As we gear up for each new season, we meticulously craft our lineup and dedicate considerable thought and care on infusing our graphics with creativity, thought-provoking allure, and an unapologetic dose of badassery. There's so much that goes into a ski and snowboard topsheet design, so rather than keep it a mystery, we've interviewed all of the artists we worked with for our 23/24 line. 

This year's Myth All Mountain Snowboard features a custom graphic by our very own Ambassador, Andrea Slusarski, also known as Drawing From Nature. Jacinta Gordon had the pleasure of sitting down with her to delve into her identity, artistic process, and the inspiration behind the 2023/2024 Myth design. 

J: Can you share with us your name, pronouns, and what Coalition Snow skis or snowboard you ride?

Andrea: Andrea “Slu” Slusarski (she/her) - I ride the Coalition Myth and Sojourner Splitboard and Powder Solid

J: Can you tell me a little bit about who you are as an artist and your art as of late?

A: My art as of late has been really curious about shapes, lines, and colors and how those simple elements can connect and communicate with viewers. A combination of fine art techniques (like screen printing and plein air drawing), I like to use digital processes to create layered mashups in my visual art forms and designs.

I’ve made most life decisions based surrounding my love of snowboarding. Moving to Colorado in my early twenties to now living life as an artist and art professor (so I can take Shredbatticals) are all a part of riding my snowboard as much as I can.

When I’m not snowboarding, I live and work out of my home studio in Denver with my partner Keenan and our Bernese Mountain dog Lucy.

J: What Coalition Snow graphic did you create, tell us about your inspiration and what it means to you…

A: I created the MYTH “Nice n’ Steezy” - It was first inspired by my winter plein air sketchbook lines. The mountains you’ll see in the design were drawn on location (en plein air) while I was snowboarding in Arapahoe Basin, CO aka núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (ute) territories, Taos, NM aka Taos Pueblo member of the Eight Northern Pueblos, and the High Sierras aka the me-wuk and miwok territories. The rest of the elements you’ll see were inspired by the elements of Art (Line, Shape, Color, Form, Texture, Value, and Space). As an art teacher, this is the language I’ve taught students how to create and discuss their artwork. This design has lots of elements of my life and my history with art, I’m so stoked to have them on one of my favorite boards to ride. 

J: When you are creating, how do you get into the zone?

A: My favorite place to create is out in nature while I’m snowboarding or riding my bike. Those little drawings and moments are my creative fuel to work back home in my studio space. 

I’m an early bird & I love working in my studio with coffee in the mornings. 

My music choice is all over the place, but I’ll always go for some ABBA.

J: Tell me a bit about your relationship with Coalition Snow, and what was special about this project in particular?

A: This past winter, Jen surprised me with the Myth snowboard during the Coalition Snow Far Out trip in Niseko, Japan. It was both of our first times seeing the design on the board and I’ll never forget hugging and happy crying in our Japanese onsen outfits in the hotel lobby.

J: What are you passionate about in this world and how does that relate to the Myth graphic you created?

A: I’m passionate about helping others see what makes them creative and how to bring more creativity into their lives. Growing up, I poured over snowboard designs. Cutting them out of magazines and filling sketchbooks with my own ideas. My hope in all my snowboard designs is to connect to that creative culture that is snowboarding and add to the richness of artwork found on boards. 

If you're inspired by Slu's creative approach, join her in Lamu, Kenya for a creative retreat. Get all of the details below and don't miss her blog on how traveling grows our creativity.