheets set aside some time for our Q&A with the BoardPusher Art Director. We have compiled some highlights for you below:
Dave: I’m really not a fan of labels. I think there is a place for just about everything. Skateboarding is an individual thing which is why I think Boardpusher is so awesome. It allows you to decide what “skate art” is to you.
With that being said David gave some insight as to some of his processes when creating skateboard graphics.
Dave: I always start outside of the computer and do as much by hand as possible. The computer is used last to put all of the drawing layers together and prepare the graphic for digital output. My secret is I trace over my drawings several times making it cleaner each round. I tend to use the digitized sketches to add texture and create color under the final ink drawing.
A sample of how you can layer different drawings to create texture, detail, and color.
Dave: I do it both to scale, 9 x 33 inches, and get it scanned at, say, Kinkos. Or I half it so it fits on a smaller scanner. If you half it then set the scan settings to double it or scan at 200%. I also always scan at 600 dpi and then knock down the resolution to 300 dpi before printing.
Dave went on to show some examples of sketches and some techniques he has used.
Sketchbook skull study to final crop of a deck design I did for Angus Morrison.
Ink scans that are then layered into art.
The final version of the Angus Morrison deck can be found here.
This is a scan of a window screen. There are so many different things you can find just lying around to create various different textures. I will scan just about anything to make texture within graphics.
Greg Narvas who got gnarly with this Buffalo Bill design and surely did “Paint It Red.” The winning deck, as well as many other rad designs from Greg, can be found in his Lefty Limbo Shop. Levi also had such a tough time with all of the designs that he wanted a second pick to use for grip, so PJ Lang also won with his turtle design. Again, his winning graphic and some more sweet decks are available at PJ’s Grit City Kids Shop. Congrats to the winners and to everyone for blowing our socks off with such great deck submissions.
Each of the winners will recieve a deck and printed grip with Levi’s new designs on it. Levi is currently out getting some footage skating the winning designs. Look out for those photos and videos soon.
Ever have an idea for a graphic, but needed help on how to pull it off? Maybe you’ve had questions about one or several aspects of making skateboard graphics in general. Ever just wish you could talk to an Art Director about it? Well you are in luck! BoardPusher Art Director, David Sheets, wants to get a conversation started and lend you a hand. This week Wednesday April 18, from 6:30 to 7:30pm EST, and again on Saturday 2:00 to 4:00 EST Dave will be logged into our Twitter and Facebook accounts for our “Ask the Art Director Take Over.”
No subject will be too taboo or too complex. We’d just like to get an open forum going with your questions and ideas and see where it goes from there. It’s up to you to decide what your graphics are, we just want to give you the knowledge to make them look the way you want.
We can’t make any promises of what will happen, but we look forward to seeing what does. Remember, the ink gets spilled starting Wednesday.
Cheers,
Boardpusher staff
(especially the Art Director)
BoardPusher sponsored rider, Levi Huffman, is looking for a new deck design and we’re looking to you to create it for him. Levi will hand pick his favorite design and it will be featured in various media outlets with your name attached to it. The best part is you will receive a free deck with your design. And now to get a feel for the person you are designing for, here’s some info about Levi Huffman:
HOMETOWN
Wheat Ridge (White Rich), Colorado
SETUP
8.0″ BoardPusher Levi Decks, Indy Trucks, BoardPusher and Diabolical Wheels, Black Panther Bearings.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SKATING?
My mom bought me a skateboard for my 1st birthday so I have pretty much had one around my whole life. My friend David’s big brother Doug got us really into it. He’s the one that made it look like fun to me. Now I have been skating seriously for about 11 maybe 12 years.
INSPIRATION
Living, my daughters Stella & Ravenna, and the rest of my Family.
FAVORITE TRICK
My favorite trick would have to be a Benihana because a lot of people hate on that trick and not many people do them.
