PERFECT LAUGHTER

Artist/designer Dennis Jacobs recently presented me with a brief  Q&A session for his Detroit-based blog, Perfect Laughter. Above is an alternate colorway for the Studio Number One 'Tools of the Trade' print that I designed a few years ago, and was the primary catalyst for the interview. I was happy to ponder and respond to his questionnaire and he just published it here. Enjoy.

Thanks, Dennis.

AUTOGAHN

I'm suspecting there is another reason that this YouTube clip has nearly 6 million views...

maybe it's just the Autobahn-esque, futuristic Euro techno pop, but the last 2 minutes of this film is ALMOST art. It makes me wish that today's stunt footage was still shot on 16 mm film.

I also wonder if Nikon's marketing division has really done enough research to fully expolit the niche of the turbo-rocketed-banana-colored-'78 Thunderbird-awesomeness-owners demographic.

"And for the record, my favorite part was the part where the dude crashes."

ZANY

OK....one more vintage 80's skate/surf ad and then I am changing the subject. Basically, this graphic has all of the cliched elements representative of the era: day-glo colors, angular, new wave typography, enlarged halftone dots, quasi-photocopied collage, and instead of leopard skin motif- zebra stripes. Zinka was some sorta weird, day-glo colored sunblock stuff that neo-tribal surfer dudes wore (along with their Oakley Blades) in the mid 80's.

NEW GONZ PRO MODEL

Continuing with vintage advertising theme, but going a little deeper into the archives, here is a spot-color example from the then-still-published-on-newsprint, Thrasher (June 1985). It's announcing the new Vision/Mark Gonzales pro model, one of the ALL TIME classic board graphics ever released. I rode at least four different colorways of this deck between 1985-1987.

BTW- Thrasher has been slowly scanning and posting their 25+ year collection of printed material here.

MOUNT UP!!!

Today, June 21st, is national 'Go Skateboarding Day'. How far skateboarding has come, and how far it has saturated itself into mainstream culture, is simply astounding. 

Vintage full color ad for Thunder skateboard trucks, featuring one of Charleston's favorite sons, Blaize Blouin. Shot by Kevin Thatcher, in the spring of 1988, at arguably one of the most famous (and underground) spots in the South at the time, the George Street Pool. 

RIP Blaize and the George Street Pool.

BLK SHP NC

North Carolina-based skateboard shop, Black Sheep, will soon be releasing a new deck, tee and sticker set designed by yours truly. Stay tuned for info...and keep an eye on the Black Sheep website for updates.

And don't forget that the annual and official 'Go Skateboarding Day' is June 21st!

Expression of Joy

Although I'm not a HUGE fan of BMW per se, I applaud them for having the courage to bring an amazing advertising concept to life. Employing the imagination South African artist, Robin Rhode, as well as a large support team of directors and engineers, a Z4 was utilized as a massive paintbrush to create a stunning visual statement (dig the radio controlled paint-dispensing nozzles outfitted within each wheel well). The end result, measuring 100' x 200', is absolutely fascinating, reminiscent of 20th century greats, Jackson Pollock and Cy Twombly, as well as graffiti pioneer, Futura 2000.

Oh, and toss in a pinch of Jeff Koons for the sensational salesmanship, too.

PRINTSHOP INSPIRATIONS

From shelves of custom dies and patinaed apple boxes to the obligatory ink cans and squeegee arms, unusual equipment can also generate inspiration.

PATIENCE & DISCIPLINE II

I have heard many times, from those more accomplished and more experienced than myself, that it never hurts to do real, physical, ACTUAL 'press checks'. And although this doesn't constitute a press check quite yet, I am getting closer....

You may remember a few weeks ago when I was gloating about a nutty piece of film that I cut. Thankfully, I have since progressed on to the next stage; selecting and mixing the ink. Working hand-in-hand with a top-secret print shop, the master printer and press operators allowed me behind their closed doors to be more involved with the production. A few dozen quart-sized ink cans, chipboard scoops, mix sticks a postal scale (along with the chosen paper stock) were all exploited to generate a custom color formula....(I think the boys at House would be proud.)

Stay tuned...more information on the print will be released very soon.

FUNDRAISER AUCTION TONIGHT!!

There's a fundraiser art show/auction tonight in downtown LA for a friend of mine, Justin Van Hoy. A number of notable artists have donated work and it's all to help a great cause. See TheDutchParty for other locations and info.

The great people at Poketo, along with Will Hays, Chris Bettig, and Zach Gibson have organized a fund raiser / emotional booster for one of our favorite people, Justin Van Hoy, who has been suffering and battling with Leukemia for quite some time now. He has just been released from being in the hospital for 3 months undergoing chemo for the 2nd time, radiation & a bone marrow transplant. Justin, and his amazing wife, Holly, are struggling physically, mentally and financially. We are organizing events for them to show our love and support all over the US, and we are organizing an evening here in Los Angeles on Friday June 5th at the Poketo Studio in downtown. We are going to have a silent art auction, featuring artworks generously donated by :

Derek Albeck, Jeremy Baker, Sheli Ben-Ner, Christopher Bettig, Kime Buzzelli, Ryan Callis, Josh Cochran, Michael Coleman, Leah Chun, Shepard Fairey, Jason Filipow, Sarajo Frieden, Zach Gibson, Matt Goldman, Josh Hart, Kristian Henson, Caroline Hwang, Jordan Isip, Katsuo Design, Mel Kadel, Anne Keehn, Phillip Lumbang, Blake E. Marquis, Bill McRight, Travis Millard, Jesselisa Moretti, Saejeen Oh, Saelee Oh, Jared Purrington, Ye Rin Mok, Casey Ryder, Ashkahn Shahparnia, Damion Silver, Skyrocket Studios, Jeana Sohn, Sumi Ink Club, Marissa Textor, Amanda Visell, David Weidman, Ernesto Yerena, Marco Zamora, Florencio Zavala As well as products donated by Obey Clothing, Poketo & Swindle! (from obeygiant.com)

I contributed this one-off, hand-pulled, screenprinted skateboard using a collage of text and imagery from Streetscribe Issue #4, Summer 1988. This work was displayed at the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina earlier this year.

Even if you can't attend, you can still contribute here.