Transworld RIDEbmx.com

Fat Tony
2010-03-03 14:23:48 | 2400 views | 11 Comments SHARE

A few months ago I saw a pencil drawing posted on Facebook of a flatland rider. The drawing was really good, and every couple of weeks another one popped up. I shot over a message to Niko, the creator of the images, and a little while later he sent us these ten caricatures for an awesome e-art gallery. Check out Niko’s work inside, as well as a quick interview with the man himself.

Do you have some of your own BMX-related art you’d like to share? Send it over! We’d love to check it out, and we may be able to do something with it here on the site. E-mail fattony@transworld.net.

*Click any of the images to see them larger. Scroll to the bottom for an interview with the artist.

Interview with Niko by Fat Tony.
(I have cleaned up Niko’s answers since his English isn’t that great.)

Name: Javier Nicolas Del Real Navarro
Age: 16
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco. Mexico

How long have you been riding, and how long have you been drawing? How did you get into both of them, and what made you start combining the two?
I have been riding for about two years, just for fun. But flatland has definitely become a big part of my life. I want to put the Mexican flatland scene on the map, but that’s another story… I started drawing before I started riding flatland. I have been drawing my whole life—for as long as I can remember. I have been drawing with no one’s help. Just me, my pencil, and some paper (or sometimes a wall). At one point I had quit flatland for a while so I had a lot of free time and thought, “Why don’t I draw some more?” In the past I preferred to ride instead of draw, so I decided to draw one of my flatland idols. Later on I kind of became famous on Facebook because the drawings got spread around and a lot of pro flatlanders from around the world commented on them.

What made you start this series of flatland rider drawings?
Just a lot of free time with nothing to do…

Do you ever hope to make drawing more than just something to post on Facebook?
In the future I hope to do work for a clothing or design company in flatland—whatever can be tied into the flatland scene. I don’t care if they pay me. I don’t think drawing is a job or anything, but it could be cool.

Do you do any other types of art besides pencil drawings?
I paint, and do comics when I have time. This past week I made one for my high school. But besides that I don’t really do any other kid of art. I don’t have a Web site or anything with my work on it, but I’d like to make one in the future.

What kind of reaction have you received from the pros about the drawings you do of them?
They all thanked me (except Adam and Ucchie). No one got mad or anything like that (I don’t think…) And they all put comments on my Facebook like, “Keep riding!”, “Thanks homey!”, “Amazing!”, etc… I’m so grateful for it all. Thanks!

What is your current BMX scene like in Mexico where you live?
I haven’t ridden in like three months because of a little injury, so I’m not riding right now. But before I was one of the beginners. I don’t ride at a very high level, but I’m not stupid at all. There are like seven riders in Guadalajara that ride flatland hardcore. One of them is “Gabo”, my flatland sensei. He is the best right now in terms of flatland. I’m think I’m like the seventh best rider, haha.

Since I’m sure it’s rare that pros visit your area, if you could hang out or ride with one pro rider, who would it be and why?
That’s funny that you ask because a few weeks ago Terry Adams came here and the entire Guadalajara flatland scene came to watch him ride. In fact, Terry autographed his own drawing! That was so freaking cool! I was shocked. But going back to the question, I think it would be insane if I could ride with my flatland idol Matt Wilhelm. He is the best for me. I like his style a lot and hope that some day I can pull spinning tricks as fast as him. I also like how he keeps his brakes on and is like, “I won’t take my brakes off, because that’s my style. If I don’t want to use them, I just don’t pull the lever.” I know that like 99 out of 100 flatland riders around the world think that brakeless is the future, but I don’t see a problem with using them. I will be pro someday, with brakes…I promise.