Our series of “Visuals” interviews continues following a conversation with Tyler Bledsoe. We caught up with Tyler on a Monday morning in Portland to find out more about some early skateboarding inspiration, and where he is at right now…
Words and interview by Jacob Sawyer. Tyler Bledsoe at Thunderbird Tattoo in Portland
Tyler Bledsoe has been quietly killing it for years. Alien Workshop’s Mind Field video put him on everyone’s radar, and his brand of perfectly executed, easy-on-the-eyes, masterful tech, and thoughtful video part construction definitely set the bar for a generation following. His body of work is tellingly timeless. Take in his perhaps lesser-watched, Transworld Hallelujah section which directly followed his breakout part for Alien and you will see that his take on what a video part should consist of, and early contributions to skateboarding are still resonating today. Tyler continues to transmit clips of the highest quality filmed on the streets of Portland.
His new fascination with creating tattoos has become an all-encompassing endeavour of late but has also stoked the fire for skateboarding when he’s not honing his craft with a needle. It seems he has found something as challenging and rewarding as grafting for tricks, a new obsession which can harmoniously coexist with the other. HUF recently tuned into Tyler’s creative efforts and incorporated his flash work into a clothing capsule, an organic crossover between two worlds that keep him motivated on a daily basis. This prompted us to connect and dip into some things which have inspired his journey, visuals that made an impact on his young mind, and some which are regularly beneath his feet today.
Skateboarding made its way into Tyler’s life very early, it was interesting finding out about some of the videos which made an impression on him. Learn why Josh Kalis’ part in Transworld’s The Sixth Sense video hit hard for him, notably a trick at the Brooklyn Banks. Equally influential for him was Mark Appleyard’s part in the seminal Flip Sorry video. When it came to a photograph Jeremy Wray’s historic water tower ollie shot by Daniel Harold Sturt is the one Tyler was most awed by. Discover why that iconic Thrasher cover seared its way into his grey matter some years later, and why Jeremy Wray was a very early influence. Finally, find out why a Jake Johnson Quasi board from four years ago is one he had to have more of made, a visual he likes to look down on that remains a constant in his skateboarding life. This article closes out by exploring Tyler’s current reality in the tattoo shop, what his life looks like right now, and his plans for the future.
Mark Appleyard – Flip Skateboards Sorry (2002)
I originally picked Josh Kalis’ part in the The Sixth Sense video but you told me it had already been picked once before. I based my choices off of videos that I was obsessed with growing up. The videos I would watch every single day, multiple times. So those two videos were my first two real obsessions. Sixth Sense was earlier obviously, it came out in 1998 but I remember waiting for that Flip video [Sorry] to come out for years. They kept on teasing it and then it finally came out. It was gnarly, it It was right when [Mark] Appleyard blew up. At that point I had never really seen people skate with their arms down, I couldn’t work out how it was even possible that he was skating like that, he made everything look so easy. I remember trying to skate like that, trying to keep my arms down, and trying to emulate him. When I was skating I would hear that Placebo song playing in my head, it was a total obsession. I feel like there were a lot of people at that time on the same tip, everyone was obsessed with Appleyard.
I remember seeing the video for the first time, they premiered it at the skatepark. Cal’s Pharmacy used to have an indoor park here in Portland called The Department of Skateboarding. They would premiere all the latest videos there. I saw Yeah Right, Sorry, and the Firm video [Can’t Stop] there, it was that era. I remember being at the premiere for Sorry, and it felt really raw, it was heavy duty. I don’t want to say it wasn’t polished, that’s not the right word, but I feel like it hit you a little harder than other videos from the time. There was so much anticipation too, everyone had been waiting for it for so long. Another thing about that video is that the soundtrack is so good. That era shaped my taste in music, my playlist is largely made up of songs that were used in skate videos.
“It holds that nostalgic feeling for me so it’s still very enjoyable to watch, it connects me with a younger version of myself”
Mark Appleyard really came out of nowhere. Another part I was entertaining was PJ Ladd’s Wonderful Horrible Life but Appleyard was the first one to have that effect on me. I was obsessed, it was different, he was flipping into tricks on rails, and it was all so casual. I love the nollie flip 50-50 at Clipper, his ender, it’s so nice. I’ve never seen that trick done any other time where it was that enjoyable to watch, the throw down itself is good enough. The kickflip frontside crooked grind down the rail is another one, something that was maybe a happy accident. There were definitely tricks in here I was trying to copy, I was trying to do nollie heelflip noseslides, and trying to nollie into rails but it really wasn’t what I was good at. I learned as time went on that I don’t do that type of skating but I definitely tried to copy some stuff and skate like that in my head. I watched this part again recently and it really does still hold up. It holds that nostalgic feeling for me so it’s still very enjoyable to watch, it connects me with a younger version of myself.
