What does the name Amarishaiant mean…and why the name for your custom decks?

Well the name Amarishaiant is my 2 nieces Amari, Shailyn and my 1 nephew Antonio. They also inspire me watching them learn something new, everyday life is so exciting to them so that why I used their name for my decks. I put it together Amari-Shai-Ant and I got Amarishaiant. It's pronounced A-Martian, I just used the spelling for word play because Martians are different and when you feel like you stand out in the crowd, when you don't follow the “in” crowd, you’re an outcast. I think it's important to be different, so therefore I am Amarishaiant...

Shai

Antonio and Amari

How long have you been creating art? Designing decks?

I've been creating art since I can remember. I always had paint and a sketch pad, and I loved getting messy! I got my first easel when I was five and it's been on since! I've been designing decks for about a year and a half now, but I can't see myself doing anything different!

What are some of your interests besides designing?

Well besides dancing, which I love (I thought I was going to make that my career), I just fell in love with drawing. I try to draw at least every night before I go to bed. And photography; I think it's something great about seeing the world through the lens of a camera!

How do you feel about being a female designer in a male dominated industry?

Well I really never paid to much attention to it! But from the shows that I’ve done, the guys have shown me a lot of love, so I guess it seemed to work in my favor. Especially Kendal and Quinn from Solefood, they really helped put me on- inviting me to shows. A lot of people know of them, so doing shows with them helped me out a lot, and they really promoted me and helped me make a lot of contacts, basically how to make this a business in the future!

Are you a skater yourself?

Ok I’m no Stevie Williams, but let's just say I can kick, push and coast! lol

Are there any particular skateboarding companies whose decks you admire?

Yes I love Black Label decks. The boards are simple, and to the point. My favorite has to be the black label bar code, the blue and black one. Their boards are so light and comfy, so as a female that's important to me!

Where do you get your inspiration for the designs from?

I'm inspired a whole lot by photography. When I take pictures I use them for a new concept for my decks. But I think sex appeal is something amazing and some of my decks you can see that sex appeal coming through. I try to put a piece of me into my decks, so however I’m feeling I try to put that into the deck that I’m making at that time...but I love brainstorming so whatever concept pops into my head I type it into my sidekick so when I’m blocked I just flip it open and pick one.

Which is your favorite customized deck?

My favorite deck has to be the bath tub deck. That's the first one I ever made. I spent so much time making it perfect I stripped it, sanded it, and drew the background. I asked my best friend to get into the bath tub naked, then I filled it with a bunch of my kicks! And I made the board from that concept, once I made that board I knew I would never make one like that one again!

What’s your favorite pair of sneakers?

Well I love them all...lol. But my favorite pair would have to be the black and white Team Jordan’s I got for Christmas when I was 13. They were a half size too big, but I loved them and wore them anyway. My mom had lost her job that year around Christmas, and that was the only gift she got me and even though it hurt her pockets she bought them for me. She knew just how much I loved Jordan’s! I kept those shoes forever. They were a 6 and I’m a 5.5 in Jordan’s, so I kept them fresh for years. One day my mom’s twin sister asked me to donate some of my shoes and stuff- which was hard for me to do, come on give up some of my shoes?!...lol.... but I just thought back to that day in the mall when my mom scraped her pocket to buy them for me, and I knew it was the right thing to do. So I gave them and a few others away, and I've been giving sneaks away since then!

What connection do you find between sneakers and decks?

I think decks and sneakers go together like hand and foot, you just can't have one without the other. I think the whole “sneaker head” has brought a whole new generation and culture to skateboarding. The whole Nike SB wanting to have the freshest kicks.....even if some might say how the people who hopped on the skateboarding trend just now are posers…I used to have the same thoughts, but now I look at it like it's respecting the art of skateboarding and skateboards. I think it's a sport that grabs a hold of a lot of people and no matter what age, sex or race, it speaks to them making them feel like they are a part of something legendary because skateboards and sneakers go back a long way!

How does your love for sneakers influence your art and concept?

Well I think about sneakers all day long, so every time a new pair is released, or I discover a pair that I didn’t know was even out, my mind starts racing. And I'm not always like “oh my god, I have to have them”, but I find myself saying “oh my god, look at the colors…they would be so sweet on a board!” Or I think, “how can I add these sneakers into a deck?” So when I see a sneaker, that’s what I do- concept about them and how just adding that one pair would just make my whole deck that much better!

How are you marketing and selling your decks?

Yes, from time to time I sell them but none of my originals. When I’m at shows people ask to buy them, but I always ask them to give me a concept and I’ll make them one. I’ve duplicated one of the boards for this one lady because she just had to have the poker deck! I do most of my marketing and selling through networking at sneaker art shows. I hand out business cards, or word of mouth, and of course-myspace where most of my work is displayed, you can view all of my skateboard decks at myspace/i_am_amarishaiant

Do you plan to continue this into a career or business? Or is it just a hobby?

Well, it started out as a hobby but I really can't see myself doing anything else, so once I’m done with school I definitely want to turn this into my career, whether it's my own company or working for one.

What is your primary goal in this industry?

To one day have a successful skateboard deck company; if not, to just be happy in whatever I do with my art, just as long as I'm creating art!

Anything interesting you'd like me to know about yourself?

Lol....yea I wanted to dance back up for Janet Jackson!