How long have you been drawing skateboard sketches and why?
Since I was a kid, so 1991, when I was 11, lets say. I think I just really like the shapes and the freedom of drawing people in mid-air. Now it’s part of my job to illustrate skateboarding characters for Mod Pizza murals. It’s a large part of their brand. I’m very lucky.


Where do you get the inspiration from?
I love accidental street art. Layers of paint that create an explosive or subtle abstract effect. Plus, street art and non traditional graffiti and hand-painted signs from people who aren’t necessarily professional painters. I love old signs in general, from about 1940 to 1995 are my favorite. Psychic signs, tattoo art, nail salon art, old faded motorcycle club art are favorites too.


What does skateboarding mean to you?
I’m jealous of talented skateboarders. I like the freedom it represents, expressive physical freedom and variety of the art on the boards themselves, the streetwear lines too. I like to longboard. I could never really do tricks. I grew up in the 80s when the boards were really big and you couldn’t do a lot of tricks with them. Then by the the time the smaller boards came out I was off doing other things and didn’t get good at it when I had youthful dexterity. I still like mini longboards. I love drawing women who skateboard, it’s the coolest and sexiest thing to see someone who is good at surfing or skateboarding.


If there is one thing you could change about skateboarding, what would it be?
I just wish I could go back in time and tell myself to really learn it at around age 13. I think it gives you so much individuality and confidence. It teaches patience, perseverance, how to make friends, how to be cool, how to overcome injuries. Other than that, it’s just a board with four wheels, so it’s hard to imagine how to change it for the better.