Designing the Art of Winter Kylie top sheet

Grace Skis was contacted by Something Independent about participating in the 2012 Art of Winter Celebration, in downtown Denver in conjunction with the SIA Snow Show.  We were presented with the challenge to create unique top sheet art, while staying in the Art of Winter theme.

Nothing says winter in Colorado to me like the serenity of the snowfall through a lodge pole forest, with the jagged edge of the continental divide peering through.  The subject of the image was set. 

 

To begin, I made a number of sketches, defining the composition of the art and how it will lay across the tails.

   

Once the sketch is approved, I scan it into the computer, clean it up.  With the digital art approved, I run tests with the settings for  the Epilogue laser etcher with bamboo scraps.  It is a fine balance between the Power and Speed, to get the right richness of burn.

 
With the settings ready, we take our pre-cut Kylie 196 Bamboo veneers and burn the custom tail art.
 

The top sheets ready, we are ready to press the Art of Winter Kylie 196, with a special 3" carbon strip.   As part of the Art of Winter brand auction, they were on exhibit at Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar across the street from the SIA Snow Show.

The winner of the auction will receive a custom pair of Grace Kylies, and so the Kylie 196 Art of Winter skis are being taken down, mounted and will be out on the snow soon.