Richard “French” Sayer is becoming one the most recognisable artists in skateboarding, his dark illustration style has leant attributed itself to boards, clothing lines, posters for skate companies, exhibitions, musicians and more. He’s the owner of Witchcraft, 1939, and works closely with KR3W, Santa Cruz, Volcom and many more. He’s recently moved to Melbourne, and so I spoke to French just before I went to bed, as he was just getting up…
Morning French
Sorry, took me a minute to make a cup of tea and get my computer out, I went to the shop to get milk and listen to some morning Motörhead.
It’s okay, bro. Very upsetting to hear about Lemmy passing. You a big fan? Seems music inspires you a lot in your work.
Motörhead are a massive part of my life, metal is a massive part of my life. I’m totally devastated by the news of Lemmy dying. I know people don’t live forever but it feels like as time passes the true spirit and masters of the art form I love and have loved since childhood are being torn away. I guess as well it reminds me that I’m not 15 anymore and we’re all mortal.
I’d say art, music, skateboarding and travel have made up a major part of my life experience and loves so far over the past 35 years of my existence.
It’s weird, right? Rockstars just aren’t supposed to die.
Yeah, when Jeff Hanneman died I was fucking gutted.
Death to False Metal, more than just a Weezer reference right?
It’s more of a Manowar reference that false metal people have picked up and run with. I think Manowar are pissed people quote them incorrectly.
Right. Anyway, it’s an honour to talk to you, I’ve been tearing your graphics apart for a few years now. That 9″ Goatwitch is my favourite shape to date, and the image is rad. So where did it all start for you? Did you get onto this path through skating or art predominantly?
I guess I’ve always been into drawing and making art. It was really encouraged by my Mum when I was a kid. She worked at an art school and makes her own art and my grandfather was really creative as well. So I think it runs in the family.
I’d say that skating came a little later, but it definitely came with art and the two grew together. My dad was really supportive of skating and I think he was really into it, because like making art it was an outsider activity. My dad never liked the idea of sport or just following what “normal” people did, so I think as soon as I showed interest in something different he was stoked.
So, how’s 2015 been for you?
2015 was great, really busy, got a lot done. Made a ton of new work, travelled, skated and had fun!
My Screaming Hand graphic is going on a board and on griptape. Oh, I just did a board for Santa Cruz too, for Eric Dressen… I guess that’s pretty big news for me. It comes out next year, I just got it done before Xmas.
So how does it work with these sorts of jobs? Do you work closely with the skater, the company, or is it mostly your call on the design front?
I worked really closely with Eric on it, he had totally control. We’ve met and skated together a few times and he’s the raddest guy ever. So quiet and humble, he just wants to skate, hang, drink coffee and see new stuff. He was in Melbourne for the Screaming Hand Exhibition and we hung out a fair bit, got food, went skating, etc; and he asked me then if I would do a board for him. I pretty much shit my pants. It’s a dream come true, doing a board for a legend like Eric Dressen and also working for Santa Cruz.
I’ve made work for NHS for nearly 10 years now, mainly Creature and also Indy and MOB. NHS have always given me freedom to make what I want and trusted my judgement and working with Eric was great. We just back and forwarded emails and came up with a rough idea, I sketched it out and he was stoked!!
There’s gonna be a little video made to go with the launch of the board, with an interview with Eric and myself about working on it.
Such a crazy end to 2015 !!
You recently moved to Melbourne, how’s it going out there? Warm? How has being in Australia affected your work? Did you ever learn to use that airbrush?
We moved to Melbourne in November 2014, and it’s been really great being here. I wouldn’t say that being here has affected my work in a negative way, it’s been great. Life here is more relaxed, I can afford to have a studio space, I’ve made a lot of work for Aussie bands and brands and the internet makes everything really simple. Australia is a long way from everywhere but I’ve still been to LA with Kr3w and went to Japan to see the guys at Felem and also have a stand at Tokyo Art Book Fair. I have been using the airbrush, perhaps not as much as I wanted, but mainly for backgrounds. It’s actually a plan of mine to get to grips with it this year.