The stuff I always go back to regularly is not necessarily a specific part but just [Tom] Penny footage in general. I do watch other stuff but if I ever go to full up anything it’s always Tom Penny. Thats the shit I’m watching always. That type of fun, casual, easy-going skating is what I strive for. His footage just always looks so fun and natural. I always thought that’s the best way to skate. It makes you melt watching it, he’s floating. To be able to skate like that would be a dream.
Josh Kalis – The Sixth Sense (1998)
I just wanted to pick something from Josh’s part in The Sixth Sense and I landed on this. That whole part is the epitome of nostalgia for me, the gear, the shoes, the boards, swishy pants. That’s right when I was becoming obsessed with skating, when I made the decision that it was all that I wanted to do. [Josh] Kalis was so fucking stylish, he looked so good, and I was drawn to that style of skating. The part came out in 1998 so I was eight years old, and that was right at the moment when I wanted to do nothing else but skate. It was great to have such good videos like this when I was starting out because they helped set me on the right trajectory.
I love this switch backside heelflip, his landing and everything. His gear alone is good enough, there’s something about that big DC shirt, the Lynx, the baggy jeans. It just hits me. He is a gangster looking dude on a board. He had all the flip tricks dialled, he is a full skate rat, Kalis loves skating so it all makes sense. He did some other amazing stuff over that wall, the half cab heel he did was crazy. I missed the boat a little bit as far as skating at that spot but I have cruised through there and skated a little, no crazy sessions though. Those banks, and especially skating over the wall is so much gnarlier when you see it in person. It always looks much smaller in footage, it’s gnarly what went down there. It’s such a cool, iconic looking spot.
“I love this switch backside heelflip, his landing and everything. His gear alone is good enough…”
I love this period, the gear and everything. It was a time when Josh also was becoming really popular and it seemed like he was really honing into his own thing. All of the Philly footage will always have it’s own nostalgic feeling, it defined a time and it was so raw. It helps having Stevie [Williams] in there too, early Stevie footage is always a gem. It was definitely a trip getting on Alien Workshop having grown up being so influenced by videos like this. I remember the day I got a call from the team manager. I was in Junior High and I remember getting out of school and having a message on my phone from the Alien Workshop TM saying he wanted to do something with me and I was fucking tripping, I lost my shit a little bit. I don’t really know how that came about, maybe he had seen me skate at Tampa or something like that. It just kind of happened, I snuck my way on there.
There was a period of time where I was getting stuff from DC as well so I got to go on a few trips with those guys, it was right around the time the Workshop thing started to come to light. I got to see Josh skate and witness some of the magic firsthand. It was a bit like being around a celebrity though, I was probably a little starstruck but I was just so young, and they were the dudes. There were trips with [Brian] Wenning and [Josh] Kalis and it was during such a pinnacle era, very intimidating, but amazing to see. By the time I was filming for a Transworld part I feel like the videos had changed so much that it almost didn’t seem as connected but there was that heritage there. At that time filming a Transworld part had become almost a staple of being a professional skateboarder. It was an important project to put your all into. I was straight out of filming for Mind Field at that point, I remember wanting a break, I wanted to chill for a bit because I felt quite burnt out. Then Transworld hit me up a few weeks after the Alien video came out and asked if I wanted to work on a part. I couldn’t say no to the opportunity so I jumped right into it which probably made it a bit easier because I was already in the rhythm.
Jeremy Wray. Ollie. PH: Daniel Harold Sturt (1997)
This is something I really started to appreciate later on. I feel like [Daniel Harold] Sturt photos maybe go over your head a little when you’re so young, and this came out right when I had just started skating. This hit me later on when I was looking at all of his photos. That trick is so baffling, I have no idea what would make you try that. This is one that I look at and get a weird feeling in my stomach, I feel nervous just looking at it which is pretty awesome in itself. Sturt photos have a majestic feeling to them that translates, like a movie. I would have seen the footage of this in the Plan B Industry section in 411VM. Man, to throw down and push at that thing, and has faith that you’re going to clear it, it scares me just thinking about it. He had to run and jump the gap too, that’s even gnarlier, there’s no way, but if anyone is gonna make it across a big gap it’s going to be him.
