One of the raddest riders & artists we know.
We sat down with Lila, the artist behind our newest Art Tee. Not only is she a visionary artist, but she is also a shredder, community trail builder, and all-around inspiring human. Lila's been a pillar of our seasonal Lookbooks and even was the OG Creature in our first ever brand video - you know the one.
We visited Lila in her studio, which is full of magical nooks and crannies, laughs and nostalgic throwbacks (I think I need a lava lamp now) and learned some more about her and the inspiration behind the tee.
Tell us about your background and when you knew you wanted to be an artist…
I don’t know if there was ever a specific moment really. I’ve been drawing, doodling, and painting since I was a little kid. It comes in waves for me and I’ve been riding this current wave for a couple years now. I’m pretty new to the digital art world though. My friend Madeline Thunder lent me her iPad a few years ago and I had a fun time trying to figure it out. I eventually bought my own probably a year later so that I could make silly sticker designs. I’m using it for all sorts of stuff now and it’s become such a fun and versatile tool.
What is the process when you start a piece of artwork?
I always start with paper and a pencil no matter what the end result will be. I’ll do a rough sketch of the layout, and then another, more detailed pencil version. It’s the most natural way for me to brainstorm. If it’s for a t-shirt or sticker, I’ll take a photo of the drawing and trace it in on my iPad with a pencil tool and then clean it up in a different program with an ink tool. Music is a pretty big part of the process for me too so that’s always going in the background.
What was the inspiration behind Radish?
Tasha and I were talking about possible shirt ideas this past spring and she threw out the term rad-ish and I relate so strongly to it so we went with it. There’s no ego in getting radish. It’s not about doing the sickest thing- it’s about doing what makes you feel really good. Get rad, but not too rad. Go medium and go home, ya know? Don’t take it too seriously and do whatever makes you feel silly and happy.
How long have you been riding bikes?
I got my first mountain bike after graduating college. It started as a way to stay in shape and get through the summers while I waited for ski season and now it’s definitely taken over. It’s my favorite thing in the world.
Do any other sports inspire your artwork?
There’s probably some influence from skiing because that’s how I fell in love with the mountains and the flow state, but I don’t consciously draw from it as much. I do a lot of pondering and observing while walking Rooster so I guess dog walking is my answer… if dog walking counts as a sport? Dog jogging maybe?
Whats your favorite style of riding?
I love exploring the mountains on a bike so I’m just happy to be out there no matter what it is. The downhill is my favorite part though. I’m a pretty playful rider so anything with jibs and side hits is where I want to be.
How does art coincide with bikes and designing?
I use both biking and art as a form of creative expression. I would say my art is influenced pretty heavily by my mood and helps me to make sense of what I’m feeling. I really like trying to portray the feelings I get while biking through art. I also think that working on a design and progression on a bike are pretty similar in that they demand patience. You have to love the process and trust that it will all come together in the end if you just take the first step.
What is your most favorite place to mountain bike?
There’s so many amazing places to ride bikes! It’s hard to choose. Legacy and Big Sky are probably my two favorites though. I’m like 15 minutes from Big Sky and 5 hours from Legacy so I feel pretty lucky.
What is your favorite CC product?
This is another tough question. The Ghillie Suit? Just kidding. The Sun Dog shorts and the Cottonwood long sleeve are definitely up there, but the Sun Dog pants are literally the most comfortable pants in my closet, so I’m going with that!
What is your best crash story?
I had three crashes one summer that all happened the exact same way. I was on the most mellow section of trail, got distracted by the view, somehow rode right off the trail and went OTB all three times. After that third crash, I learned my lesson and I just stop now when I want to take in the view.
Who are some artists you look up to?
Mike Parillo, Josh Mecouch, and my brother. Mike Parillo has always been one of my favorites. His style takes so many forms and I really appreciate the variety. I value humor in art and Josh Mecouch always brings the most ridiculous, quirky ideas to the table. He inspires me to dig a little deeper and just run with whatever crazy thing pops into my mind. My brother has been working in the art world for almost two decades now and I look up to him for following his passion and making it work. I also have a lot of artist friends and acquaintances in my life and I’m not going to list them all, but I just wanted to say that I’m inspired by each and everyone of them for taking risks, making stuff, and putting themselves out there!
Any future plans for riding or artwork?
I’ve got some personal art projects in the works this winter that I’m really stoked for. I’ve been doing a lot of digital stuff lately so I’m hoping to make time to dabble more on the acoustic side of things. Winter is just starting in Montana so I’m currently trying to get excited about skiing, but my mind is still on bikes.
Anything else you want to add?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to do this! I feel so grateful that you were down to work with me and put some of my silly art on a t-shirt! It means the world to me. And for my parting words… Stay Rad! Ish.
Lila's Favorites
Get the fits to shred like Lila
Thank you Lila!
