The Knuckle Reaper was originally from my October 2010 Halloween header art. It got more reaction than any other art on the blog. Should I do a T-Shirt of it?
Showing posts with label MY ART. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MY ART. Show all posts
Tattoo Progress
Ryan sent a progress report on his new tattoo.
The Knuckle Reaper was originally from my October 2010 Halloween header art. It got more reaction than any other art on the blog. Should I do a T-Shirt of it?
The Knuckle Reaper was originally from my October 2010 Halloween header art. It got more reaction than any other art on the blog. Should I do a T-Shirt of it?
Old Chopper Drawings
When Greg Parigian sent his sculpture photos, I asked if he could send some of my old drawings that I haven't seen for years.
I haven't seen the top one since about 1969. He sent a copy of the bottom one a few years ago and it's been posted before.
The chopper out front is a trike featuring a surrey type top and wooden pickup box in the back. Until now, I completely forgot this drawing. It's funny how the memories come back.
I'm 99% sure this of an actual trike. There's are just too many details that I know I didn't make up. There was a Asian biker who went by the nickname "Chink" that had a trike like this. He and some other bikers lived in an old two story house across from the Jack in Box on the corner of Flower st. and Century Blvd in Inglewood, CA. Greg and I once rode our chopped Sting-Rays over to check out their bikes. The bikers got a real kick out of our bicycles and took turns trying to ride them. If only we took a camera. I Google mapped it, and it appears the house and a remodeled Jack in the Box are still there.
I haven't seen the top one since about 1969. He sent a copy of the bottom one a few years ago and it's been posted before.
The chopper out front is a trike featuring a surrey type top and wooden pickup box in the back. Until now, I completely forgot this drawing. It's funny how the memories come back.
I'm 99% sure this of an actual trike. There's are just too many details that I know I didn't make up. There was a Asian biker who went by the nickname "Chink" that had a trike like this. He and some other bikers lived in an old two story house across from the Jack in Box on the corner of Flower st. and Century Blvd in Inglewood, CA. Greg and I once rode our chopped Sting-Rays over to check out their bikes. The bikers got a real kick out of our bicycles and took turns trying to ride them. If only we took a camera. I Google mapped it, and it appears the house and a remodeled Jack in the Box are still there.
Rumors of My Demise
....have been greatly exaggerated
In case you wondered.
I've been out of town with no web connection.
Time to get it in gear.
In case you wondered.
I've been out of town with no web connection.
Time to get it in gear.
This Month's Header
I admit it, I cheat. It's very time consuming to start from scratch, so I recycle images whenever I can.
This art was originally done in 1990 for an Art department Christmas display when I worked at Hughes Aircraft Company Space and Communications Group.
Ink up a chopper riding Santa and a few bikes, then work some Photoshop magic.
P.S. Sorry for the lack of post. I've been out of town for two weeks and it takes me awhile to get back in the blog groove.
Born-Free 3 Art
It's Official
Today, Mike and Grant announced the use of my art for the Born-Free 3 show flyers and ad promotions.
I submitted a few versions as the contest went on. After they picked it, I worked with them on recoloring it. I then re-worked it in higher resolution for printing etc.
It's an honor and I am more than happy to lend a hand to their amazing effort to put on what is becoming the best chopper show in the USA.
For more show info and updates, click this: Born-Free 3
I'm thinking about doing a post on the complete process. From the roughest sketch, to the color choices, influences, and final completion.
Today, Mike and Grant announced the use of my art for the Born-Free 3 show flyers and ad promotions.
I submitted a few versions as the contest went on. After they picked it, I worked with them on recoloring it. I then re-worked it in higher resolution for printing etc.
It's an honor and I am more than happy to lend a hand to their amazing effort to put on what is becoming the best chopper show in the USA.
For more show info and updates, click this: Born-Free 3
I'm thinking about doing a post on the complete process. From the roughest sketch, to the color choices, influences, and final completion.
This Month's Header, Freaky Forks
I try to relate each header's image with something to do with the month. This time it's the cover from Roth's Choppers Magazine Nov. '69 and the drawing I did of it sometime in 1972.
For all you Choppers Magazine fans, here's the actual cover. I recently posted a few Goose-Necks, so why not a Freaky Fork?
Regardless what you think of the strange fork, it's a cool image, and it inspired me. India ink and a black color pencil on illustration board. 1972.
