Skate Ink

Jay Vollmar is many things to many people. Professionally, he's an accomplished (if a bit modest) illustrator, artist and designer. He's a tireless roller derby fan, and boyfriend of Rocky Mountain Roller Girls' She Who Cannot Be Named. He's the renowned designer of Rocky's iconic bout posters and rock posters for countless bands, and spends plenty of time in Denver, CO and on the road photographing roller derby. Jay enjoys skateboarding, surfing, heavy metal, garbanzo beans and beer. You may know him as the artist behind the cover art for the book Down And Derby.

He's also the brains and talent behind the new derby skatewear line Skate Ink.

No stranger to art, Jay's childhood Milwaukee home was filled with it, and his mother's involvement in their local art scene made an impact. His work took on a DIY, handmade form from the beginning. "I was a skateboard kid too so board graphics and skate magazines and the whole DIY punk aesthetic kind of pushed me towards design and photography. I taught myself how to screenprint and eventually started making rock posters."

Jay ran into derby when Rocky Mountain was first starting, through his day job as Art Director for Denver's weekly paper. "...we ran a story about this new sport. Next thing I knew my girl friend joined and has been skating ever since." It didn't take long for Jay's superfan status to cement, even as part of a brand new league.

"When Jen started I had serious doubts about this whole deal. Especially when I went to an early practice and barely anyone could even skate. But after the first bout I was hooked."

Jay has had the printing equipment for years, and had toyed with the idea of printing his designs on clothing. It wasn't until he was commissioned to design the logo for local derby shop Derbyville that he decided to do it and set up his online shop.

Skate Ink is a family microbusiness - Jay does almost everything, including hand-printing each order as it comes in, and Jen/She Who helps make the decisions when it comes to shirt styles and colors. When asked if they had any aspirations to expand the business into a wider fashion line, Jay was clear about how much the business resembles derby's DIY genesis and values.

"I didn't really start with any big aspirations other than being involved in the scene in a way I can contribute. I just kind of consider it printing my art on practical stuff rather than fashion or a clothing line. Looking at the way I dress I find any reference to fashion pretty funny though.

Skate Ink is going to stay all derby. I don't really see it expanding into other areas at all, just other derby related projects."

As busy as Jay is between his day job, his art work, and his derby design and photography, I asked if there was anything he hasn't done yet that he hopes to in the future.

"I just want to take a picture as good as Axle Adams or Joe Rollerfan! And a book, I love books so if I could put one out some day that would be cool."

As for what's next for Skate Ink, Jay has a few more exciting items coming. "I've got a couple of limited edition silkscreen posters in the works. I'm hoping to have those ready soon. Maybe Skate Ink leisure suits or top hat and capes, that would be rad. Outside of derby I make robot sculptures and stuff for gallery shows. Maybe I'll make a Derby Bot."

For more of Jay's work, be sure to visit www.JayVollmar.com, or check out his incredibly unique derby photo collection here.