12.13.11 8:20 AM
Photos by Tim Zimmerman, our Gnu staff photographer and Portlander. We branded the dirty pillow as a photgrapher’s series and we were so excited to work with Zims on this season’s graphic. These shots were from his many trips around the globe documenting gnu pros. Check out more of his work at Timzimmerman.com. Thanks Zims!
Where‚ is home? Where was it before?
Portland, Oregon is where I store my belongings but I really live in the cab of my Dodge Dakota. Before that it was California by way of Vermont by way of central Pennsylvania.
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
I’d split my Time between Wanaka, New Zealand and Oslo, Norway.
Whats the weirdest thing you’ve ever done or seen done?
Once I saw Danny Kass & Mark Landvik drink a bar completely out of Jack Daniels while wearing Leiderhosen and tall gnome hats.
Do make a living off snowboarding? How do you pay the bills?
I don’t snowboard for a living but photographing people that do pays the bills.
What does Gnu mean to you?
Gnu means never having to say I’m sorry for getting so weird.
Have you tried the Backdoor yet?
Once I tried to put my foot in Forest Bailey’s backdoor but it didn’t fit. I’ll try Nate Farrell’s next Time, it might work.
Hobbies outside art snowboarding?
I like to skid bicycle tires on dirt trails. I also enjoy chihuahua training and skateboarding.
What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
The sun usually gets me up, or it could be my girlfriend making sure I don’t blow an entire day sleeping in. Family, friends, new adventures, powder, sun & fun times ahead.
Currently listening to?
Amon Amarth, Red Fang, Hank Williams III & a mix of Pandora stations keep thing interesting in my ear holes.
Currently looking at?
A giant plate of biscuits & veggie gravy. Wait, you mean art? I like looking at photo books from Andreas Gursky & Martin Parr. Mike Parillo & Adam Haynes eye candy too.
Whats next?
I’m about to shred some berms on my mountain bike.
Thanks?
Tim: Thanks to everyone that gave me the chance to have this amazing life I’m leading. My family, friends and everyone at Mervin Mfg. are responsible & appreciated intensely.
11.16.11 5:11 PM
Graphic by Kentucky based designers known as Print Mafia. Print Mafia is Connie and Jim. They have been creating rock posters for over 14 years, for bands like the White Stripes and the Shins. They do it old school, exacto knifes and photo copy machines. See much more at Printmafia.net.
Where is home? Where was it before?
Bowling Green KY – always.
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
Make a book of our history from 1997 – present day with Pullouts, Inserts, CD and DVD.
Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
We screen print designs that we make using just our hands, Xacto knives, a photocopier and years and years of collecting images and resources.
Do you make a living off your art?
Sometimes – we keep day jobs to supplement and be comfortable. We collect and buy a lot of stuff so being poor is not attractive. We have had periods of up to 4 years at a Time of being supported by design and art.
Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
We worked outside of the edges with no template to go by and then what fell into the frame became the graphic. We sourced from some of our favorite individual photocopies that we keep around for years and just combined them with no set plan.
Hobbies outside art making?
Collecting junk, movies, music, home projects.
Currently listening to?
The Kills & MGMT & The Black Keys currently.
Currently looking at?
Old magazines and packaging – 70’s and 80’s Classic movies.
Whats next?
Skateboards, screen printed furniture and found objects. more prints and posters.
11.15.11 3:42 PM
Graphic by Bend, Oregon’s Adam Haynes of Stickfort.com. Adam can draw better than you, but he would never tell you that. He is a quiet, humble, backwoods, cliff droppin’, Dirksen Derby winning, illustrative ninja. More at stickfort.com.
Where is home? Where was it before?
Bend, OR. Before was Portland, and Bozeman before that.
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
With an unlimited travel budget, where wouldn’t I go? It’d be a dream come true to visit Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Indo, Chile, Argentina, etc, and have the time and resources to sketch, paint, snowboard and surf my way through the country. Do a big show every year based on my travels, and then do it all over again.
Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
It changes depending on the project, but usually it goes something like this: research subject matter, gather inspiration, start sketching, make changes, sketch some more, make changes, ink, color, deliver.
Do you make a living off your art?
I’ve been a commercial illustrator for almost six years, and it’s still paying the bills.
Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
It’s a big departure from my usual style, so it was a good challenge and a bit of a roll of the dice. All that work paid off though, it’s one of my all time favorites.
Hobbies outside art making?
Working on my pow slashers, walking the dog, riding my bike, and starting new projects.
What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
Sunny weather helps a lot. Then coffee. Then a good walk with my dog Lucy, and I’m usually in the right head space to sit down and start creating.
Whats next?
I’ve been feeling pretty challenged lately, so more of the same. Getting better at what I do, polishing my process, moving forward. Painting more. That’s always a goal.
Thanks?
