Author: J. Namdev Hardisty
Foreword by Michael Leon
Publisher: Mark Batty Publisher
ISBN: 978-0-9799666-9-9

The front cover of this book featuring skateboard graphics is simple and sophisticated and the pages within are simply amazing.

However, one of the main reasons for creating this book, explains J. Namdev Hardisty, is that he wishes to counter the notion that “nobody cares about graphics.” He confesses this is only true in a “really shallow sense” and with the increasing scale of skateboarding, skaters burn through their boards faster than ever before.

Skating seems to have jumped up in trend and what better time to make a book all about this street sport than now. If you really don’t believe that the “art of the skateboard graphic, and skateboarding itself, is as alive as it ever was” then just take a moment to study this incredibly beautiful book.

Every section is dedicated to the skateboard brands, from $lave to Zoo York, and many, many more.

Even if you are not an avid skateboarder, this is still an exceptionally wonderful book that you can look through time after time and still enjoy.

Element, a skateboard designer brand that has been around since 1992, is featured across four full colour pages. You can understand why so many people may like this particular brand.

Their skateboards shown here have a very back to nature feel with prints of forests, mountains and animals on them. There is even one of a lizard printed onto the board - already a personal favourite of mine in the Element collection.

Fountain is a brand of skateboards that has also been active since 1989 and its designs certainly stand out from many others.

The zombie series, created by Fountain’s talented designers, features quite gruesome images of zombies - one of which is smoking and clutching his intestines in his hands. Not sure if I’d personally want this image on my skateboard but there is sure to be plenty of dedicated fans out there who will marvel at this artwork.

If you are keen on reading interviews with skateboard art directors, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a few to read.

An interview with Yogi Proctor, an art director of Popwar from 2003-5, is there too. I thought it was most interesting and will be to those of you who are familiar with his designs.

It is amazing to read and discover what compels these people to get into this line of work and how it has changed their lives or steered them onwards towards future pursuits.

I absolutely adored the Rasa Libre boards. They are eye-catching and really stand out against the others. I think the peacock board is certainly one of my favourites from their collection. It is a classic look and who doesn’t like peacock feathers anyway, unless you believe that they bring bad luck. With this image on a board, you really could feel like you were flying.

All in all a simply stunning book, too stunning to put into words. You can only truly appreciate what it I mean if you have a look through yourself.

It would make the most amazing present to give anyone you know who is into skateboarding and even to those of you who just love graphics or have enjoyed any of Mark Batty’s previous titles.

Truly exceptional. One of the best skateboard design books I know of.

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