Interview by Alan Ng
Words by Amie Nguyen
Photography by Patrick Leung
justalilhype! caught up with Corey Sheppard just before he embarks his journey to Japan for a trade show to exhibit his latest headwear that he designed for the Vivo skate team and covered a range of topics surrounding his life. As Corey discovered his passion in design and art through skateboarding, he shares with us his insights in life, past experiences in the skate scene and his future goals. Corey has been skating since ten and said that he will always be skating as he described skating as something more than just a hobby or sport. He told us that skating is a part of his lifestyle and nothing will stop him from making more skate videos and skating even with his designing career at Vivo headwear, it won’t stop you from seeing him around cruising along the streets of Vancity from time to time.
Tell us about some of the highlights in your career
Well for one. Turning pro, then moving into L.A. I got 3rd in World Cup. Traveling around the world like Africa, Japan, everywhere really. I would say that’s about it. Meeting all the friends I have. Discovering art through skate boarding.
Which contest did you place 3rd at? How did that felt?
It was back in 2004. 6 years ago, shit! The competition was held at Huntington State Beach. It was the only one I really wanted to enter. I am not a fan of competitions. That day, I swear I just couldn’t fall. I drank some juice that some Brazilian dude gave me, homemade tea or some shit. I had all this energy, all these red bulls, I don’t know. I was on point and just couldn’t fall. I think I should’ve placed higher personally because everything was done on switch and I don’t know if they knew that because I only did one regular trick. I was stoked on it. Being a friend of everyone that wins awards, it was a weird feeling for me. I was kind of sketched out; maybe that’s why I don’t enter contests.
How did you discover art through skate boarding?
I was skating and was living in L.A. I always drew and stuff. I was with this girl and she left oil paints in my house and I made like a shoelace paintbrush by cutting the end of my shoelaces and started painting with it. It was kind of fun. Then from there on, I got a paintbrush and started to paint. Then the computer came along and I started getting onto the graphic design stuff and learning it. And now here I am, designing hats.
In terms of your art style, how would you describe it?
I don’t know, what’d you think? I would say it’s pretty random; spur of the moment kind of stuff. Pretty much what my thoughts are at that time. It just happens I guess.
Tell us a bit about your video part in “What If”.
It took a couple years to film, and I traveled everywhere. I pretty much edited it and picked out songs. That was the time when I really discovered my passion in art. It was sort of like an intro of me as an artist like the scene of me painting at the desert. That’s some crazy shit. I have always looked at skating as an art form by itself anyway.
From your video part in “What If”, you do some pretty ballsy parts, what kind of skater would you describe yourself to be?
I would say that I am a “Spur of the moment” kind of skater. I will go anywhere if it’s a good spot. I don’t go looking for what I want to do. Wasn’t trying to go for any of it.
Are there anything you would like to improve on or are currently working on?
In life? I am definitely trying to learn more about Photoshop and Illustrator. Be more productive too I guess.
What does it mean to you to be a skater hailing out of Vancouver, BC?
Like I said, I am from Toronto. Coming from there I’ve moved away 10 years ago to L.A. Then I moved here 3 years ago. I would never leave Vancouver, the skate scene here is amazing, and people are great. I wished there was more cinematographers, that’s the only thing we are lacking. It’s a pretty awesome city other than that.
What makes you get up every day to do what you do?
Passion. Just the love of what I do. My women, my dog, it’s my life. You know?
What would you be doing if you weren’t skating?
Not sure but it will probably be something creative.
What age was it when you first got on the board?
I was ten years old.
What inspired you?
My sister’s boy friend had a skateboard around. I always wanted to be like them.
What do you think of the current state of the skateboarding scene? Notice any emerging trends?
I really don’t like some of the crazy shit happening right now. Someone would do a trick and then everyone would do it. Sometimes that’s kind of gross. There’s also people wearing super tight pants, that was like pretty hot awhile ago but its kind of fading away. I don’t know. I am not really sure.
Tell us a bit about your current role at Vivo headwear.
I am the creative director. I pretty much do everything from releases to posters. I pretty much do everything for them look wise. The overall look of the company I guess. Also designing hats, that kind of stuff.
Would you say you have some creative control over your ads and video parts or the products you sponsor?
Just my look on how I want it. Just showing people what I like. If it’s me anyway, I want kids to like me not just skating but for everything.
It seems like a lot of skateboarders have been working closely with designing roles in the fashion industry. What do you think it is about skating that brings out the creative side behind this trend of artists?
I think it’s just your mind frame of being a skate boarder, looking at spots and weird things in a certain way if anything. It’s a hard question to answer because everyone is different. I think it just comes from inspirations of being a skateboarder, being different and maybe looking at every industry in that way as well, trying to step it up. I think it’s just from the style of skating. Skateboarding is art anyway so everything kind of works its way out.
Do you have any advice for up and coming skaters?
Basically skate because you love it. Everyone starts and wants to be pro. When I skated when I was 10, I did it because I loved it and not because I wanted to be someone. I’d say just go out and film video parts, make sure you enter contests, get on magazines and just become a household name really. Get people to know you.
Unfortunately, skaters go through injuries at times. Did you ever go through any harsh bails?
Never really had anything major. I’ve broken one of my fingers and my ankle before. Other than that, just sore feet and bruises on my heels.
What’s the thing about skating that makes people fall down and get back up to continue?
It’s the trick. It’s the feeling of landing that trick. You want it so much. You want to show people that you can do it. Getting it done really, just the love of it. I mean it speaks of it really. You can fall as many times you want, it doesn’t matter. It might look harsher on film but you get used to it.
Designers and artists usually have a dream project, what’s yours?
This upcoming 2010 spring line with Vivo. Mark Appleyard, Spencer Hamilton and Grant Patterson are all part of the team and I am designing hats for everyone. I am really stoked on this line; it’s going to be insane. We have tons of new hats. It’s my dream project because this line is entirely designed by myself.
What’s your most memorable board ever?
My very first board; It was a mountie with a Canadian flag, and the flag was a pot leaf. The ones I did myself when I was on blind and I got to paint my own.
What is HYPE?
I’ve never looked into the word. HYPE from what you hear from it is just HYPE’ing a certain thing up. So like you guys’ coming to me is like HYPE’ing me up. I guess that’s true in a way. Helping someone out maybe? HYPE all around, you know what I mean? I can’t explain it