It all started with 1968 VW bus named Super Mom. It was my first car. It had been in the family since it was built and was named after my Aunty Shirly who truly is a Super Mom. My dad was a real deal profession VW mechanic, so this bus ran like a champ. Mostly because he had me agree to three rules; never drive it over 55mph, change the oil every other month, and always full it up with the expensive gas.

So, there I am about 20 years later heading west towards Astoria from Portland. I’m a dad now. My son Camper and I are starting out on an epic adventure together in a VW bus we borrowed from our very kind neighbor.

We’re going to help make an ad campaign with the sweetest and most talented crew of people who totally turned this ad campaign into an adventure we will always remember.

Over the next three days Camper and I would hike, surf, skate, play in the sand, putt-putt some golf balls, wear all sorts of fancy outdoor clothing (Hello NAU, Poler, and Danner), while the camera crew followed us around as we explored our favorite place in the world the Oregon Coast.

You know they say it’s not an adventure until something goes wrong and you have to figure it out. Something did go wrong, on the last day the VW bus broke. It almost messed up the whole project, but the awesome crew swooped in to save the day and all was well. As Camper and I were waiting at the mechanics shop while they fixed the bus we wondered around the back lot looking for treasures like old spark plugs and colorful burnt out fuses. It reminded me that I used to do the same thing growing up at my dad’s shop. While he worked I would wonder around.

This adventure showed me that I can work and wonder around with Camper at my side. I feel like a Super Dad now, but all started with a VW Bus named Super Mom.

So enjoy this ad campaign. I did all the illustrations at my studio with Camper at my side too!

15 NW shapers, a bunch of artists and other volunteers came together to throw this rad event to raise fund for local non-profits Warm Current and Waves for Development. I helped by making this ad/art.

Print might be dead, but it’s still super fun!!!

Mercury Bike Issue 2013 from Mike Wilson on Vimeo.

Bwana designed a new skateboard shape with his fake company Bearturds. After lots of sidewalk surfing I can honestly say this new shape is more fun than a Zip-Zinger! It’s not just the shape that’s a banger it’s that Bwana had 13 of his skate buddies do different designs for the first release of this deck. Crazy skate art heroes like Chris Johanson, Micheal Sieben, Manny Aloha, David Wien, Brent Wick, and more all did designs.{SEE!}

Mine turned out pretty good. Even though I wanted it to be teal on raw wood the orange and black Bwana rolled with is awesome because I would have never come up with that combo (Saint Collabo, I believe in you you).

Anyhoo, if you love to shred you should get one of these deeply concaved coffin-shaped decks, some of the money you spend will go to building a new skate park here in Portland.

Check out these quick paintings I made for the show. Let me know if you have a good home for any of them, eh?

I made a poster for this Surfrider benefit show.

Come if you can I’ll have a big box of NW surf art to sell with proceeds going to SurfRider.

Today I decided to take a break.

Here’s how I take a break:
Push my whip back (that’s my desk chair).
Stand up and walk away from the desk.
Take my clothes off in the office bathroom and put a wetsuit on.
Ask officemates if they want to go with me (no takers, just one gawker with a camera).
Ride the elevator from the 6th floor down to the lobby.
Walk two blocks to Portalnd’s Waterfront Park.
Go a little further to the Steel Bridge.
Walk out halfway.
Grab the railing and fling myself off the bridge.
Fall until I think I’m dead.
Splash.
Come up for air.
Swim to the shore.
Walk back to the office.
Shower in the bathroom.
Put dry clothes back on.
Sit back in my whip.
Get back to work.

Continue reading to see all the custom painted buggas.

Bwana Spoons

Naoya Ikeda

Martin Ontiveros

Kiyoka Ikeda

Le Merde

Koji Harmon

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