Here's a better look of the featured bike.
Too bad the forks got cropped in the magazine's gutter. I'm not sure his chic was dressed for a putt.
Then as now, guys have always been look'in to be different but, there's a point when it gets ridiculous. Thankfully freaky forks never really caught on.
I'm Back
and ready to roll.
I should be posting again on a regular basis.
I really need to make a new header for October!
I should be posting again on a regular basis.
I really need to make a new header for October!
This Month's Header
This month marks a couple of anniversaries.
Thirty five years ago, I bought my first motorcycle, a 1971 XLCH Sportster.
September 19, 1975. Downey, Ca. This photo wouldn't exist if it wasn't for my friend Zach Ananias. I was taking pictures the day I bought it when he happened to be driving by. Also, In the background is my first car, a '71 VW Super Beetle. In many ways, the Seventies, for better or worse was my era.
I therefore dedicate this month to First Rides and that great feeling you got when you took your first ride or finally got a bike of your own.
...and oh yeah... it's 2 years for the blog on the 8th.
Thirty five years ago, I bought my first motorcycle, a 1971 XLCH Sportster.
September 19, 1975. Downey, Ca. This photo wouldn't exist if it wasn't for my friend Zach Ananias. I was taking pictures the day I bought it when he happened to be driving by. Also, In the background is my first car, a '71 VW Super Beetle. In many ways, the Seventies, for better or worse was my era.
I therefore dedicate this month to First Rides and that great feeling you got when you took your first ride or finally got a bike of your own.
...and oh yeah... it's 2 years for the blog on the 8th.
Lack of Posts
For the about the last week I've had a stiff neck and a shoulder ache that's made it very uncomfortable to sit in front of the computer for any length of time. I have no idea what brought it on. Bad posture at the computer or during sleep? I'm much better now and will be posting again. Getting old sucks!
These old drawings somehow seemed appropriate.
Who the hell knows what's going on inside? circa 1974.
These old drawings somehow seemed appropriate.
Who the hell knows what's going on inside? circa 1974.
This Month's Header
Freedom
Whenever the question comes up, why ride a motorcycle?, many answer, Freedom. Now, that can be debated, but within some fairly practical limitations you are free to ride the bike of your choice. As a matter of fact, in today's world of mass management, I'm almost surprised a motorcycle is a legal choice of transportation at all. It's even more surprising that it's still legal to build a wild contraption yourself.
The bikes above are from the 4 categories you'll most likely see on this blog. Antiques, Dressers, Bob Jobs, and Choppers. It's all about Choice... your perfectly Free to chose other styles or makes.
Happy Birthday Nation!
This Month's Header
Only one more month until...
While I'm not an official sponsor of this years show, the art for This Month's Header is my way of showing support.
Here's the official flyer/poster for the show. For the latest info go to: http://bornfreeshow.blogspot.com/
Could there still be anyone unaware of this show?
Be there, or be square!
This Month's Header
Spring has Sprung
Some things don't change
This month's header is from a drawing I did in 1970 (only two things were on my mind). Long forks and small front wheels ruled the day. Indian style girders were very popular and off beat colors like pink or magenta started showing up. The theme of a chopper rider and a hitchhiking woman is a recurring theme throughout chopper/motorcycle history. Later art by David Mann or the end of Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man come to mind. (8.5 "x 11" ink and color pencils)
Some things don't change
This month's header is from a drawing I did in 1970 (only two things were on my mind). Long forks and small front wheels ruled the day. Indian style girders were very popular and off beat colors like pink or magenta started showing up. The theme of a chopper rider and a hitchhiking woman is a recurring theme throughout chopper/motorcycle history. Later art by David Mann or the end of Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man come to mind. (8.5 "x 11" ink and color pencils)
A Heartbreaking Valentine's
I prefer to keep the blog mostly isolated to Motorcycles, but need to share what we've been through the last week.
Peachey
We left town last Sunday morning for what was supposed to be a week's get away. On Monday at 5:30 p.m., we received a call from the neighbor who takes care of our cat (Peachey), saying she's coughing, lethargic and lost her appetite. We drove (500 miles), home immediately, saw what looked like blood from one nostril, and took her to the Vet ASAP the next morning (Tuesday). The Vet wasn't sure it was blood, checked her breathing, heart, took blood, urine and later feces samples, gave her a B-12 and antibiotic shots. They thought she was basically healthy and we would have wait 3 days for test results. When we got home from the Vet, Peachey immediately ate. We were happy, but knew she's a nervous eater. I then set up a my studio so she'd have a warm comfortable place to rest.
