8/27/06 - Long Beach, CA— AirbrushTour regulars might remember our announcement for the Motorcycle Art Show at the Queen Mary (7/20/06). It was being promoted at the LA Calendar Show when we caught wind of it. Being a fan of motorcycles and motorcycle art, (and even guilty of doing a few motorcycle paintings myself a while back), I was looking forward to this show. Mix it up on the Queen Mary, toss in some incredible weather, and you have a great setting for a relaxing day of checking out the art. So given that, we made the trek to Long Beach in our relentless pursuit of the some of the best within the motorcycle artists community; all in one place.

The Motorcycle Art Show at the Queen Mary was the brain-child of SoCal artist Charlie Patton, and turned out to be a fabulous display of legendary talent. We hob-nobbed with heroes and legends in the motorcycle community - three straight from the licensing department of Harley-Davidson…

…including two guarding the front door. Timing more than anything attributed to running into Scott Jacobs (Left) and David Uhl (Center) as the show’s official greeters. David, it turned out, was taking advantage of the great natural lighting while painting plein air.

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Let’s get the show started with Charlie Patton, the SoCal artist and visionary that put The Motorcycle Art Show at the Queen Mary and this group of artists together. When asked about motorcycle and art, he says “When I look at motorcycles, there’s a rhythm to them that’s like a musical note. It’s similar to an old muscle car, which has beautiful lines. Custom motorcycles have that same coolness.”. We agree. Charlie paints a variety of subject matter including bikes and babes in his own style. His paintings are symbolic of a lifestyle, and that certain cool he mentioned earlier. His work is unique and full of color. With canvases ranging up to 10’ x 12’, Patton’s oil and linen paintings depict scenes familiar to any motorcycle enthusiast.

“Biker in the Den” by Charlie Patton (© Charlie Patton - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

“Long Beach Annie” by Charlie Patton (© Charlie Patton - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

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Authorized Harley-Davidson artist David Uhl brought out a huge selection of art from his studio in Colorado. It was great seeing David again - the last time we saw him was at the Laughlin River Run back in April. Obviously, I’m a huge fan of his art and always welcome an opportunity to see it again up close.

If you haven’t had the opportunity, you can do the next best thing - click here to visit David Uhl online.

Here’s one to wet your palette. “First Turn” by David Uhl (© David Uhl - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

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Legendary biker photographer, Michael Lickter was on hand with some of his great biker lifestyle shots. His Image Gallery includes photos of custom bikes, builders & celebrities, and events such as Sturgis, Daytona and Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. He also has an impressive collection of Vintage Art limited edition Arlen Ness giclée art prints. Michael has shot them all; Bourget, Chica, Jesse James, Martin Bros., David Mann, Trotta, Yaffe - well, you get it. It they are biker royalty, he’s taken their picture. Most are on his site, just a click away — visit Michael Lickter Photography online.

“Puppy and Bear Butte , Sturgis, SD., 1994″ by Michael Lickter (© Michael Lickter - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

Check out his store with tons of great books and posters.

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Speaking of photography, Sara Liberte showed her very cool imagery. I’ve been a fan of her work since first seeing it in Easyriders last year. Sara is a professional photographer specializing in motorcycle and portrait photography. Her photos have appeared in leading motorcycle publications, including Easyriders magazine, In the Wind, and Iron Works, as well as in ads, marketing materials and annual reports. She is also staff photography editor for The Cycle Source Magazine. Sara’s fine art photography work focuses on image fusion, combining images of women with motorcycle components. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries, and she is in the Laconia television show “Riding with Rossi” which aired on the Travel Channel. Learn more about Sara Liberte and her art at SarLiiberte.com.
Her site is beautifully designed as well and limited-edition prints are available at her store.

Image Fusion - (IF1) by Sara Liberte (© Sara Liberte - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

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Taking pause with sculptor Jeff Decker just in time for Kathy to snap off a quick pic. I’ve been a fan of Jeff’s work for years. Somewhere, I have packed away some magazines featuring his motorcycle theme sculptures. This was a great opportunity for me to see work up close.

His motorcycles works are amazing. They are beautifully sculpted with much more detail than I expected, yet they leave a bit to your imagination. Click here to check out these and more.

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Tim Walker is a self-taught Michigan artist whose work of corporate and private commissions covers a variety of media ranging from acrylic and oil paintings to 3D sculptures to plaster figures to glass mosaics. During his more than two decades’ career, he has created work including humorous illustrations, life-sized celebrity sculptures, wall-relief mosaics, large-scale people and pet portraits.

Mosiac by artist Tim Walker

Click here to visit Tim Walker online.

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Fabrice Spies, a California artist known as “bibi” and fond of historic buildings and old world architecture, displayed many of his large paintings at the show. Born in Grasse and raised in St Cézaire ,located in the south of France, Fabrice Spies grew up inspired by the Provence. This self-taught artist started painting with water colors at the age of 13, yet quickly moved to the medium of acrylics which allowed him to pay more attention to detail. Fabrice moved to California in 1999. He currently lives in Hollywood where he continues to practice his skill. His change in location from the countryside of France to the Los Angeles metropolis has had a direct influence on his art, as he has commenced a new series of paintings. Here his fluid landscapes merge with the architectural makeup of Downtown. Color and movement are the key contributors to each of Fabrice’s paintings. His talent for precision has led to commission work for homes as well as corporations. His paintings are also available in limited edition Giclée print.

