#jack graydon

Who are you and what do you do? I am from Santa Rosa California originally, but I’ve lived in Portland, Oregon for the past 8 years. I’m a skateboarder, artist, and person. 

How did you get into art? When did you start to take it more seriously?  When I was about 12 years old, I started skateboarding. I think I was about as excited about board graphics as I was about skateboarding itself. It’s been my goal since then to make art within the skate community. I haven't has a “normal job” in about 6 years, so I’d say the most serious I've been about art is making it a career.

Who are your biggest influences? Stuart Davis, John K., Mark Gonzales, Todd Francis, Barry Mcgee

What does your creative process entail? Writing down ideas, maybe some studying, drawing in a sketch book, picking colors, painting a wall or canvas. 

What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio? Spray paint is the funnest. 

What’s the last cool art thing you got to check out? Last art show I went to that I was really stoked on was the Turkey Club Zine release show at Grapefruits in Portland Oregon. It’s a friend zine put together by Jenny Vu with a lot of my favorite artists in Portland currently. 

What inspires Jack?   Traveling, skateboarding, movies, going to museums, friends, my surroundings.

Your work is always changing and growing. Why do you think this is? I get bored painting the same thing over and over. If you paint the same big dumb face, your entire career and never progress or learn you aren't much of an artist, maybe a craftsman or a brand.

Can you tell us about the mural you created for the Vans Park Series course? I painted a couple of trucks, they each have a character painted on them and the names of some friends I wanted to give shout outs to. I also painted a palm tree boat scene that was more us open beach SoCal related.

What is your favorite part about painting a mural? Too many good things about painting murals. Getting to be outside, getting to work with other artists, emptying spray cans, reactions from passer bys, coming up with a sketch on paper and seeing it giant on a wall, all of the obstacles involved, working on sketchy ladders and lifts, the psychological/mental labor I put myself through, sense of accomplishment after, doing work that everyone will see, and putting some color and humor out into the world. 

What was the painting experience like working with multiple artists on the course? The best part of the entire thing is getting to work next to really great artists. They're all super nice and just as excited as I am to be there, so it’s a good time. Anytime I took a break from painting I would check out everyone’s work and go talk with them and have “Sodas” and stuff. 

Do you have a favorite memory from your time spent at the US Open? The times were we went out to dinner with the whole crew and got to skate some curbs was the best. Painting was cool too though. 

What was the most challenging part of the mural you created? The heat, I was pouring sweat most the time and trying to drink enough water to replace it. Got pretty close to passing out at one point. Also painting on the deep end section killed my legs. Thanks to all of the people that held me up, so I could paint the top sections.

What was your highlight over the past couple days painting at the US Open? The morning after we finished I was skating the bowl alone, and Andrew Reynolds asked me if he could skate. 

Do you have any advice for people who have dreams of becoming an artist? There are a lot of different ways to go about it. I don’t recommend everyone try to do it the same way I have. The best advice is just to make work every single day, believe in your work, and fake it till you make it.

Thanks to everyone involved and who put this all together, Creative Drinking, Vans, the skatepark builders, Ashley Rehfeld, and all of the artists and assistants. <3