RUSS POPE a rt i s t - de s ig n e r - m a r k e t e r - c o m pa n y ow n e r
or over 20 years Russ Pope has been very busy. He originates from San Luis Obispo, just a bit north of LA, but now resides in Orange County. Since he was 16, Russ has been involved in many different aspects of skateboarding. He’s started a few brands— Creature, Scarecrow, Myrtle, Transportation Unit (his current brand)—and has had gigs for a others like Black Label, Duffs and Fallen. Currently, Russ spends his days at Vans handling the men’s apparel marketing. By sunset he starts
painting and working on his art deep into the night. As a family man, Russ has been able to find the fine balance between his home life and personal creative that not many people can juggle. And the evidence of his success lies in the strength of his work. His art is filled with characters and creatures that always seem to be looking for a bit of trouble to get in to. His painting and drawing style are hand created with bold areas of colour and solid lines. Russ draws inspiration from many areas of life as well as from
other artists such as Barry McGee, Chris Yormick, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Picasso and Gonz. The work Russ produces translates well onto products, and his socks for InStance are a project where his art is truly immersive. Since his productive days and nights tend to blend together, there are sure to be more products, such as an upcoming Vans shoe collab, and shows coming soon. —Randy Laybourne
clockwise from top left:
“Russ Pope is a modern-day renaissance man. He has seen and done it all in this constantly changing world of skateboarding. It’s pretty amazing when you think about how much one person can accomplish in his life. Many of us have trouble getting up in the morning, but not Russ. I think he prefers to get the most out of every minute of the day.” —Jay Croft 18
Concrete skateboarding
Transportation Unit “T.U. Coin” deck Transportation Unit “Hummingbird” deck Transportation Unit “Knife & Fork” deck Bones “El Raton” hat Bones “El Raton” tee Bones “Los Otros” STF wheels Transportation Unit “Initials” tee Captain Fin Co. “Red Hand” surf fin Captain Fin Co. “Longboard” surf fin Transportation Unit “Curb” tee InStance snow socks 411 Vol. 14 Issue 3 art direction
russpope.com
visit concreteskateboarding.com to download art blender wallpapers for your computer / iphone / ipad.
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“Last Call” by Russ Pope. Created exclusively for Concrete Skateboarding.