Exclusive Interview: Caballero Art Talk
Posted June 5, 2012, 1:05 p.m. /
Steve Caballero has meant a great many things to a great many people over the years: son, father, husband, pro skater, innovator, icon and legend. One thing that is sometimes overlooked is Steve Caballero the artist. Because Steve continues to skate at such a high level and win every contest he enters any Cab talk naturally centers around skateboarding but for nearly a decade now Cabbie has quietly been creating artwork (both for himself as well as a number of board graphics for Powell, Golden Dragon, Consolidated and more.).
Recently Steve decided to partner up with his wife, Rachael, to create Bela La Vie Boutique and Gallery in his hometown of Campbell, California to house Rachael’s growing jewelry brand, Bela Koi, and to give Cab the gallery space he’s always dreamt of to showcase his art and the art of his friends and peers. The first show is next Friday, June 15th (All info below). We decided to sit down with Steve to discuss his other passion outside of skating.
How did you originally get into painting and art?
I would say just growing up in the 70s and reading comic books and watching Saturday morning cartoons. I just wanted to draw that kind of stuff. We couldn’t really afford to buy some of the toys so drawing them and cutting them out and playing with the pieces of paper got me learn to draw. Then I took some art classes in school. After I was done with school I’d draw here and there but it wasn’t until 2003 I started seeing a lot of skateboarders doing art shows and I thought to myself, “Man, I wish I could be showing in these galleries as well.” So I ended up picking up a brush and canvases, some acrylics and learning how to paint. Since that time I’ve been trying different mediums and trying to get better as an artist while having a fun time learning how to create images and stuff.
Any formal training other than those early art classes?
No, just stuff at school. I never went to college or any kind of school beyond high school. What I learned in high school and junior high was that those classes are just made to give you a place to go to do it and be encouraged by other people doing it. You don’t really learn anything; it’s really all self-taught. It’s like skating. It’s something that you have to do. It’s not like you can go to a teacher and he can teach you. They can guide you with what kind of things work but when it comes to learning a trick it’s all hands on and trial and error. You have to put time and effort into and eventually it pays off.
How would you describe your style?
I can’t really describe my style. It’s all over the board. I don’t really have one and I don’t really want one because I don’t want to limit myself to one kind of look then it causes me not to grow as an artist. It’s kind of a catch 22 when it comes to the art scene and getting a certain look that people recognize. I think it’s good for being popular and successful in connecting your name to an image but when it comes to being an artist if you keep drawing the same thing over and over again, for me it would be kind of boring. It’s like skating; I don’t want to do the same tricks over and over and over again. I’m still growing and learning as an artist.
What kind of stuff are you into painting these days?
Right now what I’m painting is something that relates to this gallery that me and my wife are opening. It’s a boutique and art gallery based off the jewelry company she started Bela Koi Designs. The name of the shop is Bela La Vie Boutique and Gallery and it’s based off my two kids middle names. My son’s middle name is Bela and my daughter’s middle name is La Vie. It’s based around her jewelry and I just wanted to be a part of it and add some art element to it so we have this gallery wall where I’ll host art shows each month showcasing different artists on every third Friday for the art-walk here in Campbell, California and hopefully it’ll draw people to the store and the gallery. It’s a cool little town with six different shops that have art and it’s really happening every third Friday. I’m really stoked about this little town and how it’s growing and we’re stoked to do this. It’s a new adventure for me and my wife. I’ve never owned a store.
Is there a chance that there will be days when someone walks in and you’d be working behind the counter?
HA! I probably doubt that unless my wife had to go pick up something. It’s really her store; I’m just running the gallery part of it. I’m a professional skateboarder so I’m on the road all the time, traveling, doing demos and skating. My job isn’t really to be behind the counter at a store selling jewelry. At least not yet. Hahaha.
Over the past few years you've seemed to move away from the stencil-style hot rod paintings you were doing? What prompted the change?
Just learning to grow in different areas artistically. I’m really interested in brush and ink work sort of like Jim Phillips and Court Johnson do before they add color to graphics. I’ve also been messing with a little bit of watercolor as well. But then I’ll get tired of that and go back to acrylic painting because I miss it. I like doing different types of mediums because you get bored of one you go right to the next or if you miss one you go back to it. That’s what I like about being so versatile with the tools; there’s never ending possibilities when it comes to art, there’s so many different mediums and so much to explore like skating.
What other artists do you have planned to show at BELA LA VIE?
A pin stripe artist who is actually doing the sign for our store is showcasing next month, his name is Mr. Wim. He’s a local hot rod pin stripe artist who does really great work and I think it will go really well with the store. Also I have one of Vans’ artists who has worked with Vans for a while, P-Nut, he’ll be the third artist to have an installation at the shop. After him the Tim Brauch Memorial Contest is coming up and it happens to fall on the third Friday and I’m going to host a Love And Guts Art Show.
Last question, who are some artists that you're currently into?
I like Wim’s stuff when it comes to hot rod pinstripe feel. I definitely like this artist Craola. His name is Greg Simkins; he’s from LA. He does really well with acrylics and using light; he’s really inspirational. Then there’s an artist named Dirty Donny from San Francisco and he’s another artist that Vans has used. He’s actually got a collaboration Half Cab shoe coming out with me this year. He’s got a hot rod, 70s, psychedelic, Big Daddy Roth type style. The list goes on and on. Obviously for stencils Sheppard Fairey but on the skate side Jason Adams is actually who got me inspired to start learning to do stencils myself.