I do miss being close to europe, but to be fair if something came up that I really need to be in Europe or the USA for I’d be able to fly.
Yeah, I totally get that. Europe is a very special place, so much versatility. You mentioned KR3W. That’s been a big one for you right? What’s the Rights Refused collection all about?
I’ve been working with them for a little over a year and they’re really rad to work with. Everyone there is on the same level and after I went to LA in Jan 2015 to have an exhibition with them and meet all the dudes at the office it definitely secured my mind that I wanted to work with them. Brad, Z, Brownie, Sparks and all the lads are in it to make rad stuff and all have the same mindset. The Right’s Refused thing is sort of a “you support us, we support you” arrangement I guess. They work with artists like myself, BB Bastidas, Eric Dressen and Sketchy Tank, all liked minded creative people but on different paths. They’re awesome, they flew me to LA, we had an exhibition, they look after with any other events ideas I have. For example, they helped me put on a few zine events I did here in Aus and also with getting to the Tokyo Art Book Fair. They helped me make products and prints I wanted to sell in Japan. I got to make some other rad stuff with them, like the colab between them and FAST TIMES skateshop here in Melbourne. They also got me to make shirt designs for them and some other rad promo products like car airfresheners and socks
I saw some promo stuff for that exhibition. It looked insane. I’d love to have gotten my hands on one of those huge black banners.
Yeah they were woven blankets!! Mike Z did so good at helping me get those made.
So, I first rode a Witchcraft deck when my friends opened a shop (Smugglers Skate Supply) a couple years ago and absolutely loved the shape, not to mention the art direction. You run Witchcraft Hardware with Alex Irvine, right? How did you meet him and how did that lead to starting the company?
I met Alex years ago in Glasgow through mutual friend and then ended up going many trips with him over the years and when he moved to London we naturally became really good friends.
I was going Witchcraft myself for years and when it came to me travelling more and not really being in the UK, it just seemed right that Alex would help take over and run things as he was ready pretty much team manager and shot photo’s with us all the time.
Also he’s a really good laugh….
What’ve you got going on on the Witchcraft front at the moment?
Jake Collins and Juju Benoliel are coming to Australia for 2 weeks to skate with Erik Cole our Aussie rider. They arrive on the 14th Jan. Plus, the new boards arrived just before Xmas.
Let’s talk 1939, another of your board companies, specialises in making boards for bands. What inspired you to start that project?
Me and Dave Sweetapple came up with the idea when we were drunk and that’s pretty much it! We decided we wanted to make boards with bands we like so it gets done properly, with good wood, good shapes and graphics that aren’t just shit re works of album covers that look bad as boards.
I love the Doomrider board. So how does a band earn a board?
I guess Dave decides who we want to work with, he asks them and if they’re keen we just do it! But that’s a really simple version, we get bands asking but often it’s just not a fit for what we do and we have asked bands and they’ve said no, so it works both ways. 1939 is pretty fun. We’re gradually changing the name to TANK though, as we’ve had a few issues with 1939 as a name.
Well we think it’s a great project, whatever the name.
So, what do you think is right and what do you think is wrong with skateboarding in the modern day?
Everything and nothing.
It’s all opinion based, there is no wrong or right in skateboarding. Its free, you can do what you like. That’s why people skate isn’t it? Or is that just me? If it needs it, it will come. That’s the way I look at it. There’s no point in stressing, it’s meant to be fun.
It’s just skateboarding.
Good answer. So in your opinion, what are some of the most exciting things coming out of the scene at the moment?
What’s important to me, isn’t important to the next person.
One man’s treasure is another man’s rubbish.
Would you like to thank anyone?
Thanks to everyone.
You can find information on all of this and more at the following links:
Funeral French
Witchcraft
1939
