My friend works at Nike and he was familiar with my artwork, so they gave me a call. I gave them some samples and did some rough sketches and got going that way. I had done this other artwork with surfers on the wave that they liked and wanted me to do something similar to that.

Why draw surfers?

I’ve been surfing my whole life and drawing as well, so the two just naturally cross over into each other.

How did you create the drawings for the Pier Pressure event?

I pick, say, generic characters in the surf world and then exaggerate them in my own creativity. Make their eyes popping out and stuff. I have a bowl cut soul surfer dude throwing a shaka and there’s a mermaid. I like to not just stick to reality but make up my own reality.

How did you get started as an artist?

My father was a graphic artist illustrator. He did the original Santa Cruz skateboards logo. And so I was always drawing when I was a kid. I always enjoyed it, and it kind of came naturally to me. When I graduated from high school he had a job opportunity to apprentice with him, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

How would you describe your style?

I would describe it as I guess aggro/comedy, cartoonish skate-influenced art. I always start off with black and white and try to get the lines real strong so they will hold the image on their own. And then any color is a bonus. A lot of my work is commercial graphics, but I also do some acrylic painting as well.

Where do you draw inspiration for your art?

Through surfing and skateboarding, music, other artwork, just art of all kinds, nature, and just the world around me.

Any other artists influence you at all?

Well obviously my dad. And Robert Williams, Big Daddy Ross, Mad Magazine and old monster movies. I grew up watching old Godzilla and Frankenstein movies and I think they had a lot of influence on me, because I grew up drawing that kind of stuff.

What do you enjoy most about drawing?

I like the freedom of it, just being able to put your own influences and style in there. I like getting little funny things in there for people to look at. I like to create it so you take a second or third look and see other things in the background. I try to keep your interest for a while.

Will you be at the Pier Pressure event?

Yah—I’ll be signing stuff and painting some surfboards maybe. Nike’s having a promotional hotel room where I’ll be painting a surf scene on the wall in there.

Click here to find out more about the Hotel No Tell.