Big thanks to Gnu for all the support and sick boards. Love that new Billygoat! Thanks to Temple and Barrett, Tim and Pete for trusting me with their concepts and letting me run with them. Huge thanks to my project manager Genna for keeping all my shit straight. Thanks to my folks and my sister, and a heartfelt thanks to all the good folks out there whose support allows me to make a living doing what I love.
11.14.11 11:31 AM
Graphic by Portland based designers Hovercraft and Gnu art director Pinski. This graphic was made possible by the 70’s, 80’s and Miller High Life. More at hovercraftstudio.com.
Where is home? Where was it before?
By the time this is published, home will be Portland, OR. All of our dirty deeds were done in Boston, MA before that. (Note: we are a two man studio, one Short Guy & one Tall Guy. Our partnership is sort of like a mullet, party in the front, business in the back.)
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
Short Guy: Go on a long vacation, come back energized and draw tedious abstract patterns for days inspired by that vacation.
Tall Guy: One word – EXPLOSIONS.
Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
Complete chaos! We’re the, whatever it takes, by any means necessary‚ type of guys, the only real backbone to our process are quality execution, solid details and lots of fun.
Do you make a living off your art?
We do make a living off of art. We usually write checks to pay for the bills, but everyone keeps telling us to use the auto-pay online banking mumbo jumbo.
Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
We scavenged the city and our closets for denim & leather, and then put some muscle behind a palm sander, box cutter, safety pins, markers and a button maker.
Hobbies outside art making?
Short Guy: Riding bikes, riding snow, wandering aimlessly & tormenting my cat Knuckles, making jokes about all things organically fair-traded by humanely raised folks.
Tall Guy: Riding Mt. Hood once we are in PDX, playing guitar, and the neighbors will love that I’m learning the drums asap.
What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
Short Guy: Stupidly insane work ethic wakes me up at 6am usually, it’s in the bloodline I guess. Vegan strippers inspire me, which is why we’ve moved to PDX.
Tall Guy: My alarm clock. That bastard rips me out of bed every morning.
Currently listening to?
Short Guy: iTunes says: Murder City Devils, Janis Joplin, D.I.T.C., The White Stripes, Wu Tang, Mobb Deep, Black Keys and Bob Marley.
Tall Guy: Social D, Rise Against and whatever the Short Guy is listening to as he rules the airwaves of our little studio.
Whats next?
Short Guy: The mean streets of PDX and lots of humanely raised, fair trade vegan strippers.
Tall Guy: A cross country move, where I will begin my search for a trophy wife.
Short Guy: He’s not kidding about the trophy wife.
11.3.11 11:01 AM
Graphic by Washington’s own mad man Matt French. Constantly creating, Matt French is a mad scientist in his art studio making art around the clock. Aside from art this dude can skate! Watch out for more from him! Mattfrench.com.. Keep getting weird, Matt!
Where is home? Where was it before?
Lynden, Washington, Lived in Bellingham a couple times.
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
Feed the starving, clothe and shelter the cold, give joy to the sad.
Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
Living. Got borned….. all procreated and whatnot. Am art and am driven by unseen forces to create as a constant and constantly create, doing whatever it takes to make what I make. I have to create…. just no choice in the matter.
Do you make a living off your art?
Yes. Its been made an easier task by my sponsors who generously provide me with boxes of art supplies to obliterate using science and the senses. Thanks Grumbacher for the brushes and paint, Clearprint for the vellum, Chartpak for the Admarkers, Koh-i-noor for the various other color delivery systems, Faber-Castell for the india ink brush pens, Black Magic for the bottles of liquid night, and Pentax for the digital cameras.
Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
I guess I did a couple, but both share this in common: there was no plan. Like anything of mine in the collage-ish department, I just wing it and it either flies or flops. Looks like the wax and feathers held together on these.
Hobbies outside art making?
Skateboarding, getting hurt skateboarding, teaching the kids the names and habits of local flora and fauna while on family walks.
What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
Family, and providing for my family, and getting to support the people I love by doing what I love. I feel blessed every moment I get to live this life.
Currently listening to?
Psychedelic Furs.
Currently looking at?
Marc Chagall
Whats next?
More. Progression. Fashion.
Thanks?
To my mom for putting a pencil in my hand for the first time. My dad for giving me all the computer stuff I needed to get on my feet as a working artist. My wife and kids for the support and understanding. My other sponsors: Pocket Pistols Skates, Ace trucks, Negative One griptape, Stance socks, Remind insoles, and also a big thanks to Volcom for the clothing and Nike for the shoes. Thanks also to the one who gave me life, every good thing I have, and every good idea I’ve ever had.
11.2.11 1:18 PM
Graphic by gnu art director Tim “Pinski” Karpinski. Pinski spends a lot of time painting and showing art in galleries all over the globe. This graphic was made one late night splashing paint all over the place listening to jazz and getting weird. More at Timothykarpinski.com.
