Gerald Bellmore grew up in Dudley, MA. His whole life he’s been two things; an artist and a rider. After attending Montserrat College of Art he graduated with a BFA in Illustration. He then found a head printing job for a silk screen business (where he still works) and spends “mass amounts of time in his studio painting my unique characters for upcoming shows and pre-ordered jobs from clients.”
AF: How did you go from being an artist on canvas to an artist on snowboards? How do the two differ?
GB: Being a artist with a canvas is the same as a boarder with his board or skier with skies. It’s like he's painting his masterpiece with his board for whoever is watching to enjoy.
AF: Do you ski/board?
GB: I skied for eight years when I was real young, then switched to boarding and never stopped. I ride a Forum 159 custom with a tone of wear and tear. Ride hard and dirty. I would go out with my friends when we couldn't afford a mountain pass and would just go around Worcester and find sick rail or kicker spots and crush it.
AF: Tell me about what you believe makes art 'great'.
GB: It’s how you, the artist, or the viewer make the art how it’s supposed to be. There is personal great art of an artist, contemporary greatness and perpetual greatness. It’s all the same in all types of art forms. It is how you, the viewer take it all in though. Sometimes an artist is fortunate enough to have a work be great in his or her own eyes or ears, in those around him and in the eyes and ears of future art lovers.
AF: Who are your favorite athletes? Why?
GB: Danny Kass cause he doesn't give a F. Gotta love that motto. It’s him doing what he loves and nobody is going to stop him. There is so much bullshit out in the world and he seems like nothing ever gets to him. Shaun White is always evolving his game and pushing new limits which I love it see ‘cause it reminds me of how an artist should always be breaking out of his own limits. Always enjoyed watching skaters like PJ Ladd rip up Boston and can't forget my G, Nate Keegan.
AF: You can hang out with any three people, living or dead, for dinner, who do you invite and why?
GB: Wow, any three people? That’s a tough one. There are so many people I would love to meet. I would have to invite Richard Pryor for the laughs. Michelangelo for the knowledge and Megan Fox for her beauty. Gotta have a hunny at the table for dinner.