Artist Feature: Mike Anderson

When we got a shout from Mike, we didn't realise that he was responsible for some of the wake industry's most memorable, rockin' board graphics. Stuff like the '05 and '06 Premier series from Hyperlite, the '09 Mana from Ronix or the really fresh '09 JStar lines along with product promotional material. It's all so varied and rich. Distinctive illustration, strong type and excellent use of colour through all his work really sets his work apart.



Living in Gig Harbour, WA, Mike Anderson has almost 16 years design experience in the action sports industry he's now heading up Blacksmith, a boutique brand design firm. Looking to take on more than product design he works on anything from creating a company trademark to showcasing the final product through point of purchase presentation. His work combines digital assets, illustration and photography to create stunning work. We all think his boards rock more than anything though.

Take a look at more from Mike and Blacksmith here.

He's also got some work up on Coroflot here.

Artist Feature: Emil Kozak

Emil Kozak is from a small town in Denmark, and was inspired to take on graphic design as a result of his life long passion for skateboarding.

He began at an early age to develop his skills, inspired by skateboard-art and the result today is a unique artist with brilliant ideas. The style is fresh and positive, but often with a message that digs deeper. He is a master of composition and has an eye for detail, that is not seen very often. Typographic, clean lines and few colors is often how Emil Kozak`s artwork is described. Yet, there is always an unexpected surprise: obscure references, playing with words, codes and hints.

Kozak is motivated by a simple goal that resonates throughout his work. ”I hope that my work can remind us that imagination can defy gravity and bend time. It is our own responsibility to enjoy every second of the day. Nobody else can do that for us. Have fun, eat candy, do what you love, love what you do… We might get thrown off this spinning ball of iron and mantle tomorrow.”

As a result his work has been exhibited widely all over the world and appeared in numerous magazines and books. He has produced design and artwork for clients such as Vans, Element, Graniph, Eastpak, Burton, Channel Islands, Nike, Lab Skateboards & Uniqlo.

More from Emil here.

Submissions: QBN Member Decks

I recently posted on QBN (a design portal) looking for submissions for Deckxhibit and got a good few responses from designers who've had work produced, created concepts and others who've just posted what the ride (or at least used to). I've put together a little compilation of some of the boards they designed (concept and production). Some sick work I think you'll agree. Next up will be some of the boards they ride.

Enjoy.

Shapeaspect's Grow boards.


Andy_ssw's skate decks for the No Comply exhibition in Melbourne.


Bliznutty's Never Summer skate and Salomon Prospect 157 snowboard concepts.


Horton's snowboard design (produced) - see more of his work including a few skimboards here.


Svenreed's snowboard concept.


Mr_Gardiner's skate prototyping.


Thizzbobby's skate decks.


Keep the submissions rolling in!

Connect-a-deck

The board 'series' is an underlying principle in the product line-up for all board brands. Different sizes of the same shape share either the same graphic or the same graphic style. However, some lines are made up of one large piece of artwork spread across several boards. It's pretty sweet. The Anthem wakeskate series from Liquid Force (above), the Hyperlite Motive series (below) and the classic Liquid Force Trip series (bottom).

Anyone know of any others in different boardsports, drop a comment and get in touch. Thanks to Jeremy for these. Images courtesy of Wakeworld.

Artist Feature: Don Pendleton

I bookmarked Elephont a few years back and still enjoy browsing the deck archive. It's all the work of D.H. Pendleton, the artist behind many of the Alien Workshop board graphics. Striking, playful, highly graphic illustration is his defining style. A few nods to more traditional fine artists such as Mondrian also slip in there. Excellent stuff. He's also just released a new book on his work entitled 'Little Giants'.

See his work here.


The deck archive.

Check out 'Little Giants'.

The Liquid Force Subjekt 141

I thought I'd get the ball rolling with one of my own boards. I'm a wake rider, and started back in the late ninety's using whatever board was available. I picked Shane Bonifay's first pro model in 2005 (it was close-out stock), I just had to. The aggressive shape along with washed, abstract graphics really stood out from everything else at the time.

Image courtesy of Wakeworld.