Where is home? Where was it before?
Northeast Portland, Oregon, before that Vermont.
If you had an unlimited travel budget where would you go?
I would build a mid-century modern sailboat complete with studio and garden to grow food and make art while I sail around the world making love to Chloe.
Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
Draw constantly, put myself into very random situations, surround myself with beautiful creative people, howl at the moon, soak in the sun, with incense burning the entire time and a kitten or 2 on my lap. Oh! and music blasting, right now its Crystal Castles!
Do you make a living off your art? How do you pay the bills?
I am very thankful to my brain and hand to provide for me. Karma too 
Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
I found a paper shredder in my old lady’s attic and got baked on hash and made it.
Hobbies outside art snowboarding?
Exploring Earth, planting things, painting things, petting things. Boom for real.
What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
One of my kittens rubbing up against me. Or someone dropping in my halfpipe.
Currently listening to?
Crystal Castles, Joanna Newsom, Lovers, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Perfume Genious Twin Sister, Nurses, Y La Bamba, Dragging and Ox Through Water. Jazz Radio KMHD.
Currently looking at?
The northwest countryside pass by, I’m on a train bound for Portland, there is a pretty girl text messaging sitting across from me. I’m also reading‚Everything is Illuminated.
Whats next?
Go home, feed the cats, hop on my motorcycle and meet a pretty lady in the park to draw cats. Run around until the sun comes up.
Thanks?
Every single person at Mervin Mfg. especially Pete Saari who encourages me to get weird. My family and friends. The sun for rising, my cats too Samo and Jackson.
12.1.10 11:33 AM
The GNU Billy Goat artwork was created by San Francisco based artist and illustrator J. Otto Seibold. J. is especially known for his work on children’s books such as- Mr. Lunch Takes A Plane Ride, Olive And The Other Reindeer. For more artness, check out – Jottodotcom.com
GNU: Wheres home? Wheres was it before?
Home is where I lay my head. In Oakland California. It’s been San Francisco and New York and Martinez…
GNU: Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
My process is justifying that this is what I do. I’ve been drawing for a living for many years. so, often, my process is kicked off by being broke! but then, I get into it and love it and am grateful once again that this is it.
GNU: Can you tell us a little about the board graphic you did for GNU?
I can tell you that it is mostly spraypaint on wood that has been steel wooled and scraped and thumb polished. There was a point that when I would steelwool the painting it would electrify my gold teeth! It was trippy!
GNU: Do you snowboard?
No. I’m old. I used to have those skis that nobody wants at a garage sale and I had to wear Sears work boots as boots. It didn’t work. Later, in adultyhood, I bought fancy skis and did enjoy being stoned while gliding down mountains!
GNU: What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
I have a poster opposite my bed that says:
!go! !GO! !go! !GO! !go! !GO!
!go! !GO! !go! !GO! !go! !GO!
!go! !GO! !go! !GO! !go! !GO!
!go! !GO! !go! !GO! !go! !GO!
!go! !GO! !go! !GO! !go! !GO!
so, I read that sometimes…
GNU: Currently listening to?
Bob Dylan and the band Live, as I type this. I like the new Flaming Lips. All my vinyl…
GNU: Currently looking at?
Life! trying to push my eyes out and away from screens and postings.
GNU: Whats next?
I have a new children’s book out, OTHER GOOSE (chronicle books) so I’m going to be promoting it and reading to little oceans of 7 year olds. And I’m working on another book… painting when the world tells me to.
GNU:Thanks?
thank gnu.
11.10.10 8:21 AM
The GNU B-Nice Floral graphic was created by Mia Nolting. As an artist in Portland, she could not escape the influence of the poppies in spring, or the floral patterns on old wallpaper found in many Portland establishments. mianolting.com.
GNU: Wheres home? Wheres was it before?
I grew up in California—LA as a kid and the bay area as a teenager—but I’ve been in Portland for 7 years now.
GNU: Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
Lots and lots of observational drawing and working in my sketchbook. I stopped trying to paint and embraced line work, which has been for the best. I make a lot of work and edit, rather than spending a lot of time on one image. I eavesdrop on people to draw them and record things they say in my drawings.
GNU: Can you tell us a little about the boards graphic you did for gnu?
The idea of an overall floral pattern was pretty set from the beginning, and the colors went through lots of transformation. The hand lettered logo was fun to do also – lots of drawings, narrowing down on the best few. I was traveling in Hawaii while designing the board, so I’m sure there was some influence there.
GNU: Do you snowboard?
No but I love the mountains! I grew up surrounded by surf culture in LA, which has a very similar feel to snowboard culture from what I can tell. There’s this kind of zen love of organic processes, whether it’s riding the wave or the mountain.