ADVICE FOR YOUNG SKATERS
Skate for Life and love every second of it. Don’t take anything for granted. Always wear a helmet it could save your life.
FAVORITE VIDEO
The End.
OTHER SPONSORS
Bern, Globe, Lit Apparel, Diabolical Skate Shop
ODDEST SKATE SPOT
Work after hours in the warehouse. Couldn’t resist the pushcart and other goodies to grind.
STRANGEST MOMENT ON A SKATE TRIP
Coming out of The King of The Road party and into a scene out of a B Theater Movie. Crazed street bum had a knife out and was going after Daewon Song as our wheel man Vendola was taking the bum from the side. It was very strangely surreal.
FUNNIEST MOMENT WITH A BOARDPUSHER EMPLOYEE
(As I asked this I thought about getting nailed with a spit wad during Levi’s entrance today.) I don’t know, too many antics to count.
FAVORITE CARTOON THEME SONG TO SKATE TO OTHER THAN TMNT
(No answer, just continuously played theme songs from his phone ranging from Rescue Rangers to Ren & Stimpy. Then a challenge ensued over how fast we could recognize sitcom theme songs.)
CLASSIEST REST/TRUCK STOP EXPERIENCE
One road trip I got stuck in a driving daze and was the only one who could drive. Pulled in to get a cup off coffee and lost $50 somehow in the process. Most expensive cup to date.
BEST HISTORICAL FIGURE NOT KNOWN FOR ART THAT WOULD MAKE THE BEST SKATEBOARD GRAPHICS
Buffalo Bill due to his gnarly beard and endless supply of blood to paint with.
LEVI RANDOM FUN FACTS
Can’t smell, can only taste hot sauce, Funyuns are a favorite snack, likes lasers, but not the womp womp, doesn’t know what a “Skrillex” is, has a tattoo of a Ninja Turtle to show his undying love for TMNT, has never worn Levi’s, has a taxidermy Bongo that ended up being the centerpiece of his basement bar.
Watch Levi Tear It Up
NOW THAT YOU KNOW LEVI BETTER HERE’S HOW TO ENTER
1. Upload your design on an 8 inch deck here.
2. Click “Finish Deck” and paste the link to our facebook page.
LINKS TO DESIGN SWAG
Feel free to use any, all, some, or none of this to aid you in your design for Levi’s Graphic. We have included links to some BoardPusher logos if you decide to go that route, but we don’t want you to think that you have to use them to win. Designing for Levi’s size of an 8 inch deck might help though.
Post a picture of you and your BoardPusher skateboard to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/boardpusher) for a chance to win a free skateboard. Deck pics are fine, but skating pics that show off your BoardPusher graphic are even better! The pic with the most likes by the end of July wins. All other entries showing a BoardPusher graphic gets a $5 coupon.
The best photo wins a free deck! All other entries get a $5 coupon.
Whether your deck is hanging on your wall or shredding the street, we want to see it. Post a picture to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/boardpusher) with your BoardPusher deck and we’ll send you a $5 coupon. It’s that simple. The picture with the most ‘likes’ gets a free deck! The promotion ends at the end of July. Tip: Skating pics that show the graphic will get more attention.
Thanks to everyone who created designs and voted for the ‘May’hem Deck Design Contest. Your participation made it a huge success! It came down to the wire, but the winner has been picked.
Congratulations Gary Castelli for the winning design! You will receive a special prize package with your winning deck in the next few days. The winning design had 215 likes. Mark Cosmo Kaschak’s design was a close second with 183 likes.
Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time around, we will be announcing the next contest soon.
We have over 50 ‘May’hem designs submitted so far! Vote for your favorite by ‘liking’ them on our Facebook page. The deck with the most likes by May 31st wins and gets their deck for FREE!
Khishe Moorer is discussing. 
Dood! Lookin’ good! Can’t wait to get the deck. The printed grip looks killer! Totally have to apply that to my deck branding. Thanks again!