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A blank deck is a big, flat canvas you can ride as well. Maybe you're a parent with a child who never stops doodling, a creative beginner or someone buying a gift. Either way, learning to draw or paint your own skateboard is easier than it looks. This guide covers where the art goes, what to buy, how to seal it and what to do about grip tape.
The underside. A ridden skateboard has grip tape on top. It's a rough, sandpaper-style surface that keeps your shoes in place, and paint and pens won't sit on it. So the artwork goes on the bottom of the deck, where pro graphics live.
The exception is a board that will only ever hang on a wall. Then you can decorate either side and skip the grip tape. Decide which one you're making before you pick up a brush, because it changes the order of everything else.
Pens are quick and tidy, which suits kids. Brushes cover big areas better. Most people end up using both.
Drawing boards are made to be drawn on, which makes them the simplest starting point for kids and first-timers. Pick one up, grab some pens and get going.
Blank skateboard decks are plain wood. They suit you if you want to use your own paints, plan to ride the board, or want full control of the finish.
Skateboard art kits bundle a deck with pens or paints, so they make an easy gift because everything arrives together. Venom Skateboards also does art deck and pen sets. For parties, clubs or a group of siblings, look at the art deck multi-packs.
Size matters if the board will be ridden. For riders under 5ft, the junior and mini blank decks are usually the better fit, typically around 7.25 to 7.5 inch wide. Ages 10 to 13 often suit a 7.75 inch deck. Most teenagers are happy on 8.0 inch, and adult beginners usually start at 8.25 inch. It isn't a strict rule, but it's a good place to begin.
Check the size before you paint. Once a deck is painted it's no longer unused, so it won't qualify for a full refund under our returns policy.
Need ideas? Our guide on how to design your own skateboard is a good place to start, and the blank deck DIY build guide covers the build side.
Sealing is the step people skip and regret. Skateboards get scuffed, scraped and rained on. Without a clear coat, even good paint will chip and fade.
Apply two or three thin coats of clear sealer, letting each dry fully. Thin coats beat one thick one, which can run or go cloudy. Test the sealer on a patch of the same paint first, as some sealers make certain pens bleed. If that happens, start with a very light mist or brushed coat.
Water-based varnish is the easier choice indoors and with younger helpers. Spray lacquer needs good ventilation and is best left to an adult.
No sealer is chip-proof once the deck is being ridden. Expect some wear on the edges and the tail.
For a board you'll ride, the grip tape goes on the top, so it never touches your artwork. Let the paint and sealer cure fully first. Then lay the deck art-side down on something clean and soft, like a folded towel, so you don't scuff the finish while you work.
Take care when trimming the overhang along the edges, as that's where paint chips first. Our guide on how to apply grip tape to a skateboard deck covers the full method, and you can pick up skateboard grip tape in the shop. Once the grip is on, you can assemble the skateboard.
Want art on the top as well? Grip tape will cover it, so that only makes sense on a display board.
For a display piece, paint either side, seal it well and skip the grip tape. Our guide to wall-mounting a skateboard deck shows how to hang it.
For a board you ride, put the art on the underside and the grip on top, and accept that it will pick up scratches. That's part of skateboarding. If you want the art to stay perfect, make a second deck for the wall.
You can also use skateboard stickers alongside paint, on either a ridden or a display board.
Yes. Paint the underside, seal it, then add grip tape to the top. Expect some scuffs over time.
Acrylic paints and acrylic paint pens are a good choice for wood. They dry quickly and layer well. Whichever you use, seal it with a clear varnish or lacquer.
For a ridden board, the bottom, because grip tape covers the top. For a wall piece, either side works.
Yes, if you want it to last. Sealing protects the design from scuffs, moisture and wear.
Under 5ft, a junior deck is usually best, at around 7.25 to 7.5 inch wide. Ages 10 to 13 often suit a 7.75 inch deck. If you're unsure, call the shop on 01837 55778 and we'll help you choose.
Yes. Seal it, let it cure fully and use a proper mount. Our wall-mounting guide walks you through it.
Ready to start? Shop Drawing boards for the easiest first project, or shop Blank skateboard decks if you want to paint from scratch. You can also browse Skateboard art kits if you're after a gift that's ready to go.