The next morning we cleaned her up (her nose had more dried discharge), got her to eat and drink a little. She also had her favorite treat, water from a tuna can. It was a warm beautiful day, so we let her go out. She started acting quite normal, visiting some of her favorite spots, wanting to be pet and rolling on her back enjoying the sun. In the late afternoon, she went back to the studio where she slept on my chair for another night. Our hopes were up and we thought she'd surely be better in a few days.
She acted just like this that day
In the morning my wife found Peachey laying on the floor and got her to eat a little. Her nose looked completely fine but, she seemed tired, so we let her rest (back up on my chair), and hoped it was just a reaction to the shots. Around noon or 1 p.m. she wanted to go out and huddled in a spot in the sun for about a half hour. She then went back to my chair and I tinkered in the studio and kept an eye on her until about 3:30 p.m. when I left for a couple of hours. I returned at 5:30 p.m. and checked on her (sleeping), went in the house until about 7:30 p.m., then checked her again. She was laying on the floor on a piece of carpet, so I tried to get her to come over to eat or drink. She got up to walk, and sort of limped and then sat by the door that leads to the garage. I opened the door to show her that it was too cold, but she quickly walked in and laid under my car. I picked her up to take her back to the studio, and could see that she was having problems with her right front leg. I hoped it was a just a cramp from sleeping. I told my wife, and we tried to give her food and water with a dropper. It was 8:00 p.m. and my wife tried calling the Vet, but that's when they close. We still never had any of the test results. We took her inside the house to watch her through the night. I made her a bed in the house and we watched her not sure what to do next. She would occasionally look up like she was startled but would not focus on us or my hand as I moved it. She seemed scared at times and was possibly hallucinating. She was now mostly laying on her belly with her arms forward and limp. She then surprised us by getting up quickly and walking through the kitchen into the living room. She went farther than I would have thought possible before collapsing and letting out 2 terribly sad moans as I picked her up. We knew we better get her emergency care, hoping that if she was hydrated and nourished she would be better. My wife drove as I held her in a box in the back. She was staring up at me, but because of the dark and the motion of the car, I couldn't tell how well she was breathing. Luckily, we were the only ones at the emergency center so were checked in quickly at the reception desk. They quickly took her away for oxygen, an IV to hydrate, and for another blood test. 5-10 minutes later, they called us in. She was laying on the table gasping for air by a oxygen mask, and they had shaved her in some areas for examining. The doctor told us she was bad off, had some bad bruising at the previous test and injection sites (from a blood disorder). She told us that Peachey was going into cardiac arrest, and told us our options. She looked so bad, we had to put her down. It was now around midnight as we left numb and shaken with an empty box. The drive home was surreal. I was relieved that the streets were empty as I slowly drove home. We stayed up until 3:30 a.m. and then tried to sleep. I got maybe 1-2 hours of bad sleep, and my wife got none. The whole next day we were like zombies. We are heartbroken.
Peachy was a Scottish Fold (folded ears), with straight ears. Born 2/15/98. Her breeder sold her when she was six months old to a woman who had her about a year. That woman gave Peachey to a neighbor (the house behind her in the photo above), who kept her maybe 4-5 months. I took care of her when he was away. but after awhile she'd eat at his house and spend the rest of the time at ours. Because of this, we offered to take her in. Actually, she adopted us and fit in perfectly.
Peachey was one moment a coy and sensitive female, the next, an adventurous tough and extremely fast hunter. She constantly hunted and ate all types of bugs including flies, moths, and spiders. She ate birds (even a humming bird), and only left a few feathers, the legs, and a beak as evidence. Once, she brought home two large rats in the same day.
Peachey had to be in on any activity, conversation, or visit from friends and neighbors. She would run to our call, or along with us like a dog to the amazement of others. She seemed to like large dogs and sniffed nose to nose with several. I once saw her do the same with a skunk. Two other skunks didn't like her advances, and she paid for it with sprays in the face.
We were told she got her name from the spot on her back, because it looked like a peach, but many times it actually looked like a heart.
Peachey was the inspiration for this and many other cards and paintings I created for my wife.
