Native Shoes: What is your creative process?

Sebo Walker: When I go into the studio, it's either something I've pictured in my head or something that I saw that was inspiring, and sometimes my mind is void of any thought. And I'll just try something. I’ll think, “Oh, this color would look cool, or this texture would look cool.”  I don’t worry if it doesn't work out or if it makes a mess.

Being able to be free of any thought like that is helpful as an artist. Lately, I'm doing a lot of work to get into the process. I'm watching documentaries on other artists and hearing their creatives process, listening to music, and finding different things that can tip me into a creative zone. It's been a lot of fun and different projects or collaborations have been helpful to get me to find that spark.

Native Shoes: What is your creative process?

Sebo Walker: When I go into the studio, it's either something I've pictured in my head or something that I saw that was inspiring, and sometimes my mind is void of any thought. And I'll just try something. I’ll think, “Oh, this color would look cool, or this texture would look cool.”  I don’t worry if it doesn't work out or if it makes a mess.

Being able to be free of any thought like that is helpful as an artist. Lately, I'm doing a lot of work to get into the process. I'm watching documentaries on other artists and hearing their creatives process, listening to music, and finding different things that can tip me into a creative zone. It's been a lot of fun and different projects or collaborations have been helpful to get me to find that spark.

Native Shoes: How have skateboarding and art impacted your life? 

Sebo Walker: I started skateboarding when I was a teenager. Skating was definitely an outlet for me, a way to exercise, to focus, to learn, to challenge myself, to fall and get back up. I would film skate videos with my friends and it would be really motivating to capture a trick for a long time and then land it. Skating was a separate form of expression, especially when it came to making skate films with my friends. I see it as a form of art—what you're wearing, what you're doing, and then how it pairs with the music. It was really something artistic. 

From a young age, I had been painting and exposed to art through my mom who was a stained-glass artist and also a painter. She encouraged us to doodle, draw, and color. And because I was into skateboarding, I would paint on my grip tape which would make that board even more special.

Both skateboarding and art have allowed me to express who I am without boundaries or rules or someone telling me what to do.  

Native Shoes: How have skateboarding and art impacted your life? 

Sebo Walker: I started skateboarding when I was a teenager. Skating was definitely an outlet for me, a way to exercise, to focus, to learn, to challenge myself, to fall and get back up. I would film skate videos with my friends and it would be really motivating to capture a trick for a long time and then land it. Skating was a separate form of expression, especially when it came to making skate films with my friends. I see it as a form of art—what you're wearing, what you're doing, and then how it pairs with the music. It was really something artistic. 

From a young age, I had been painting and exposed to art through my mom who was a stained-glass artist and also a painter. She encouraged us to doodle, draw, and color. And because I was into skateboarding, I would paint on my grip tape which would make that board even more special.

Both skateboarding and art have allowed me to express who I am without boundaries or rules or someone telling me what to do.  

Native Shoes: How do you involve your family in your art?

Sebo Walker: I try to incorporate our kids into everything I do. I paint with the kids (Louis and Poppy) all the time because they love to do it too. I love watching these children you created see life from a brand new perspective. They see pure joy and freedom and I think that’s been really special for me to see. 

I started painting with Louis on my chest when he was a couple of months old. We'll listen to music and I'll let him hold the brush and play with it. I did the same with Poppy. As Louis got older, I let him jump on the canvas with washable paints! I love to see what he creates and I also love to see him be proud of what he creates. We hung his painting in our house and it just becomes so special to see your kids make something at a young age and then when they get older, we can show them, and it's really special. It's a fun creative project to do but can also become a tradition—painting together. 

Native Shoes: How do you involve your family in your art?

Sebo Walker: I try to incorporate our kids into everything I do. I paint with the kids (Louis and Poppy) all the time because they love to do it too. I love watching these children you created see life from a brand new perspective. They see pure joy and freedom and I think that’s been really special for me to see. 

I started painting with Louis on my chest when he was a couple of months old. We'll listen to music and I'll let him hold the brush and play with it. I did the same with Poppy. As Louis got older, I let him jump on the canvas with washable paints! I love to see what he creates and I also love to see him be proud of what he creates. We hung his painting in our house and it just becomes so special to see your kids make something at a young age and then when they get older, we can show them, and it's really special. It's a fun creative project to do but can also become a tradition—painting together. 

Native Shoes: What about your community inspires you?

Sebo Walker: Portland is definitely the kind of city that supports itself in the sense that there's a lot of small businesses and a lot of farmers' markets where you just meet super nice people that have their own craft.

There's also a lot of nonprofits that really care about Portland and want to do things and empower the youth. I’ve always felt that that strong sense of community here, which I haven't necessarily felt everywhere else. Here, I've been able to work with quite a few nonprofits, and I have my skate camps and art camps, and I've had youth art shows. You see these beautiful epiphanies in kids when they do creative projects. And so, I've really become drawn to empowering that. After going pro, I realized that it would be important to use that platform to drive home the deeper narrative of pursuing your dreams and believing in yourself.

Native Shoes: What about your community inspires you?

Sebo Walker: Portland is definitely the kind of city that supports itself in the sense that there's a lot of small businesses and a lot of farmers' markets where you just meet super nice people that have their own craft.

There's also a lot of nonprofits that really care about Portland and want to do things and empower the youth. I’ve always felt that that strong sense of community here, which I haven't necessarily felt everywhere else. Here, I've been able to work with quite a few nonprofits, and I have my skate camps and art camps, and I've had youth art shows. You see these beautiful epiphanies in kids when they do creative projects. And so, I've really become drawn to empowering that. After going pro, I realized that it would be important to use that platform to drive home the deeper narrative of pursuing your dreams and believing in yourself.

Native Shoes: How has your personal style evolved over the years?

Sebo Walker: I think my style has evolved in an interesting way over the last few years since becoming a parent. I call it, “stylish, funky dad.” I'll wear a lot of tie dye because you just get stuff dirty with kids, especially when they’re young. I've kind of embraced fatherhood in this way. I’m still very intentional about what I wear but I'll mix like sweats with like a nice shirt.  

I find it fun to intertwine my self-expression and the things that I see in fashion or different idols I see rocking cool stuff but make it super comfortable and versatile. I'm trying to mix a little bit of dorky dad swag with a little bit of style. 

Follow Sebo’s creative journey @seboart and discover how to create your way in the Apollo 10. 

Native Shoes: How has your personal style evolved over the years?

Sebo Walker: I think my style has evolved in an interesting way over the last few years since becoming a parent. I call it, “stylish, funky dad.” I'll wear a lot of tie dye because you just get stuff dirty with kids, especially when they’re young. I've kind of embraced fatherhood in this way. I’m still very intentional about what I wear but I'll mix like sweats with like a nice shirt.

I find it fun to intertwine my self-expression and the things that I see in fashion or different idols I see rocking cool stuff but make it super comfortable and versatile. I'm trying to mix a little bit of dorky dad swag with a little bit of style. 

Follow Sebo’s creative journey @seboart and discover how to create your way in the Apollo 10.