BELA LA VIE’s grand opening is Friday, June 15th 2012. The Boutique will be open from 12-6PM
Then The Gallery will host a solo art show by Steve Caballero called "A Life Within" from 7-10PM that same night.
Store Location:
311 E. Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
(408)340-5143
Recently Steve decided to partner up with his wife, Rachael, to create Bela La Vie Boutique and Gallery in his hometown of Campbell, California to house Rachael’s growing jewelry brand, Bela Koi, and to give Cab the gallery space he’s always dreamt of to showcase his art and the art of his friends and peers. The first show is next Friday, June 15th (All info below). We decided to sit down with Steve to discuss his other passion outside of skating.
How did you originally get into painting and art?
I would say just growing up in the 70s and reading comic books and watching Saturday morning cartoons. I just wanted to draw that kind of stuff. We couldn’t really afford to buy some of the toys so drawing them and cutting them out and playing with the pieces of paper got me learn to draw. Then I took some art classes in school. After I was done with school I’d draw here and there but it wasn’t until 2003 I started seeing a lot of skateboarders doing art shows and I thought to myself, “Man, I wish I could be showing in these galleries as well.” So I ended up picking up a brush and canvases, some acrylics and learning how to paint. Since that time I’ve been trying different mediums and trying to get better as an artist while having a fun time learning how to create images and stuff.
Any formal training other than those early art classes?
No, just stuff at school. I never went to college or any kind of school beyond high school. What I learned in high school and junior high was that those classes are just made to give you a place to go to do it and be encouraged by other people doing it. You don’t really learn anything; it’s really all self-taught. It’s like skating. It’s something that you have to do. It’s not like you can go to a teacher and he can teach you. They can guide you with what kind of things work but when it comes to learning a trick it’s all hands on and trial and error. You have to put time and effort into and eventually it pays off.
How would you describe your style?
I can’t really describe my style. It’s all over the board. I don’t really have one and I don’t really want one because I don’t want to limit myself to one kind of look then it causes me not to grow as an artist. It’s kind of a catch 22 when it comes to the art scene and getting a certain look that people recognize. I think it’s good for being popular and successful in connecting your name to an image but when it comes to being an artist if you keep drawing the same thing over and over again, for me it would be kind of boring. It’s like skating; I don’t want to do the same tricks over and over and over again. I’m still growing and learning as an artist.
What kind of stuff are you into painting these days?
Right now what I’m painting is something that relates to this gallery that me and my wife are opening. It’s a boutique and art gallery based off the jewelry company she started Bela Koi Designs. The name of the shop is Bela La Vie Boutique and Gallery and it’s based off my two kids middle names. My son’s middle name is Bela and my daughter’s middle name is La Vie. It’s based around her jewelry and I just wanted to be a part of it and add some art element to it so we have this gallery wall where I’ll host art shows each month showcasing different artists on every third Friday for the art-walk here in Campbell, California and hopefully it’ll draw people to the store and the gallery. It’s a cool little town with six different shops that have art and it’s really happening every third Friday. I’m really stoked about this little town and how it’s growing and we’re stoked to do this. It’s a new adventure for me and my wife. I’ve never owned a store.
Is there a chance that there will be days when someone walks in and you’d be working behind the counter?
HA! I probably doubt that unless my wife had to go pick up something. It’s really her store; I’m just running the gallery part of it. I’m a professional skateboarder so I’m on the road all the time, traveling, doing demos and skating. My job isn’t really to be behind the counter at a store selling jewelry. At least not yet. Hahaha.
Over the past few years you've seemed to move away from the stencil-style hot rod paintings you were doing? What prompted the change?
Just learning to grow in different areas artistically. I’m really interested in brush and ink work sort of like Jim Phillips and Court Johnson do before they add color to graphics. I’ve also been messing with a little bit of watercolor as well. But then I’ll get tired of that and go back to acrylic painting because I miss it. I like doing different types of mediums because you get bored of one you go right to the next or if you miss one you go back to it. That’s what I like about being so versatile with the tools; there’s never ending possibilities when it comes to art, there’s so many different mediums and so much to explore like skating.
What other artists do you have planned to show at BELA LA VIE?
A pin stripe artist who is actually doing the sign for our store is showcasing next month, his name is Mr. Wim. He’s a local hot rod pin stripe artist who does really great work and I think it will go really well with the store. Also I have one of Vans’ artists who has worked with Vans for a while, P-Nut, he’ll be the third artist to have an installation at the shop. After him the Tim Brauch Memorial Contest is coming up and it happens to fall on the third Friday and I’m going to host a Love And Guts Art Show.
Last question, who are some artists that you're currently into?
I like Wim’s stuff when it comes to hot rod pinstripe feel. I definitely like this artist Craola. His name is Greg Simkins; he’s from LA. He does really well with acrylics and using light; he’s really inspirational. Then there’s an artist named Dirty Donny from San Francisco and he’s another artist that Vans has used. He’s actually got a collaboration Half Cab shoe coming out with me this year. He’s got a hot rod, 70s, psychedelic, Big Daddy Roth type style. The list goes on and on. Obviously for stencils Sheppard Fairey but on the skate side Jason Adams is actually who got me inspired to start learning to do stencils myself.
BELA LA VIE’s grand opening is Friday, June 15th 2012. The Boutique will be open from 12-6PM
Then The Gallery will host a solo art show by Steve Caballero called "A Life Within" from 7-10PM that same night.
Store Location:
311 E. Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
(408)340-5143
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