Jeremy Wray was honestly my first favourite skateboarder. I was getting Element boards at the time and I feel like the company was at a really good stage in its evolution. Everything Jeremy Wray did was just so cool, something about it touched my soul a little bit. I watched that Element World Tour video from 2000 so much, it has Natas [Kaupas] in it, Kenny Hughes, Donny Barley. I remember Donny Barley and Jeremy Wray being the two dudes who I was obsessed with, I loved those guys so much. I remember getting assignments at school where we would have to write a story and using their names, writing the assignments about them, just fully obsessed. Other kids at school were like “who the fuck is Donny Barley?”, they had no idea.
“I love how jacked this ollie photo is, you almost can’t really tell what’s going on in a way. He’s just in the air like an eagle”
I remember watching Jeremy Wray skate for the first time in person and tripping on his kickflips. He would set up for them with his foot in almost heelflip position. I just couldn’t see how that was even possible, he’s the only dude to do them like that. Later on I watched his older parts like the one in Secondhand Smoke and understood more about why people loved him so much. I don’t think I’ve ever skated a roof gap myself, I don’t like heights so never got up there. I love how jacked this ollie photo is, you almost can’t really tell what’s going on in a way. He’s just in the air like an eagle. I love the chaos of this photo. It’s one of the best covers of all time
QUASI SKATEBOARDS – Jake Johnson DECK (2020)
I started skating this board and just loved the way that it looks in footage. That’s probably something that goes back to the Kalis Workshop era when they were making all those neon dipped EXP boards. So it’s somewhat of a nostalgic thing. Also I’m not even religious but something about Jesus stuff, I love it and I don’t know why. I’m in no way religious but I’m drawn to it, maybe it’s something to do with tattoo history in a way, it ties into that. There’s something about the colour and the graphic they did which spoke to me. I have skated quite a few and still have a little stack of them that I’ve been saving. I’ve skated that thing for a long time now, I had Quasi make some more for me because I loved it so much, the one I skate is an an “8.125 version. I love the way it looks in footage.and everyone loves Jake [Johnson], he’s a mystical human, one of a kind for sure.
“There’s something about the colour and the graphic they did which spoke to me…I still have a little stack of them that I’ve been saving”
It’s weird that I would like that dipped board because I wasn’t really into them when I was growing up. For some reason I don’t have an issue with them. I like looking down on them so much now. Looking back at board graphics I really liked growing up I always go back to the Alien Workshop Photosynthesis era boards, all of the Don Pendleton shit from that era has a feeling for me for sure. I was really into all of the later Element boards for Jeremy [Way] and all those guys, I was really into those too, the really simple ones. The basic graphics, the Egyptian stuff, I really liked those ones. I think the Workshop boards were the best ones though.
As far as my own boards I feel like every new board Quasi does for me becomes my new favourite. They’ve been doing all the weird, trippy, mushroom graphics for me which I’ve been super into. Mushrooms are so hot right now, hahaha. Quasi do such a good job integrating and interpreting what I like that I’m always stoked on my new stuff. Looking back on old graphics of mine, I probably trip out the most on the [Andy] Warhol ones that Workshop did. I have those on the wall and it’s a trip that I was able to get one of those. They did a few different Warhol board series, that was a pretty cool thing to be a part of.
The Quasi Jake Johnson board in question plays host to a perfect kickflip backside nosebluntslide
What’s new in your world? Are you hunkering down for winter?
Yep, getting ready for the gloomy season. I’m trying to really learn to be an artist, to live the life of being able to do that and support myself. I’ve been learning how to navigate that world. It’s so similar to skating, I couldn’t have found anything closer to it so I’m super thankful. It’s definitely challenging, and stressful, just like skating so it keeps me on my toes. I’m super stoked I was able to find something I love just as much as skateboarding because I feel like that doesn’t usually happen.
Drawing all the time, do you feel that tangible progression like when you first started to skate?
Yeah it’s so similar to learning that first kickflip or something. I remember trying to do that first one for over a year, learning the kickflip technique. There’s getting the strength to do it and muscle memory combined. Drawing and tattooing is the same exact process. Your progress is so gradual that you don’t notice it until one day something just happens. Suddenly it’s just way easier than it was before and you finally notice your progression, there it is. That sparks you a little more, and then you go deeper and deeper. It’s really just about dedicating time. I don’t know how to draw at all, I’m so bad at drawing but I can render things and put the time into making something my own. I can figure out how to do it and find the easiest way for me. It’s cool to be able to find my own way in it, just like skateboarding.
