The True True Fire®

We were discussing the subject of money with a friend the other day. Actually, more specifically, how banks - being experts on cash - know the differences from real money and counterfeit money. Our conversation went in the direction of “how do they identify real from fake at a glance” and the answer was simple. Bank tellers are taught to recognize and identify real currency. They don’t confuse the truth of authentic money with counterfeit. And so it goes with talent as well. Lately, there seems to be a plethora of DVDs, tools and materials professing to be authentic, and yet, it turns out they are simply regurgitated, second-hand, trickle-down copies of their originals - counterfeits.

In today’s world it seems almost too easy to take something, copy it, put your label on it and call it your own. We see it a lot - did you know that you can now buy fake Ferraris? Some (mostly those doing the knock-offs) say it’s a good thing (you know, good for consumers - lol) like it’s in our best interest - we think not. After all, the copies are more-often-than-not, not as good, and they often sell for the same prices, and sometime even more, as their ‘real’ counterparts. And all the while the consumer gets less.

So, back to originals… when airbrush artist Mike Lavalee introduced us to the art of airbrushing realistic fire a few years back, it was a big hit. Shortly thereafter, he showed his technique on television, and then shared his technique through instructional DVDs and templates available from Artool®. The TRUE FIRE® Series have been a big hit ever since. In fact, they’ve been such a successful phenomenon, that it seems that every one and his brother is trying to get in on the action. If you see imitators out there, let it be known that they are just that - imitators. Do you want to learn from a second-hand source - or from the original? Ironically, like we said, we’ve seen most of them, including the TRUE FIRE® series, and Lavallee’s are still the best from what we can tell and if that doesn’t work for you, we’ve got a ‘nicely priced’ Ferrari for sale…

BONUS!!! Also included is the instructional Artool TRUE FIRE® Template DVD by Mike Lavallee (shown at top). On this DVD, Mike shares the tips and tricks on how to create your own realistic fiery effects.

Mike Lavallee is setting the custom paint world on fire with his TRUE FIRE®; effect. Mike has created and perfected the technique for rendering dramatic realistic interpretations of actual fire burning down the surface of motorcycles, automobiles, boats and aircraft. His combination of layering candy colors, and his use of the Artool TRUE FIRE Freehand Airbrush Templates® are HOT! HOT!! HOT!!!

Since his appearances on “Monster Garage®”, Mike Lavallee and his Killer Paint Airbrush Studio, have been honored to participate in The Learning Channel’s® wildly popular “Overhaulin’®” and “Rides®” television programs. Mike credits these television programs for helping spread the word of his TRUE FIRE® techniques. Mike has dedicated over 25 years to his artwork. Along the way he has touched many lives, spread many smiles, inspired awe and lived life to the fullest.

The eye-popping, ever-popular Artool Freehand Airbrush Templates® for the crowd of kustom automotive painters is now in a new size! The new Artool MINI SERIES Freehand Airbrush Templates® are PERFECT for all 1/8th, 1/10th and 1/12th model scales and are especially HOT! HOT! HOT! for RC cars, model airplanes and trains, model cars and kits, figure models, body art and a myriad of kustom automotive applications!

After airbrushing with the Artool Freehand Templates® (FH 1, 2, 6, 7 and the RV Master Series) to render fire on hot rods and motorcycles, Mike Lavallee decided to work with Artool® to create a unique set of templates for realistic flames: TRUE FIRE®. He designed these templates to help create his TRUE FIRE® effect. With an art knife, simply cut the tiny connecting tabs on each TRUE FIRE® template to reveal 18 positive/negative shapes and you are ready to go to work.

Learn more about the templates and video at ArtoolProducts.com.

Click here to track back to The True Fire Reference Photos DVD available from Lavalee.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am and is filed under Artists, Industry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.