WORKSHOP SHOUT OUTS | MATT WOLHRAB | VANS US OPEN
We’re featuring artist and maker Matt Wolhrab–the awesome person behind the street market booth Leon Washere at the Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Known for his hand-colored animations of skateboarding and surfing, Matt hosted a flip-animation book workshop, where folks could draw and bring their own unique creations to life. We chatted with Matt about his artwork, his booth, and the inspiration behind some of his animations.
Take the Leap!
Photographs by Celina Kenyon
Introduce yourself. My name is Matt Wohlrab and I’m an artist living and working in southern New Jersey.
How would you describe yourself and your art? I try to keep things simple, but I can still be a total spaz at times. My work is mainly focused on hand-colored animations of skateboarding and surfing. I paint and have other outlets but for the most part my times spents hunched over 3”x3” squares studying and meticulously coloring individual frames from old skate videos.
How did the idea of painting and re-animating photos and video clips of skateboarders and surfers come about? I know now the technical term for it is called rotoscoping, but at the time I was only messing around and happened upon it. I’m sure I’d seen it before somewhere. Everything’s been done before.
What’s the story behind the “Leon Was Here” name? How did that start and why do you think it stuck? My friends and I have a DIY spot where the local riffraff like to congregate. Nothing wrong there, but they have a penchant for shitty grafitti. One day we’re there and I keep seeing Leon Washere tagged all over. At this point I’m getting angry and start asking who this kid Leon Washere is and if anybody knew him. My friend turns to me and points out it says “Leon Was Here.” I cooled down and we had a laugh about it. This was before I made the animation stuff, so that night I went home and changed my ig handle to leon_washere as an inside joke. I mean, if I knew people where going to start addressing me as Leon, I probably wouldn’t have done it. It too late now. Actually there’s a new kid on the scene tagging Chad Was Here. Maybe I’ll change it up.
What was the first photograph you painted and what was the first video clip you re-animated with art on it? The first photograph I painted was of Tony Montgomery’s kickflip over a trash can at Love Park. It’s an old photo shot by Andre Tur. He’s actually from NJ, Tony is, you can find it online but its one of the best photos of a kickflip ever shot.
Clip-wise it was of that kid Ben Kadow doing a slappy or something I found on Bill Strobeck’s page. I just like the way he skated and this was before any of that FA/Supreme stuff. I think he had a part I saw in a video out of NY called MAMA’S BOYS. It was so rough I remember taking photos and cropping each frame on my phone. Like I said I didn’t know what I was doing. I finished it and was blown away, like holy shit I did this! It was really exciting so I posted in on my ig. Bill Strobeck re-posted it and that’s all she wrote. Never got to say thank you to him for that, so yeah thanks Bill.
Do you have a favorite photograph and video clip you’ve worked on? I really like the way a photo of Karl Watson at Pier 7 turned out. He’s got such a distinct style you know its him whether its a clip or a photo. My favorite clip is another favorite of mine Phil Shao, R.I.P. It’s the ollie at Santa Rosa Park. Him pushing and carving corners. It sets the actual trick up well.
Besides painting and re-animating, you also create abstract interpretations of still life paintings and animals. When did you start creating these series of works and what do you love about painting? I always painted on the side but never felt confident enough to show any of it. I started getting back into actual works on paper and canvas because I felt the computer creeping into my work and I needed to make mistakes and live with them. For the most part, that’s what painting is to me. An opportunity to be fearless and be more intuitive.
What are your essential art tools? What art supply do you always have on you at all times? It’s a little bit of everything from paint pens, colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels, etc. Whatever works for each piece. The decision is made on the fly usually. I like to have an array of Sharpie paint pens at all times. I know what I like for sure and can get picky. Unless I’m broke then it’s whatever I can find.
How do you stay inspired–what do you do in your off time when not creating or painting to stay inspired? I try to hang out with different types of people outside skateboarding and surfing. Gives me a better perspective on things. Obviously skating and stuff, but I’m a bit older now and can’t keep up like I did in the past. It’s still good for me to be around it nonetheless. It’s like the fountain of youth.
Tell us about your Street Market booth. There definitely are a bunch of posters/prints of my work and some pieces exclusive to the event. I made a video of my work I’m showing each day as well. I don’t want to tell you everything or you won’t stop by.
Do you have a favorite Vans silhouette? Chukka Boot
What’s the best advice you’d give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? What’s the worst bit of advice you’ve gotten? Do what you want, not what you think is going to be cool to everybody else. All that stuff changes so fast, you’ll end up chasing a trend. The worst bit of advice. Propbably something having to do with money. As soon as money gets involved in my decision making I’m screwed.
Besides art, what are some of your other hobbies? Taking videos of my cat Mitas. I skate regularly when I’m not injured, surf if theres a wave and my friends are going out. I read, I like being outside mostly just don’t as me to go hiking. I hate hikes. I do not want to go an adventure.
Do you have some favorite artists at the moment? Francisco Mendes Moreira, Wolfgang Tillmans, Lauren Nickou
Finally what do you have coming up for the rest of summer? Trying to be more healthy in mind, body and spirit. The rest will take care of itself.