“Le Staples Center #28″ by Fabrice Spies - Acrylic on canvas 48″ x 60″ (© Fabrice Spies - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

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And last, but not least, authorized Harley-Davidson artist Scott Jacobs filled the entire south wall of the boiler room with fine art giclees of his new and previous art. I’ve been a huge fan of Scott’s work for a long time, and this was the first time I’ve had a chance to connect with him since an Airbrush Action Getaway back in Las Vegas a couple of years ago.

Many think of Scott as a motorcycle artist, and rightfully so. He’s done tons of memorable licensed Harley-Davidson motorcycle theme paintings which appear on everything from posters to puzzles, and pretty much everything in between. Well, many of his newer paintings include a series of game room wine art. It was exciting to see the progression in his imagery in works that are less motorcycle specific. His most recent work has more to do with the lifestyle of riders - the billiards game, poker, martinis and cigars “After the Ride” for example hooked me instantly - almost all the things I love in one image - perfect. It makes you want to build a game room just to showcase these paintings.

“After The Ride” by Scott Jacobs (© Scott Jacobs - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

He’s got an impressive collection for wine lovers too.

“Summer Red” by Scott Jacobs (© Scott Jacobs - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

But what made Scott famous to us biker-type folks is his paintings of motorcycles - Harley-Davidson motorcycles, like the couple below;

“Knucklehead” by Scott Jacobs (© Scott Jacobs - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

“Top of the Line” by Scott Jacobs (© Scott Jacobs - displayed on AirbrushTour with permission of the artist).

We had a chance to sit down with Scott over lunch and talk art and airbrush (Scott is an avid Iwata fan). The possibility of us swinging by his studio came up. Keep posted and we’ll bring it right here to you. Want more in the interim? Check out Scott Jacobs Studio online.

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Artists at large (left to right); David Uhl, Tim Walker, Charlie Patton, Fabrice Spies, Sara Liberte, Jeff Decker, Scott Jacobs and Michael Lickter. Click their name to visit their site.

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Overall, the Motorcycle Art Show at the Queen Mary was a great show - certainly from a spectators perspective. A bit eclectic, but the art was great. Call it variety. Admission was free - and priceless at the same. Those of you who saw the show first-hand know it was a collection of world-class art that any motorcycle enthusiast would love. Personally, I hope they do this again. If they do, we’ll be there.

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Light! Camera! Glamour!
The photographs of George Hurrell where on display at the Queen Mary. I’ve been a Hurrell fan as far back as I can remember. I was inspired by his work when I painted the Hollywood Video murals, so seeing his original photos up close was a real treat for me. This is “old school” stuff here; large view camera and a couple lights - no Photoshop or magic filters here. This guys is legendary! When it came to Hollywood, Hurrell shot all the big names; Marilyn Monroe, Bogart, Jane Russell (wow) — You were no one unless Hurrell took your picture. he created many famous stars with his beautiful BW images.

We were told that the Hurrell show runs for another couple weeks. Contact the Queen Mary for additional details.

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Well, that’s it for this week, but we have a lot in the works, so we’ll be in touch soon. We’ll definately let you know the next time we find an art show on a cruise ship.

Cheers for now —

Automotive Spraying Equipment Technology— The newest version of the ASET Air Report is now available, and Airbrush Tour readers get it first. We’ve been working hard on this issue and you’re gonna love it. Twelve cram-packed pages of wisdom and insight from four top automotive airbrush artists who are deeply involved in Southern California’s Kuston Kulture scene; Craig Frazer, Ryno Templeton, Steve Vandemon and Debra Mahon are a creative mix. Check ‘em out and then check their web sites (their links are embedded in the PDF).

This issue also showcases the hot rod eye candy from Creative Concepts, and the Craig Fraser’s ever insightful Painter’s Corner — all that and more. Get your FREE downloadable copy right now before it goes to press: It pays to get your Airbrush Tour RSS feed!

Click to download Volume 3 = 1.8 MB

— VOLUME 3 —
• So Cal, So Kewl
• Creative Concepts; A Class Act
• The ASET Store
• Engineered Atomization
• Artool Knockout for 2006
• Badass Airbrush Cleaning Kit
• Painter’s Corner

Previous issues of the ASET Air Report (volumes 1 and 2) can be downloaded by clicking here. Here’s your chance to catch some great articles and interviews with Dean Loucks, Chris “Bones” Tolson and Dave Kindig.

Click here to visit ASET’s web site.

Saturday, July 15, 2006 / Day 1 (officially). Part 2 of our 2006 LA Calendar post brings much more; more bikes, more babes, and lots more incredible airbrush. What a combination. Take that and mix it with incredible weather, a beautiful view across the bay, the Queen Mary within eye shot, and you have an incredible combination.

