ART: WESLEY VAN EEDEN MAN’S RUIN INTERVIEW

Wesley van Eeden is a diverse artist, he’s got illustration, fine art and design locked and loaded. Wesley has also become one of South Africa’s only and most prolific skate artists. He’s got a few skate ranges and deck graphics under his belt already and has just completed the entire brand new KFD Man’s Ruin series, featuring 3 deck designs, a full clothing range and accessories. This is what he has to say about this current range…

What was the inspiration behind the KFD Man’s Ruin range?
I got asked to do a “rockabilly” vibe and the guys from KFD suggested I use the old pin up posters that was around in the ’60s as influence. In fact they suggested the models I use as well. As a kid I loved the movie Memphis Belle (don’t laugh) and have always loved sign writing – like the hand painted stuff done on buses and aeroplanes. I wanted to play on the idea that each skateboard had a metal skin with these rockabilly girls painted onto the board – hopefully giving it that old aeroplane feeling. Obviously you can’t forget tattoos in this rockabilly culture. I was also inspired by singers like the Carly Family, Christabel and the Jons Bernadette Seacrest. I have a love for the good old days when life was simple and
men and women dressed good.

How was this range different from all the other skateboard designs that you’ve done in the past?
Most of the time Verb and Revolution let me go wild, which is really nice of them. This is where I get to really push my personal styles that I am trying to develop. However I’d like to be not known for just the styles I do but continue to push it into different directions. I love so many different styles of Illustration so it was really fun to see how I could push this style.

The board range and clothing range styles are quite different. How did you choose what styles to go with for these?
Like I mentioned, I love the culture of Rockabilly – among many other things and really wanted to dig deep into that culture. Although I personally don’t like tattoo’s, I do love the idea of driving around in an old car with a Hawain shirt – I wanted to represent that in this range.

What’s it like doing graphics for skateboards? Were you ever into skateboarding?
In many ways skateboarding changed my life. It’s what got me into Art, Straightedge, Rockabilly and yep even Jesus! Skateboarding gave me a sense of individuality and made me look at the world with new eyes. I still skate today but not as much. It’s always been a dream to work with a skateboard company – it’s what got me into studying Graphic Design. I wanted to move to California and work for Santa Cruz or something! Come to think of it I think I still do!

Are there any other skate-artists whose work you admire?
I love the old artists like Jim Philips – they really inspired me to draw when I was a kid. I grew up in the time when big ass wide decks were cool – high tops and luminous baggies as well. I used to collect those stickers and just drooled over the insane graphics. Today I am still very inspired by skateboarding. I love what Ed Templeton is doing, Beautiful Losers, Jim Houser – who has done stuff for Toy
Machine back in the day I think and so many others.

Thanks so much to Clayton Peterson and the crew for all the support in me as an artist. It’s really appreciated. I hope those that skate will enjoy the boards.

The KFD “Man’s Ruin” range is available from all Revolution stores nationwide. Mailorder/online orders is also available, contact: sales@revolution.co.za

Check out more about KFD Skateboards HERE and Wesley’s work HERE.