The Michael Richardson Skateboard Art Experience
The world as subscribed by Michael Richardson’s art is full of full of Southern-fried funk, eye popping graphics, face melting illustrations, metal-flake designs, screamin’ guitars, and fast vixens.
By Jeff Najar, Co-Producer
I got to know Michael Richardson through his Instagram presence before I met him. And when I saw his art work, it just blew me away. And then when I saw the David Mann inspired skateboard, I decided to buy it at our own “Art on Deck” silent auction and use it for promotional purposes.
This is what we love about the design, vibrant colors and cool images
You can tell by Michael Richardson skateboard art he is a multidisciplinary visual artist. I met the creative one while producing the Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast in Sturgis and found his art captivating.
We use his deck to engage people at the charity breakfast to hold, comment, or as a tug of war. Auction attendees just love it.
Shenanigans at the Flying Piston Benefit Breakfast
Quite a bit of action on Mike’s skateboard
This skateboard art is a psychedelic tribute to Easyriders’ artist, David Mann. The bull skull represents Sturgis and is poking up through the pavement and ripped the tire. The chopper is coming down the highway and the rider will rescue her and load her up for the run to Sturgis. And you also see a set of eyeballs of an animal that’s hiding with the chopper flying over his head.
Mike is a guitar player and grew up around family members that were really big into music. What captured his imagination and had a big impact on him was the crazy illustration located in the inside sleeve of the Guns and Roses album, Appetite for Destruction.
It turns out it was underground West Coast artist Robert Williams’ controversial painting that that depicts the interruption of a robot rape by an avenging metal angel.
As Mike looks back on his early work he can see Williams as a big influence even though he didn’t really know him or his work for many years. It turns out Williams worked for Ed “Big Daddy” Roth in the ‘60s and was big in motorcycles and Hot Rods.
Another influence was skateboarding. One cultural icon that he leaned into was Jimbo Phillips out of Santa Cruz. The old illustration design combined with that crazy Hot Rod monster style provided a lot of room for Mike to create innovative designs.
411 on the Flying Monkey
His 2nd board for the Flying Piston Benefit is a space theme one. The astro-monkey has his honey on his space chopper and it looks like he is flying away from the moon. He’s cruising out in front of this little alien dude who is super surprised that there’s somebody else floating through his galaxy.
Mike Richardson Holding the Flying Monkey Board — you’ve got this monkey, cruising through the solar system on a space chop.
When Mike isn’t helping out the Flying Piston Benefit, he does logos, branding campaigns, illustrations for apparel companies and illustrations for bands. Significant amount of work goes into designs that get merchandised through t-shits, cups, stickers and the like. In addition, he illustrates kids books.
Rebel Soul Studio Work
The Big Foot Big Foot
Completed Mama Tried illustration
Currently, Mike is the creative force behind Rebel Soul Studio, where he uses his unique illustration style to create poster prints, apparel, stickers, skateboards, hand-painted custom shoes, and original paintings. Mike lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife Jennilee and their two amazing children, Olivia and Hendrix.
Also, here are a couple links where his work is available online:
- Rebel Soul Teepublic online Shop
- Instagram – @rebelsoulstudio
Good Times at the Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast
Our 2023 Daytona Skateboard “Art on Deck” presented by Gnarly Magazine contestants include:
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- Matt Grosso – @lil_matt_tattoo Ink &;Iron Studio
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- Kelly Campanile – @kellyCampanile – Eddie’s Chinatown Tattoo
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- Jacob Medina – @jacobartmedina
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- James Willis – @jamesawillisartist – James Willis Art
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- Lisa Kosarko Sotero – @ownwurld – Gruntle Design
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- Freddie Villa – @villapinstriping – Pinstriping
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- Mando – @bmpco_signworks
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- Tobias Peltier – @tattoosbytobiasx -Tattoo by Tobias
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- Angela Rivera – @theanchoredrose – The Anchored Rose
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- Rochelle Luna Yoder – @lunakustoms – Clay Artist
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- Brad Nixon – @b_radtattoos – Tattoo Artist
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- Kendra Spanjer – @kendystix – Good Girl Line & Sign
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- Andi Hopgood – @magicgeckobus
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- Curt Green – @barebonesleather
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- Benjamin Howie – @benjaminhowie – GarbageART
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- Jayme Schmidt – @bluemoonkustoms
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- Steve Chaszeyka – @steve_chaszeyka – Graphics Academy
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- Nick Valente – @njvalente
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- Marie – @sealion_resin – Resin Art
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- Mari Geolfos – @aireffexcustompaint
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- – Mark “Fat Daddy” Hagstrom – @fatdaddylines – Artist
THE 2023 EVENT PAGE
For information on the Daytona Flying Piston Benefit Breakfast including the event date, time, auction items, and location, Click Here.
Please visit us on our social media pages:
Facebook Page.
Instagram Page.
Please support the Flying Piston Benefit and Builder Breakfast by donating art or your time, connect with us.
The 2023 Sturgis edition of the Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast is produced by Marilyn Stemp of Iron Trader News and Jeff Najar of Green Forest Brand. Our work raises awareness and funds for non-profits and individuals in the motorcycle community, vets, and kindergarteners. Our funds are directed to All Kids Bike and Motorcycle Missions.
But wait, there’s more:
We have more interviews with artists that have provided outstanding art for the Flying Piston Benefit. Click here to see more artist interviews.
