Mike Aches Art Jam Board #1

At Street Plant we Value the Art Of Skateboarding, and so we put the Artist First. We could never make logo boards, blanks or “team boards” because we Believe that a Skateboard Deck is a Canvas for the Artist and that it should be Adorned with Artistic Expression and Infused with Purposeful Energy. Where so much of the Art in Skateboarding has been suburbanized through the corporate filters, we are seeking a Deeper Connection with the Artists that we work with, to Design Skateboard Graphics that Inspire Creativity and that Elevate the Senses.

In that Spirit, every now and then, we host a Garageland Art Jam, to let the Artists we work with cut loose on some Hand Painted Designs. We Believe that what is made with the Hands, is a direct extension of the Heart.

Thanks for Your Support!

Mike Aches Art Jam Board #1

Hand Painted Griptape Art By Mike Aches on a 2 Years Strong Deck signed By The Vallely family.

Size: 9.5″ x 31″
Wheelbase: 14.375″
Nose: 5.5″
Tail: 6.625″

Unfortunately, I haven’t planned much in my life, if anything at all!
Life may have been a lot easier if I planned things, but I didn’t, and I can’t dwell on it. I have always just gone along with the flow and if there was something I wanted to do, then I just tried it. I didn’t worry about failure because everyone fails eventually. It is how you respond to failure that defines you.

How does this relate to my Artwork?

This relates to my Artwork because most of it isn’t planned, I usually just draw what comes into my mind at the time. There is not any set process or guidance. There are not any grand expectations. I have noticed when I try to make set expectations of my artwork, then it hinders my creativity and the artwork doesn’t flow naturally. It winds up looking forced and I don’t like the final product. Another factor is using the right side of my brain. Most of the day I have to use the right side of my brain for analytical thinking and believe it or not I can tell when I am using it when drawing. It sometimes takes a while for the left side to kick in and allow me to create. Ha, Ha! It may sound crazy, but it is actually true.

The first time I ever drew on Griptape was back in the mid 80’s. Yes, way back in the 1900’s! Ha, Ha!! Way back then, we used to draw on Griptape with chalk and then seal the chalk with hairspray.

Fast forward to present day where the tools are paint pens/markers.

Again, I had no plan. I just decided back in April of 2017 that I wanted to draw a simple graphic on one of my Street Plant Boards and it has spawned into more and more Grip designs. It eventually led to these Glue-Footed Griptape designs.

The process I currently use is to grab some paint markers and go to town! Sometimes I use rough stencils to get a basic layout or center objects and freehand draw the rest of the graphic. Other times I freehand draw the art. A lot of times I try to work with the existing artwork and build off of that image. The process of using paint markers is very tedious and time consuming where I am constantly depressing the pen and worrying about lines becoming too thick or rough edges. You have to be committed to the Artwork to finish a full deck design.

This particular design, I built off the amazing Artwork of Greg Higgins’ shoe graphic.

I hope this Stokes the Fire and gets YOU to Skate! Create!! and Enjoy!!!

Let’s Go!!!!

Sincerely,

M. Aches