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Entries in skateboard art (9)

Monday
Nov172014

Studio Skate Co.

Paige Poppe is a creative entrepreneur who paints incredible custom graphics on skate decks, and recently launched the Studio Skate Co. with the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign. She has also started to make her own custom decks, using Roarockit's Thin Air Press technology, as canvasses for her work.

We were able to chat with Paige about her experiences crowdfunding, making boards and the future of Studio Skate.

How did you get started doing your artwork on decks?

Paige - I learned how to longboard in high school and got so into it! I bought a deck at my local skate shop, but none of the graphics were 100% me, so I figured why not design my own? I started by woodburning myself a longboard, and then started painting more as gifts from my friends. They loved how personalized they were and I loved working with the unique canvas! So I opened up an Etsy shop and continued painting and offering custom decks.

 

With so many skateboard related projects looking to crowd funding to help get started, do you have any advice or experiences from your own Kickstarter campaign that you would like to share?

Paige - Since I already had an Etsy shop, the Kickstarter was my way of taking my business more seriously. I created a name for my business, Studio Skate, and designed a logo. I think creating a solid logo + graphics really helped my project get successfully funded! It also helped me to have existing customers of my art and a following from my blog where I was sharing my pieces. I reached out to those people who were already attracted to my work, and they wanted to see Studio Skate become a reality! My final piece of advice is to utilize social media. My favorite is Instagram, and I have made so many connections with people through that community.

P.S. You can find me there @paigepoppe and I'd love if you stopped by to say hey! 

How did you hear about Roarockit? How has it changed your business?

Paige - Speaking of Instagram, I heard about Roarockit in the most roundabout way! Here's the story: I was promoting my Kickstarter through Instagram posts during my last month of study abroad while living in Copenhagen. I found a Danish skateboard company called Parfa Crew on Instagram and really liked their graphics. I left a comment and followed their account. Next thing I know, the owner Palle had donated to my Kickstarter and asked if I would like to stop by his studio and chat. He was so kind and showed me how he runs his business, and that's when he showed me the Roarockit technology! I was so excited to find out about this skateboard making method because I knew I wouldn't have access to power tools over the summer. 

I am really grateful to Palle for teaching me about Roarockit, and I love this company for making creativity possible! I get so much joy out of creating my entire process, from shaping to painting by hand, and Roarockit makes that possible. 

What have been some of your favorite projects so far?

Paige - I *love* working with clients to create custom deck art for them, but I am especially proud of starting to work with apparel brands to create logo decks for them. Recently I've worked with State Forty Eight, Salt City Emporium, and Top Knot Goods! They're all rad people behind rad companies who support local + handmade artists. 

I also made a record player and used the Thin Air Press for part of the construction to create some wood arcs that are structural + hold records!

What do you see in the future for the Studio Skate?

Paige - I would love to continue working with brands + clients to create handmade + handprinted decks. The beauty of what I do is that it is 100% custom, so the outcome is always fun! 

I am also launching a really great new line of customizable skateboards in the near future... It's still a secret, but follow along and stay tuned! I think you will love it :)

 

Tuesday
Apr222014

Generation Grind

The Generation Grind – Skateboard Art Show was recently on display at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, ON. The show ran from April 14-20th, and the grand opening event (Wednesday, April 16th) attracted over 250 people from the local skateboard and art community.

Generation Grind matched up local artists with students from the Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF) to collaborate on a series of boards based on their experiences as youth in the city.

Each board was available for auction, and the event raised over $1600 in support of the innovative OSF program. Below is a recap of the work put into creating the exhibit, and the finished boards that were on display. 

Students teach their partnered artist how to build a skateboard from scratch!

Students press their laser etched decks, and a collaboration with the infamous artist Runt.
Pyrography collaboration with Champstiles Woodburning Toronto
OSF students show off their freshly etched veneers

Finished Lil' Rockit decks 1-9
Finished Lil' Rockit decks 10-20
Friday
Jan312014

One-of-a-Kind Decks

Throughout the year, we are planning to make a series of one-of-a-kind handmade decks that will hopefully inspire builders to get creative with their own boards. Not only do we want to show the world what can be done with the Thin Air Press vacuum bag process, but we want to continue and challenge ourselves to think outside the box and do something fresh. 