Enough with the words already. Let’s get to the pics of some of the most colorful bikes I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing up close. So, with that my first real stop revealed a ton of incredible airbrush art on display. Motorcycle tanks and fenders ready to go - Kenny Morris style…

Kenny’s shop Hot Rods-N-Hogs, specializing in custom paint and fabrication, made for an impressive display of sheet metal and bikes.

They feature several different paint schemes and styles in their display. The one thing they all have in common is quality.

Whether it be hot red flames and skulls…

Screamin’ fast contemporary graphics,…

…or you want to tag a brand - These guys have your style down. And after you’ve seen all their stuff…

…check it out - more cool custom sheet metal! These guys clearly stay busy.

I especially like the old skewl Harley - not that you see many in this condition.

… complete with custom shifter. Really though - these flames, like a classic bike, will never go out of style.

Ya, they got you covered when it comes to paint… Old skewl kewl to techno-cool, and pretty much everything in between. Want to see more? Check them out at Hot Rods-N-Hogs in Stanton, California or online here.

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From my old stompin’ grounds (well, sort of…) comes Ascroft Motorcycles. These came all the way from Salem, Oregon to show their stuff. these bikes are beautifully detailed with just tastes of ultra cool pinstriping hand-laid by Mitch Kim out of Portland. I know of Kim’s work well. In fact, he’s striped a couple of my personal bikes a few years back. He’s a Northwest Legend with a reputation for laying lines long and straight…

and he clearly does a nice job with the fancy stuff too. This guy is focused.

Anyway, not to digress as I focus on the pinstripes, because these bikes would rock without the fine touch of a smooth brush. The art is just icing on the cake. It draws your eye nicely to the louvers on the tank, or long lines running parallel along the frame. Deemed “The Flyer”, Ashcroft himself says this bike was designed as a canvas for Mitch Kim’s artwork.

Ironically, somehow I missed getting more shots of this bike. Click here to see more of this retro bike reflecting early “Hot Rod” influences at their web site.

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Okay, here’s a chance to redeem myself for my lack of Ascroft pics…

Rocky Felix, owner and builder at Rocky’s Pure Kustom is sick - real sick… and it shows. He’s built one of those bikes that demands a second look… and a third even. This bike is a fine tuned tuned machine created from passion. Rocky tells me that did it all; design, build, paint, seat - the works! Believe it or not, this is also his first build.

The Pure Custom looks great from any angle.

I kept coming back to this bike. It’s beautiful lines… the paint - it’s all there! This thing is outrageous to say the least.

The front of this bike is about as sleek as they come…

…and this rolling sculpture is art from just about any angle.

Speaking of angles… this would have to be my favorite - engine running and gears engaged.

Rocky is also a master motorcycle seat fabricator. Click here to check out his work online. Kudos to you Rocky. We can’t wait to see your second attempt at bike building.

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So, we’ve seen cool and old skewl, and you’re a fan of wicked. Fear not - Wicked Brothers’ 2005 Pro Builder Class winning bike “Lethal Strike” was on display, and more often than not, it was a hard bike to see up close.

I had to swing by several times to get some clean shots of this one. Seems that whenever I tried to get close, it was already buried with a crowd of fans.

Patience prevailed and I was fortunate to get some great shots and look at this bike up close.

Lethal Strike is a seriously wicked bike, complete with a real rattle snake as part of its design.

The subtle pinstripes set everything off nicely.

Click here to get Wicked online.

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Joe Guzman and the crew from LA’s original Cycle Studio were on hand. These guys are regulars at several of the shows we attended this year. Even so, each time our paths have crossed, they’ve managed to bring out fresh goods to please the crowds…

…like this trick truck with some smooth flames.

…or hot baggers ready for the long haul. Joe paints it all.

Hmmm. Nice business card holder.

We showcased some of Joe’s work on our Laughlin post or… check out his site for more.

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The distressed look is new. I saw this look on a couple bikes at the show, but this trick ride built by JIMS is well executed.

A closer look gives you an idea of what could be the next big trend in paint. I noticed Nubbs painted a “distressed bike” for Bill Murray on American Chopper. The Caddy Shack theme-bike was built by Orange County Choppers and aired Monday August 14, 2006 TLC. Anyway, it’s an interesting look when done right.

DreamCraft…

While this bike is a bit lean on airbrush paint…

… it more than makes up for in innovation and cool. I couldn’t not share it with you.

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Keeping with tradition, there is never a shortage of beautiful ladies at these shows. Remember, this is “The Calendar Show”. With that, we’ll call this post finished, but stay tuned for our next LA Calendar post — we’ll reveal the The Crypt (an outrageous bike built of bones), some Bourgets bikes full of color and accessorized with beautiful ladies, a couple theme bikes from Stones Choppers out of Las Vegas, some trick stuff from Mercury Customs, and an insane quantity of cool shots of some of the wildest airbrush art of two-wheels anywhere…

Until then, we’ll leave you with this…

…because as these guys know; bikes, babes, and airbrush. Life is good.

Cheers for now —

A.D.