AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB + MEIER SKIS
An artist, an outdoor coalition, and a Colorado ski-maker team up to create some ski babies
Fall 2018 / Winter 2019
American Alpine Club (AAC) approached me in the Fall of 2018 to create the designs for a custom line of skis. They selected Colorado ski crafters Meier Skis to create the actual skis for the 2018/2019 season.
I jumped on the opportunity, as both organizations operate upon values that truly speak to me - AAC’s vision to support the large community of American climbers and the landscapes they climb upon, and Meier’s to source materials locally where possible, including the beetle kill wood from affected Colorado forests that are built into every ski.
After visiting Meier’s shop and talking specs with both teams, I embarked upon my mission to create the paintings that would become the topsheet design for both models we decided on for the final product. Unlike most ski or snowboard graphics, I wanted to create physical paintings that would later be translated into a digital format via high-res photography. Typically the graphics are produced digitally through and through, but I wanted to maintain the organic brush strokes and imperfect, handmade fine line work into these works that are hallmarks of my style.
Top
Middle - the tan sections are line-work over Meier’s hallmark exposed wooden core
Bottom
Process
The Meier Workshop
Chris Tamoney of Meier Skis introduces us to other custom designs, ported onto their handmade, beetlekill wood core skis and snowboards.
No surprise here - turns out every pair of handmade skis is the product of many hours or work by a whole team of dudes in the Meier workshop.
Final paintings
Three 12 x 18” works on Arches 300lb cold-pressed watercolor paper, created with a combination of watercolor, acrylic, gouache, sumi Inks, and pencil..
These limited edition skis are available this season only. Can’t wait to get mine and test these mofo’s in the Rockies as soon as possible!