Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!

2009 has come and gone. While some cool things happened in 2009, I’m not sorry to see the end of it.

On to a new year, on to a new decade. May the next 10 years be joyful and prosperous to all.

Bringing Kulture to a Technical School

I recently accepted a teaching job that will start in September. I will be teaching Intro to Visual Communications at a technical college here in town, Its only one day a week, but its a start. I’m still searching for another job or jobs for the rest of the week.

Last Tuesday, while I was at the school filling out the hiring paperwork, the Dean asked me if I could give a non-computer demonstration of something artistic for the VC students at some Open House thing they were having on Saturday. I think she had something like sketching in mind, but I suggested pinstriping. Didn’t think they’d go for it since I explained the paints were kinda smelly, but they went for it! The only “stipulation” being I had to explain how it tied in to graphic design, or visual communications.

Saturday morning, I hauled in my paint kit, sample panels painted by a few different artists as well as a couple of my own, a few blanks, and some of my books on pinstriping, truck lettering, Kustom Kulture and hot rod history. Gave a talk on a brief history of line art from the art paintings in the caves of Lascaux, to the roman chariots, to what eventually evolved in to modern day pinstriping. Explained how it ties in with graphic design, how spatial awareness, layout and knowledge of color theory is helpful, etc. Brought out the paints and did a little striping. Managed to get a few of them to pick up a brush and give it a try.

Oh yeah, I was able to give a couple examples of “brand identity” too. Almost everybody recognized Rat Fink and Von Dutch’s “flying eye” graphics, even if they didn’t know what the significance was.

Overall it was a fun experience. Met a few of my future students, a few of the school’s “reps” and a couple other teachers. Hopefully the exposure to some Kulture will do them some good.

If you think models are really that perfect...

Ask a person who spends hours a day retouching high fashion and other type images. We know a model's every dirty little secret. We just cover them up.

2 1/2 Years Later...

I am the admin for an art forum called Sketch Kult which has a fantastic Pinstripers' forum in it. Back in October of 05 somebody came up wit the idea of doing a panel swap, with a lucha libre theme. I had mine about halfway finished when the 'deadline' hit but had hit a wall with it. Luckily the person I was to send it to, Ray, has an abundance of patience. So, January of 2008 I finally get this finished.

I had a lot of frustration with this piece. The original parts from 05 are the mask in the center, and the border. I Couldn't figure out how to finish it. Even considered painting a different thing to send to Ray. Finally I just went for it.

Ray is going to be the sole owner of something that has old art and new from me. There's not another piece of mine out there like that.

*%#@!! Rain!

Dammit!! Had my creative mojo going this afternoon, spraying up a few panels to get ready to paint. Unfortunately my only place to spray up panels right now is outside. Got a couple pieces of aluminum ground out and ready to put candy colors on, took one outside to start... soon as I did it starts SPRINKLING!!!!

I know we need rain so I'm not going to say I wish it wouldn't... but could it not have waited for a couple more freaking hours???

AAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!!!

Oh well, on the bright side I got some clear on a couple other panels, and got a few coats of red on a new skateboard deck. Just need to keep an eye on the next break in the weather.