When you think of Powell Peralta, your mind doesn’t go first to a trick or a video—it goes to a graphic. The torn-out flesh, the staring eyes, the crisp lines of the Ripper are seared into skateboarding’s collective imagination. That chilling and unforgettable image was created by Vernon Courtlandt Johnson, better known simply as VCJ. Though not a skater himself, VCJ became one of the most essential architects of skate culture through his unmistakable art style, blending medieval mysticism with sci-fi precision and timeless iconography. His work helped Powell Peralta become more than just a skate company—it became a visual religion for a generation of skaters.
THE RISE OF POWELL PERALTA
In the late 1970s, George Powell, an engineer obsessed with wheel chemistry and deck innovation, teamed up with Stacy Peralta, a pro skater with a nose for talent and a vision for the future. Together, they founded Powell Peralta, and what followed was a seismic shift in skateboarding. They weren’t just making better gear—they were building a movement. With the launch of the Bones Brigade, Powell Peralta quickly rose to the top. But they needed a visual identity that could match their ambition. That’s where VCJ came in.
Courtlandt Johnson answered a simple classified ad looking for an illustrator. What Powell got was an artist with a unique visual voice—a blend of Renaissance composition, heavy metal album grit, and fantasy narrative clarity. VCJ wasn’t drawing graphics; he was forging mythology. His boards didn’t just look cool—they felt like they were part of an underground order, a hidden language that only skaters could read.
VCJ’S ART CHANGED EVERYTHING
His most famous piece, the Ripper, debuted in 1983. It wasn’t just a logo—it was a declaration. A skeleton tearing through the fabric of reality to reveal something deeper, weirder, and raw. That graphic alone turned heads, but VCJ’s true legacy was built over time through an evolving gallery of unforgettable deck designs. Each board, from the dragon to the hawk skull, was a totem. Skaters weren’t just riding them; they were aligning with them. His use of stark contrast, ancient symbolism, and near-psychedelic detail created a look that stood apart from the surf-style illustrations that dominated the scene at the time. His boards looked like they came from another realm—and maybe they did.
VCJ’s work gave Powell Peralta’s team riders more than a name on wood—it gave them iconography. The Bones Brigade wasn’t just a roster; it was a pantheon. And when kids picked up a Powell deck, they weren’t just skating—they were carrying a piece of sacred geometry that made their tricks feel mythic.
In the early ’90s, as the Bones Brigade era slowed down and skateboarding changed directions, VCJ’s work slowly faded from production. For years, he remained largely unseen, a ghost behind the graphics, while Powell Peralta pivoted and experimented. For younger skaters who grew up in the 2000s, VCJ became an urban legend—some thought he had disappeared completely, others weren’t even sure he existed. But skateboarding’s roots have a way of growing back, and as nostalgia surged and the old-school decks made a comeback, so did interest in the man behind the myth.
Eventually, Powell Peralta brought VCJ back into the fold. He returned to quietly begin illustrating new designs, reinterpreting old ones, and re-establishing his voice in a world that had changed—but still craved his signature aesthetic. The new boards didn’t just rehash old hits. VCJ evolved, blending modern touches with his timeless linework, and proving that true vision never fades. Today, he continues to contribute to Powell’s reissue series and modern lineup, his work bridging generations with seamless flow.
A SHARED LEGACY WITH CALSTREETS
At CalStreets BoarderLabs, we’ve watched generations of skaters fall in love with VCJ’s work—first as riders, then as collectors, then as fans. These decks don’t just sell out—they speak out. Whether it’s a Ripper hanging in a living room or a McGill skull flying down a hill in Vancouver, there’s something undeniably magical about VCJ’s creations. We carry them proudly, not just because they look good on the wall, but because they feel like a rite of passage.
Powell Peralta’s story is a cornerstone of skateboarding’s evolution. From Bonite to Bones Bearings, from Chin to the Brigade, it’s a legacy written in sweat and ink. And Vernon Courtlandt Johnson, with his arcane flair and monk-like dedication to the craft, gave that legacy its most recognizable face. His art is the thread that ties the past to the present—and at BoarderLabs, we’re stoked to help keep that thread strong.
