How did moving to LA at a young age change your outlook on things?
I grew up in a nice little bubble on a suburban cul de sac. Don’t get me wrong, I had a really nice upbringing, but it was definitely sheltered. Going to school, skating with everyone in the city, and experiencing the diversity of Los Angeles was a real eye-opening experience at age 18.
Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” You’ve been a lot of places, but what was the most important trip you took?
Probably the second summer I spent in France and Spain, the one where you and I stayed in Barcelona. That trip was amazing because I had friends to stay with, my Spanish was pretty strong, and I was able to spend time in a lot of different cities. For three months I moved around from place to place, exploring, skating, and partying with my friends. It was the first time I stepped out of my own culture and really experienced another.
You moved from LA back to OC for your first art job. Describe the experience of working at Hurley.
Hurley was awesome. I have love for everyone over there. It was a really positive work environment, I learned a lot, and had a lot of fun. It was hilarious—whenever there was a good swell, the office would be a graveyard for three hours at lunchtime. Then everyone would come back and all you could hear was, “Bro! It was firing, I got so pitted, EPIC!!!”
Obviously you don’t come from a surf background. Did you have a hard time adapting to Hurley’s style?
I didn’t really have that much trouble with Hurley’s style, per se. I had more trouble switching from fine art to commercial. I had done some freelance before, but Hurley was my first real graphic design job so there was definitely an adjustment period getting into the commercial swing of things.
You now work at Krew/Supra, seemingly one of the coolest skate apparel and shoe brands around. Is it as great as it seems?
I love where I work. It’s a really chill environment and I’m privileged to work with some really talented, awesome people. It’s great to be a part of a company that’s truly about skateboarding. And having the skatepark in the offices is the best. Whenever work feels a bit overwhelming or I hit a creative block, I just step out of my office and skate it off. It’s so fun having all the homies come out to shred.
You once told me the Muska is one of your favorite people in the world. I don’t think a lot of people understand what cool person he really is.
Muska is the shit. He’s one of the most driven people I’ve ever met and his positivity is contagious. I just remember seeing him when I was a kid, he was always so amped and so nice to kids—the life of the session. He’s the same today—pure positive energy. He’s also great to work with as a designer; he has a lot of fashion knowledge and he really participates in the design process.
You’re one of the few artists I know who actually has a job making art. Do you feel like you’ve succeeded? Or is there still a bigger goal in your life?
I’m psyched on where I’m at—I feel very blessed. But that isn’t to say there aren’t goals I haven’t met. It’s not so much a specific goal for me. I’m in it for the ride not the finish line.
Yikes. So is doing art really a dream job?
It’s definitely a dream job for me. I get a bit frustrated when shit gets hectic but then I remind myself that I support myself by being creative and all that frustration goes right out the window.
You’re generally pretty chipper, but where does frustration and anger in your life come from? You seem to have it all.
I wouldn’t say I have it all but I do feel very blessed. Everyone gets bummed sometimes but I just try to keep things in perspective. When it comes down to it I have nothing worth getting angry about in comparison to so many other people in the world.
Do you ever get bummed you’re not a pro skater?
No. Being a pro skater isn’t easy. There’s a lot of pressure and kids only get younger as your ankles get older. It would have been amazing if it worked out that way, but I’m perfectly happy being the old uns
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