GNU: What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
Being able to draw all the time and still pay rent is amazing, and I’m a very emotional person so I’m always inspired by connections with friends and beautiful things like wildflowers and dinner parties. I love that I live in a city where I can bike everywhere and never sit in traffic if I don’t want to. I’m pretty sure that love drives most of the things I do.
GNU: Currently listening to?
Arthur Russell, Caetano Veloso & Os Mutantes, just heard the new Sufjan Stevens and liking it, and my roommate and I have been blasting Kate Bush lately.
GNU: Currently looking at?
The blog manystuff.org, which tends to focus on publications and layout-based design, old travel posters from the 20s and 30s, kate o’connor is an amazing illustrator and designer, plus Peter Doig, great painter.
GNU: Whats next?
I’m going south this winter – somewhere with sunshine and a good internet connection so I can work and be somewhere warm! There’s also talk of Toronto for a residency, but the details are up in the air. In the meantime, I’ll continue to draw every day and work on projects as they come. And Take care of my chickens and practice piano.
GNU:Thanks?
Thank you! And thanks to Tim and the Together Gallery boys. And friends and family, always!
11.8.10 1:48 PM
The GNU Riders Choice graphic was created by Bryan Schnelle who lives and works in Los Angeles. His work explores themes of provoking political and social thought, as well as intricate hand drawn patterns. His work has been shown in galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. To see more masks and weirdness, check out: bryanschnelle.com.
GNU: Wheres home? Wheres was it before?
Right now home is Los Angeles. Before that it was the LBC.
GNU: Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
My process? Hmmm…well, it starts with a vision I guess, bounces around in my head until it becomes refined enough to try and physically execute, then I figure out what medium or technique would be most appropriate for that particular idea, and then I usually just fucking dive in. A lot of tearing apart magazines and searching for the right images. Re appropriating shit from the media and advertisements, trying to expose some kind of truth.
GNU: Can you tell us a little about the boards graphic you did for gnu?
The board graphic I did features one of my “Vortex Drawings” along with some custom text. I really have to thank Tim Karpinski for the composition/actual computer work, as I am not into graphic design at all so my computer skills are pretty limited. He took my existing work and made it “work” on a snowboard, so thank you Tim.
GNU: Do you snowboard?
I’ve still never been snowboarding, but I skateboarded everyday for about 10 years or so growing up. So that’s got to count for something.
GNU: What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
ART.
GNU: Currently listening to?
A lot of Bathory lately, and early Slayer. Also early Waylon Jennings and late Jonny Cash.
GNU: Currently looking at?
Been looking at a lot of classic film lately. A lot of early Ingmar Bergman.
GNU: Whats next?
I’m currently working on a body of work titled ORGASMATRON. Large-scale paintings, works on paper, and a rather epic installation piece. I’ve also begun work on a book to be released in early 2012. Work work work.
GNU:Thanks?
Thanks to GNU for the opportunity!
11.5.10 11:33 AM
Our 1st installment in a photographer specific series showcasing a photo as the graphic feature. We thought it would be proper to work with good buddy Mike Yoshida with this amazing panoramic photo of an epic pillow line being slayed by Lib Tech’s shred doctor Mark Landvik. Pete likes the starfish on the nose and tail of the base. For more of Yosh visit mikeyoshida.com
GNU: Wheres home? Wheres was it before?
Home is Bellingham, Washington for the past 14 years. Before that I was born and raised up in Homer, Alaska.
GNU: Whats your process and how did you arrive there?
I moved down to Washington, because it was the closest state to Alaska, and I wanted to go to school here. I ended up dropping out, and working at Mt Baker, and that sparked my love for snowboarding, and photography.
GNU: Can you tell us a little about the boards graphic you did for gnu?
The photo is of Mark Landvik, hitting a fat pillow line up at Baker. The spot is really sketchy, because you have to cross a river before you get to the spot, and the water is not shallow. Pete hit me up last fall, and asked to use the photo for the graphic, and of course I was down. The image was also on the cover of Snowboard mag, several years ago.
GNU: What gets you out of bed in the morning, what inspires you?
Coffee, breaky, getting out in nature. Usually in that order.
GNU: Currently listening to?
Taio Cruz, Akon, Flo Rida, Mike Posner, any top 40 club bangers I can get my hands on.
GNU: Currently looking at?
A huge picture of my face on a t shirt…
GNU: Whats next?
Getting ready for another amazing year of shooting, and basically just trying to do the best job possible, and having fun doin it!
GNU:Thanks?
I’d like to thank you guys over at Mervin, for using the graphic. Lando, for doing it! Burtner for being Gnar! Stevens for having chips within reach! And Krush for all the sweet throwback concert stories, usually starting of with something like: “It was the summer of ‘95……… White River Amphitheater……….” er somethin like that.
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