Interview by Jonathan Hay
Tom Dupere (@tom_dupere)
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, how did you get into your style of art, and how did your upbringing bring your art and skateboarding together?
I am from the northeast, Amesbury, Massachusetts to be exact. My first memories of art in my upbringing would be my great grandfather Jack doing watercolor paintings. They lived on the Merrimack river and he would paint river scenes and boats, etc. He also was a woodworker and I remember distinctly being very young and sitting in a rocking chair that he built. He also only had one arm.
I wish I had some of his artworks or woodworking. Once I started skating in 1984 and started figuring out how things worked with graphics and skaters doing artwork it was like an explosion in my mind. You could do whatever you wanted.
What was your era of skateboarding like, what terrain and who were the big names in the scene at the time locally, and who were you the most stoked to witness skateboarding?
I was fortunate to start in the 80s and see the birth of modern street skating. We would travel into Boston and explore the city. Seeing Jahmal Williams and Robbie Gangemi as young kids and then become amazing pros was really cool.
Did you start creating artwork in the same time you were the most hyped with skateboarding, or did the artwork come later?
Art actually came before skateboarding. But once I started skating, me wanting to make stuff really ramped up.
Do you make your living from your artwork or do you have another job on the side, or is your artwork a side project?
Art is what I do to relax. It’s also my release. I will be 54 this year and the miles are catching up. I can’t skate as much as I did, so making art fills a big void.
I make my living building skateparks with Artisan. Getting to build parks is also very artistically fulfilling although it takes a big toll physically. I’m coming up on 26 years.
How did you first get involved working for Artisan Skateparks?
I was working with my friend Sloppy Sam for Breaking Ground skateparks. He ended his company and I went to work with Artisan. It’s been 15 years with them.
Back to your artwork, what mediums do you usually work with?
Mainly it’s acrylics, ink, watercolor and spray paint.
Apart from on paper, where else does your art appear?
I enjoy painting on wood.
Your artwork gives me Russ Pope, Neil Blender and even Ralph Steadman vibes. Who are your influences as an artist?
All of those dudes rule! I have so many art influences: Gonz, Chris Miller, Lucero, Andy Jenkins, Raymond Pettibon, Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, Dozegreen, Daniel Higgs, Phil Frost, Chris Johansson, Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Alexander Calder and on and on and on…
What about non-artist influences?
Music and everyday life, observing people and the world.
What magazines did you check out in your youth?
Thrasher, Poweredge, BMX Plus, Freestylin’, Club Homeboy.
You spent some time living in SF in the early 90s. How was that? Why did you decide it wasn’t for you and move back east?
It was killer! I had some friends who were sponsored and pro so I moved out to skate and check out EMB and all the rad SF spots. It was an amazing time to be a skater in that city and I loved every minute of it. I love traveling and checking out other cities but I will always be an East coast person.
Who are your main clients not including art collectors and aficionados?
I recently did some work for Slappy trucks. That was really cool.
Do you have any dream clients?
I would love do some graphics for Anti-Hero.
What about music? What were some of the best shows you saw growing up?
Hands down the Bad Brains on the “I Against I“ tour. They blew my mind. The energy was otherworldly.
And books? Who are you favorite authors and what are your three favorite books of all time?
Top three books would be:
1. Ham on Rye – Charles Bukowski
2.Travels with Charley – John Steinbeck
3. You Can’t Win – Jack Black (not the comedian)
Some favorite authors are Cormac McCarthy, John Fante, Carson McCullers, Kurt Vonnegut, Dennis Johnson, and recently I have been into Haruki Murakami.
Except for creating art and skateboarding, what else do you get into?
I love spending time with my wife Carlina and our daughter June. Being outdoors hiking, kayaking and any kind of adventure.
What is your ultimate goal as an artist or have you already achieved it?
To just keep making art and enjoying the process and hopefully in turn others enjoy the art and get some joy from it.
You can by Thomas Dupere’s artwork at: coffeebreak.bigcartel.com
And follow his skatepark design / building work at: www.artisanskateparks.com