Are you on the lookout for an entertaining and creative project that doubles as home decor or a thoughtful gift for a friend? Look no further!

This skateboard deck art project is an absolute blast! As someone who enjoys skateboarding, I’ve seen some remarkable skateboard deck art, and I knew I had to try and create my own to use as wall art.

Let’s dive into the 13 steps you’ll need to follow to create your very own customized skate deck!

How to Make Skateboard Deck Art in 13 Steps

The 13 steps to create skateboard deck art

Step 1: find an old skateboard to recycle into skateboard deck art

In search of boards for my project, I scoured a few nearby thrift stores and stumbled upon some rather worn-out boards.

You should be able to find a board for $25-$30, which is a great deal! It’s even better if you already have an old one lying around at home that you can use.

Step 2: pick a theme for your skateboard deck art

Before starting your project, envision how you want your skateboard to look when displayed on your wall at home. Consider the colors, style, and overall vibe that you desire.

For my board, I aimed for a beachy/surf theme with a predominantly light color scheme, featuring an abundance of blues and greens.

I didn’t have enough media on hand to complete my board, so I took to eBay to search for a solution. I managed to find four 2016 SURFER magazines for only $23, and they worked wonderfully!

Step 3: remove hardware

To begin the customization process, use a wrench and a Phillips screwdriver to remove the wheels and hardware from the board.

Unless you plan on reassembling the board, you can discard these items.

Step 4: sand the deck

To begin preparing the board for customization, pick up some 80 grit sandpaper and an electric sander. Trust me, an electric sander is a must if you don’t want to spend an eternity sanding manually.

It’s best to do this in a garage or outdoors as the sander can get a bit messy. Sand the deck of the board until all the art is removed, and you’re left with a smooth wood finish. Don’t forget to sand the edges too!

There’s no need to worry about sanding the top of the deck (where you stand to ride it).

Step 5: clean board with tack cloth

After sanding the board, it’s essential to remove any leftover dust from the sander. Using a tack cloth is an effective method for achieving this.

Simply run the tack cloth over the sanded area a few times to ensure that all dust is removed. This step will help to ensure that your finished product looks polished and professional.

Step 6: spray paint your board

With the board prepped and ready, it’s time to apply some spray paint to the sanded and cleaned area. Of course, if you’re fond of the natural wood look, you can absolutely leave it as is.

Personally, I decided to go for a clean and modern look to match my design style, so I spray painted mine white. It only took around five minutes, and the results were fantastic!

Make sure to allow a few hours for the paint to dry completely.

Step 7: create a skateboard deck art design plan

To start building your mixed media pile, take some time to gather personal items that you would like to include on your board. I went through some old documents and found plane tickets, postage stamps from Greece, film, city maps, and photos that I wanted to incorporate into my design.

Next, grab your magazines and start flipping through them and tear out the pages of media you like. These will all come in handy as you start to lay out your design.

Step 8: test out your skateboard deck art design

With your pile of media and theme in mind, it’s time to start compiling everything onto your board!

To begin, I laid out everything I liked on my kitchen table and started figuring out what worked well together. I found that tearing the paper rather than using scissors gave it a more natural and cohesive look.

As you start to place your pieces on the board, keep in mind the overall composition and balance of the design. Take your time and experiment until you’re happy with the placement.

Step 9: finalize your skateboard deck art design

After experimenting with different layouts, it’s time to make a final decision on what you’re going to go with!

Take a photo of the layout so you can refer back to it later. I found myself referring back to my photo many times while applying the layers.

Once you’ve made your final decision, it’s time to start adhering the media onto the board!

Step 10: mod podge media onto board

Now it’s time to start adhering the media onto the board! To do this, you’ll need a small paint brush and a mini squeegee.

Start by applying your base pieces and then keep adding and referring back to the photo you took earlier. Use just a little bit of Mod Podge at first and then add more if needed with the paint brush. The squeegee is very helpful in keeping all of your media smooth, so be sure to use it to get rid of any air bubbles or wrinkles.

Step 11: add any paintings, drawings or extras over the media

Get creative with some final touches to make your board unique and personal!

You can draw or paint some designs over a section of the board or even experiment with dripping some paint for an added cool factor. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with it!

Step 12: spray a sealer coat over your board

To protect all the work you’ve done, it’s important to add a top coat sealer spray. I used Mod Podge Gloss Clear Acrylic spray to give my board a shiny finish. Make sure to do this outside or in a well-ventilated area and let it dry completely.

The Mod Podge spray I used worked great on the board except for one spot where it changed an old, thin plane ticket from white with writing to a gray color. Other than that, it sealed the multi-media and board very well. Next time I’m going to try Minwax Polycrylic waterbased wood spray instead. I think the water base will work better and not change any of your media.

Step 13: add a hook & finish up

Add a small hook to the other side of your board that way you can hang it up on a wall and show off your art! I recommend using D-ring hangers. If the screws are long cut them a little shorter to assure they don’t go through your board.

And you are finished!!

What you’ll need to design skateboard deck art

• Skateboard
• Wrench
• Phillips screwdriver
• Mixed media (magazine clippings, photos, tickets, etc,)
• Mod Podge
• Paint brush
• Squeegee
• Electric sander
• 80 grit sand paper
• Tack cloth
• Spray paint
• Top coat spray
• Hook

This particular do-it-yourself (DIY) project is so much fun! I highly suggest trying it out for yourself. Personally, I plan on creating a few more to hang up consecutively and also as gifts for my friends. With this project, the creative possibilities are endless, and the results are usually impressive no matter which direction you take it.

One of the project’s perks is how cost-effective it is! Even more so if you already have the necessary materials at home.

I hope this 13 step-by-step guide has been useful to you. If you happen to create your own project, I would love to hear about your experience and see your work! Comment below, send me an email or tag me on Instagram!