My 10 Favorite Board Graphics of 2014
Posted
on
on Wednesday, January 14, 2015
by Chris
Being a board graphic artist, I know the drill: You spend hours coming up with something eye-catching, ballsy, and / or fresh to grace the bottom of that next stick that's gonna eventually get shredded and there goes all your hard work. But that's the beauty of skateboarding - it's meant to take something beautiful and destroy it while creating something else that is beautiful in a different way. Art and skateboarding have always gone hand and hand, and that's a good thing because without it, we'd have a pretty boring selection of wood to choose from. I wanted to put together this list of my 10 favorite skateboard graphics that came out in 2014 (in no order of preference). Some I picked for their message, some had a good story behind them, and some for the simple fact that I just love the artwork. Take a look and decide for yourself. 
Surprise Skateboards: Austin England Guest Artist
Austin used to work at SPoT a long time ago and while he was here, he put out some really sick decks and apparel, just like he's putting out really sick decks and apparel (and hardware) now. I picked this one just because it's good to see his artwork on the bottom of a board again. Polar Skateboards: Biggie vs Tupac
If you haven't heard of Pontus Alv's brainchild, Polar yet - you may have been living under a rock for the last couple years. These guys have a solid team and some of the best graphics to come out since the McKee / Cliver / Jenkins days of the 90's. This version of the infamous East vs. West beef playfully depicted by artist / madman Jacob Ovgren was definitely one of my favorites. Fucking Awesome: Dill's Pills
Most of us here at SPoT were super stoked when it was announced we'd finally be selling FA Worldwide. If not for the simple fact that AVE and Dill are part of the team, then because their attitude towards skateboarding is something that I think a lot of people thought had been lost forever. Anti-Hero: Grosso Live and Let Live
There have been a lot of graphics over the years that have pushed the boundaries of good taste, political correctness, and that used skateboarding as a statement of personal belief that may not have set well with everyone, but who gives a shit? If you don't like it then don't buy it. Skateboarding has never apologized for what it is...it just is. That's what makes this Grosso board from Anti-Hero (who has been responsible for many of the previously mentioned graphics) so great. It takes guts to put out a Pro Model that you know is gonna piss some people off, and that's the true attitude of skateboarding. Krooked: Arketype
Always gotta include artwork from Gonz... he's been killing it for many, many years and is an ispiration to a lot of people on and off the board. I picked this one because it was rad to see his interperetation of the old Bones "Ripper" logo. Magenta: Ben Gore Philharmonic
You'll probably notice that I included a lot of companies that are part of the Theories of Atlantis collective in this list, which is no coincidence. Polar, Magenta, Hopps, Traffic...all those dudes are killing it right now, not just in product sales, but also the teams, the footy that's been coming out (having Josh Stewart as one of your filmers doesn't hurt), and the overall feel of these companies is everything I love about skateboarding. Most of these guys having ties back to Tampa is a bonus. Did I mention Ben Gore rips? Polar Skateboards: Pontus Alv Wallies and No Complys Forever
Every board graphic that Pontus puts his hand to could probably be in a gallery somewhere, IMO. And while that's not the type of board everyone wants to buy, you can't deny that these sell out pretty fast, at least in our shop. Hopps: Ricky Powell series
When NYC-based Hopps decided to do a board series on NYC-based legendary photographer, Ricky Powell, it didn't take long for me to realize how good these were gonna be. Of course, I'm a little biased because it's the one I'm currently skating. Tired Skateboards: Parking Block
When Dutch artist Piet Parra said he was starting a skateboard company, I was immediately stoked. Then when he said it was a company for older dudes who just didn't quite have "it" anymore, but still skate just for the love of it, I was sold. I jumped up and yelled "That's me!". Then I sat down immediately, out of breath. While this isn't his strongest graphic, that one image of a curb speaks volumes to me and anyone else who knows how beautiful a sight like that is. 