Did you enjoy translating your flash work to clothing for the HUF capsule that launched recently?
Yeah that was cool. I had been wanting to do something like that for a while. I have so many paintings, and designs just laying there in piles. It’s nice to do something with those and see it all come to light. Those guys did a great job with everything and I was stoked with what they did.
Bledsoe for HUF – Tyler’s collection for HUF Worldwide
Following on from the Jake Johnson board, ave you had the opportunity to tattoo any Jesus pieces?
That’s actually one I haven’t really done. People tend to be a little bit wary of anything religious. It’s definitely a certain type of person who will go for that. Usually it is a person who isn’t even religious who will get that but with crosses, and Jesus stuff, people are wary of it. It’s a little bit of a bold move I guess but this religious signs are so powerful and simple, they make such perfect tattoos. All of us tattooers love that shit whether we’re religious or not because it looks so fucking cool, there’s a weight to that symbolism.
How is life in the tattoo shop?
It’s good. Business is up and down, there are waves when it’s super busy, and then some downtime. I’ve been learning how to dal with that and do other things outside of tattooing. Leaning more about being an artist, learning more about painting. It’s blossoming, I’ve been learning how to market myself. All of these things I didn’t have to do before that are kind of similar to skating so it’s been interesting trying to learn how to do all of that. I’m just on my own, I don’t have companies promoting me with tattooing so that is all on me, promoting myself and doing all of the shit that goes along with that. It’s definitely a hustle.
Have you been managing to skate a lot in between?
Yeah I have been trying, it goes really well with skating, I’ll just say that. I can spend half the day tattooing and then go skating later on, or skate all morning and go to work afterwards. Hanging out in the tattoo shop is like being in a skate shop almost. Every one there skated at some point. I’m constantly around it even if I’m not out skating. It’s super cool to have that, I feel like I’m always surrounded by it.
Do you have any specific projects you’re working towards?
Not really, skating is pretty casual for me these days. I just want to continue having fun with it and not stress over it at all. I’m not jumping off stuff and killing myself for it right now. Tattooing is definitely becoming this thing which is taking over my life the same way skating did when I was younger. It’s weird though, they kind of feed off each other a little bit. People who follow my skating will see that I’m tattooing and come to get tattoos which is a cool little dynamic.
Some original Tyler Bledsoe flash work from 2024 waiting for you at Thunderbird Tattoo
Where will the imminent cold weather deliver you to?
I’ll probably try to go down south and do a little road trip. I want to go to LA and do some skating, maybe tattoo somewhere for a few days. I’m a real homebody, I love being home and it doesn’t bother me if I’m not going on trips. It will be good for me to branch out of my comfort zone and do some stuff outside of the rainy weather, you can definitely get a little stuck here. You can spend two weeks indoors without seeing the sun in winter which can get a little weird.
When you look back through your video parts which one do you think of most fondly or feel best represents your skateboarding and why?
I think the Mind Field part means a lot, I love the editing. Being a part of that video was a really profound moment in my life. I’m super proud of that one because I sort of had to fight to get in there, it wasn’t guaranteed that I was going to be in it. I had to prove myself to get in there and have a part so I’m proud to have been able to pull that off. I do honestly thing though that the Transworld era was my best skating. I was straight out of filming for Mind Field and into that part so I was warmed up already. I think that was when I was the most tuned up, and feeling the best on my board.
Is there anything you’re excited about you want to talk about before we close?
Nothing too crazy, just staying busy tattooing and skating.
We would like to thank Tyler for his time and care with this interview. Be sure to follow him on Instagram to see more of his tattoo work and for regular skateboarding updates. We would also like to thank Neil Macdonald ( Science Vs. Life ) for the Thrasher cover scan. Check out Tyler’s Jenkem Interview for more insights on his life in Oregon.
Be sure to shop with us for Quasi Skateboards and of course for Tyler’s capsule for HUF Worldwide and more.
Previous Visuals Interviews: Daniel Wheatley , Braden Hoban , Jaime Owens , Charlie Munro , Lev Tanju , Jack Curtin , Ted Barrow , Dave Mackey , Jack Brooks , Korahn Gayle , Will Miles , Kevin Marks , Joe Gavin , Chewy Cannon
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