Sk8 or Die skateboard process….

A couple months ago I was asked to be a part of the upcoming “Sk8 or Die: V” art show at the Youngblood Gallery in Atlanta, GA. It is a bi-annual show in which a number of artists are given blank skateboard decks they must design. This is the process for the board I made.

Early concept sketch for board. Kind of a bearded warlock idea. From this I figured the board would need to be carved at the bottom for the beard and additional wood flaps would need to be added to create the cloak effect.

The beginning: board + saws = Yeah Yuh!!!!!!!!

I add in the jig saw and start getting the tips all finished and clean.

Close up of cutting path.

This is the final wood work… all cut and sanded down including narrowing the top of the board to help push the cloak effect and adding 2 pieces of wood for the sides.

A couple layers of gesso added for a base coat as well as including ping-pong balls cut in half for eyes.

After gluing the eyeballs and pieces together w/ wood glue I added molding clay to smooth everything out where the pieces met.

1st pass of color

Addition of some more color and little shading and linework.

1st pass of black outlines.

Final board with addition of final detailed linework & a bit of a glossy finish. (Arm provided by the lovely Kristin).

I had to rush a bit with the painting and wasn’t happy with how everything worked out but I did enjoy the woodwork. May have to start doing more of that. The blue hood turned out darker than I had hoped deadening the cloak effect a bit and the clay contionously provided some cracking during painting…. but overall, not bad.