Here is the first board that we have created to kick off the campaign:

We documented each step of the process for this unique double drop deck, and focused on four different graphic applications to create each number of the '2014'. You can check out the full tutorials on our Instructables page here - http://www.instructables.com/id/4-Creative-Longboard-Graphics/

Here are some quick pics of the process involved in creating this deck:

Stay tuned for more creative builds like this in the future... we had a great time documenting this build, and are looking forward to sharing more of the same throughout the year!

Tuesday
Jan072014

Family Day Art Class

The Roarockit Skateboard Company will be offering a 'Family Day Skateboard Art Class' at our Professional Deck Making School in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood. (880 Millwood Rd. Toronto, ON - M4G 1X1)

Anyone is welcome, but we encourage parents to come with their kids, and there will be no extra charge to work together on the same board!

Click on photo above for the Facebook event page

880 Millwood Rd. "The World's First Professional Deck Making School"

This 5 hour class will run on Monday, February 17th from 10am-3pm, and will include an introduction to skateboard art, layout and design of your own custom artwork and a hands-on demonstration of how to make your own custom skateboard using Roarockit's Thin Air Press vacuum bag technology.

**We will take a break at noon and there will be water and snacks provided (bagels, veggie sticks, Timbits) throughout the day. Bring yourself a lunch if you would like more than just a snack at this time. 

At the end of the class, you will leave with your 100% handmade, Canadian maple skateboard with your own custom graphic! Students will bring their designs to life using an array of different mediums and styles; Including, watercolour paints, acrylic paints, Sharpie markers, stencil art, graphite transfer paper and more.   

Price: $145.00 + HST = $163.85 

Class Breakdown

10am-10:30am: Introduction to Skateboard Art

10:30am-12pm: Art Application

12pm-12:45pm: Snack/Lunch Break + Skateboard Building Demo

12:45-3pm: Art Application

This is a one-time event with limited space available.

Please contact chris@roarockit.com if you have any questions regarding the class. You can also call Roarockit @ 1-416-422-5487 or visit our flagship location at 131 Sunrise Ave. UNIT 4A - Toronto, ON - M4A 1B2 to check out what we do! We are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. 

Tuesday
Oct082013

Holiday Skateboard Art Class

The Roarockit Skateboard Company will be offering a very special 'Holiday Skateboard Art Class' at our Professional Deck Making School in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood. (880 Millwood Rd. Toronto, ON - M4G 1X1)

Click on photo above for the Facebook event page

880 Millwood Rd. "The World's First Professional Deck Making School"

This 5 hour class will run on December 20th from 10am-3pm, and will include an introduction to skateboard art, layout and design of your own custom artwork and a hands-on demonstration of how to make your own custom skateboard using Roarockit's Thin Air Press vacuum bag technology.

**We will take a break at noon and there will be water and snacks provided (bagels, veggie sticks, Timbits) throughout the day. Bring yourself a lunch if you would like more than just a snack at this time. 

At the end of the class, you will leave with your 100% handmade, Canadian maple skateboard with your own custom graphic! Students will bring their designs to life using an array of different mediums and styles; Including, watercolour paints, acrylic paints, Sharpie markers, stencil art, graphite transfer paper and more.   

Price: $145.00 + HST = $163.85 

Class Breakdown

10am-10:30am: Introduction to Skateboard Art

10:30am-12pm: Art Application

12pm-12:45pm: Snack/Lunch Break + Skateboard Building Demo

12:45-3pm: Art Application

This is a one-time event with limited space available.

Please contact chris@roarockit.com if you have any questions regarding the class. You can also call Roarockit @ 1-416-422-5487 or visit our flagship location at 131 Sunrise Ave. UNIT 4A - Toronto, ON - M4A 1B2 to check out what we do! We are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.