Cops and Outlaws...

Hacienda...

Unlike any ranch I've been to...

Grand National this weekend...

GNRS... I'm looking forward to this one. Should be a great gathering of historic kustoms and builders. This weekend...

Jack Lalanne 1914-2011

Local fitness celebrity Jack Lalanne passed away this afternoon just over the hill in Morro Bay. For years Jack Lalanne would appear on the local news, and give a quick fitness lesson. Most of the time they were quite amusing, he would always talk over his wife, as he told her how to move her arms in a circular motion, the correct way. But this guy had a long productive life, and he will be missed.

Crew Cab...

Here is the other rendering that I needed to get done. Danny needed a drawing, to present a proposed build to a client of his. I am really having more fun than I thought I would with these quick loose sketches. I think that I'll keep it up...

Schlitz flashlight...

Cool flashlight today at the auction, I thought of you Mike, but there was an older gentleman there buying everything, and he wanted this lot way worse than anyone else.

Practical & stylish...

Ok, so this is cool. I ran across these pics a while back, and now I want one. I need to figure out how to make a bicycle gun rack for my 37' Hawthorne Zep. I'm sure it is not practical in this day and age, but it is cool. Red Ryder tote, I don't think you can get into much trouble with a BB Gun...

Generation gap...

My 80 something year old neighbour lady started laughing at me, as I gave my work truck a wash tonight. She can't understand why I would bother. In the past, other neighbors have told me, that she has said to them, that she thinks my old cars bring the property value down. I feel like telling her to mind her own business, but I just smile to keep the peace. I have a theory, that older people are just angry, that older cars are aging better than they are, and that this pisses them off. Although, I could be wrong, but one things for sure, I will take my old truck any day over her 87' Cutlass...

Today/Tonight

Get it!!!

Pine Street Saloon...

Here is my first quick sketch. The Pine Street Saloon, in Paso Robles, wants me to letter the name in the area above the windows. In order for the city to allow that, they want a visual idea of what it will look like. Sharpie marker and pastels. After all, photo shopping lettering onto a picture of the bar, would be too easy...

Drawing today...

Drawing today, I have to put together a couple of renderings for jobs today. I prefer to still use pen and paper, by hand. To me it feels a little more personal (although it seems to anger everyone in the print-silkscreen-business card field, as they have all forgotten how to use "camera ready" artwork). I love to put an idea down on paper, in this traditional way, because quite often, the artwork is saved, or even framed. You never know, where a quick sketch will lead...
Hitlers "quick sketch" on a cafe napkin, of what he thought the peoples car should look like... One of his better ideas.

Biking beauties...

It is refreshing to see proper retro beauties. Unlike the girls today, that attempt to replicate the look. No tattoo's, fake boobs or attitudes. Just beautiful...

Color Wheels

Tonight's Inspiration...

Just Beautiful...

Clint...

Birmingham Small Arms...

Ok, I have owned two BSA motorcycles & one BSA bicycle, but never one of the BSA rifles. I think that would be a nice addition someday...

Reasons for lifting...

I have never understood why people lift their four wheel drive trucks sky high. But perhaps I have found a benefit. My friends kid was driving, when a drunk driver crossed into his lane. The car went right under him, taking out both truck axles, but leaving the roof of the drunks car up under the truck. Crazy, and everyone walked away...

The end of the line...

As a young sign writing apprentice, my boss offered up a few lettering brushes from a shoe box full of unused old brushes. Back in the day, brush salesmen would stop by the shop, and sell brushes. They would always try to under sale the last guy, and make it easy to stock up in quantity. I can only remember one salesman selling brushes, and that had to be in 1989. Now, most sign supply company's don't even offer brushes, and usually seem quite amazed to hear that you hand letter signs. And once you find lettering brushes, they are poor at very best, compared to the old brushes. The three brushes above, are the last unused brushes that I have, I want so bad to use them, as they pull such a sharp edge, and have such a crisp snap. I hesitate though as these brushes are 40+ years old. You can't even get Grey Squirrel hair brushes anymore. These brushes I like to call "money makers" because they work so well, and fast (half the strokes, with the same result). Sometimes I wish that I had a time machine...

"The Preacher's Car"

The Larry Ernst 1951 Chevy Kustom built by Barris. In the long list of Barris Kustoms, this car to me, has always stuck out. And at that, the second version is the one that I love. Having seen this car in the "Little Pages" in my younger days (in black and white), I always liked the lines, but until I saw the "clone" in person, I hadn't realized how over the top the car was. What grabs me about this car is the colors used, they don't match. In fact, they don't match so much, that they look great together. Copper, gold and mint green, these colors should not work together. I love the idea of putting colors together, that should not work. Some of my best work, has come from pushing this concept. I have had customers that were appalled at the mention of using some colors together, and after, were blown away at the result. I'm sure that many of these old kustoms were much brighter than we know, from the old pictures we have seen. But to me, this car is always up top of "My List". These pics from Rik Hoving's site...

Fresh mountain air...

This picture makes me want to explore the mountains, and with this last weeks 75 degree weather, it feels like camping season is just around the corner.

Sunset Drive-In...

Copper under Clear...

Brian just sent me a pic of the fenders that I striped, after he cleared them today. I can't wait to see them on the bike, in the sun.