Dennis McNett is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s been carving the hell out of surly block prints for over 16 years. All of his encouragement as a young kid came from his blind grandfather, who told him over and over again that his drawings were good. Like a billion other teenage kids, later influences came from the raw high-energy images pouring out of the ’80s skate scene. Dennis has designed board graphics for Anti-Hero skateboards and has collaborated with Cannonball Press. He works hard from his Brooklyn studio that has a glamorous view of the BQE. Dennis is a uniquely talented individual, having participated in the skate and art sub-cultures, while also achieving significant success in the world of higher education. He holds an MFA from Pratt Institute, where he has taught as a visiting instructor at the graduate and undergraduate level. He wants to live until he dies. Breathing is good.
This collaborative project with Vans happened naturally and was born from mutual respect and a common vision for what hardcore skateboarding is all about. McNett explains it best: “In the early to mid ’80s, the Punk rock music, the album covers, the unsavory characters on the bottoms of the boards, and the grinds all had the same flavor to me. The graphics surrounding these things and the overall aesthetic of that time inspired me to make art then and still influences what I do now. If I were to recall an image of how Vans fit into that aesthetic it would be a Sk8 Hi with blown-out soles and a wad of duct tape around the toe holding it all together.”
Dennis’ incredible lino-cut art is strikingly reproduced with laser etching on premium full grain leather and tonal screen printing on high-grade canvas. This new signature series includes the AV3, TNT 4, and the J-Lay. The package is completed with three tee shirts that feature Dennis’ signature carved fury. This is exclusive product for skateboarders.
Off the Wall!
AV3
DENNIS MCNETT/BLACK Premium Tumbled Full Grain/
6 Oz. Canvas
TNT4
DENNIS MCNETT/BLACK Premium Tumbled Full Grain/
6 Oz. Canvas
J-LAY MID
DENNIS MCNETT/BLACK Premium Tumbled Full Grain/
6 Oz. Canvas