Today would have been her 12th birthday. We loved her, will miss her very much and are thankful to have shared many good times over the last 10 years.
Peachey
We left town last Sunday morning for what was supposed to be a week's get away. On Monday at 5:30 p.m., we received a call from the neighbor who takes care of our cat (Peachey), saying she's coughing, lethargic and lost her appetite. We drove (500 miles), home immediately, saw what looked like blood from one nostril, and took her to the Vet ASAP the next morning (Tuesday). The Vet wasn't sure it was blood, checked her breathing, heart, took blood, urine and later feces samples, gave her a B-12 and antibiotic shots. They thought she was basically healthy and we would have wait 3 days for test results. When we got home from the Vet, Peachey immediately ate. We were happy, but knew she's a nervous eater. I then set up a my studio so she'd have a warm comfortable place to rest.
The next morning we cleaned her up (her nose had more dried discharge), got her to eat and drink a little. She also had her favorite treat, water from a tuna can. It was a warm beautiful day, so we let her go out. She started acting quite normal, visiting some of her favorite spots, wanting to be pet and rolling on her back enjoying the sun. In the late afternoon, she went back to the studio where she slept on my chair for another night. Our hopes were up and we thought she'd surely be better in a few days.
She acted just like this that day
In the morning my wife found Peachey laying on the floor and got her to eat a little. Her nose looked completely fine but, she seemed tired, so we let her rest (back up on my chair), and hoped it was just a reaction to the shots. Around noon or 1 p.m. she wanted to go out and huddled in a spot in the sun for about a half hour. She then went back to my chair and I tinkered in the studio and kept an eye on her until about 3:30 p.m. when I left for a couple of hours. I returned at 5:30 p.m. and checked on her (sleeping), went in the house until about 7:30 p.m., then checked her again. She was laying on the floor on a piece of carpet, so I tried to get her to come over to eat or drink. She got up to walk, and sort of limped and then sat by the door that leads to the garage. I opened the door to show her that it was too cold, but she quickly walked in and laid under my car. I picked her up to take her back to the studio, and could see that she was having problems with her right front leg. I hoped it was a just a cramp from sleeping. I told my wife, and we tried to give her food and water with a dropper. It was 8:00 p.m. and my wife tried calling the Vet, but that's when they close. We still never had any of the test results. We took her inside the house to watch her through the night. I made her a bed in the house and we watched her not sure what to do next. She would occasionally look up like she was startled but would not focus on us or my hand as I moved it. She seemed scared at times and was possibly hallucinating. She was now mostly laying on her belly with her arms forward and limp. She then surprised us by getting up quickly and walking through the kitchen into the living room. She went farther than I would have thought possible before collapsing and letting out 2 terribly sad moans as I picked her up. We knew we better get her emergency care, hoping that if she was hydrated and nourished she would be better. My wife drove as I held her in a box in the back. She was staring up at me, but because of the dark and the motion of the car, I couldn't tell how well she was breathing. Luckily, we were the only ones at the emergency center so were checked in quickly at the reception desk. They quickly took her away for oxygen, an IV to hydrate, and for another blood test. 5-10 minutes later, they called us in. She was laying on the table gasping for air by a oxygen mask, and they had shaved her in some areas for examining. The doctor told us she was bad off, had some bad bruising at the previous test and injection sites (from a blood disorder). She told us that Peachey was going into cardiac arrest, and told us our options. She looked so bad, we had to put her down. It was now around midnight as we left numb and shaken with an empty box. The drive home was surreal. I was relieved that the streets were empty as I slowly drove home. We stayed up until 3:30 a.m. and then tried to sleep. I got maybe 1-2 hours of bad sleep, and my wife got none. The whole next day we were like zombies. We are heartbroken.
Peachy was a Scottish Fold (folded ears), with straight ears. Born 2/15/98. Her breeder sold her when she was six months old to a woman who had her about a year. That woman gave Peachey to a neighbor (the house behind her in the photo above), who kept her maybe 4-5 months. I took care of her when he was away. but after awhile she'd eat at his house and spend the rest of the time at ours. Because of this, we offered to take her in. Actually, she adopted us and fit in perfectly.
Peachey was one moment a coy and sensitive female, the next, an adventurous tough and extremely fast hunter. She constantly hunted and ate all types of bugs including flies, moths, and spiders. She ate birds (even a humming bird), and only left a few feathers, the legs, and a beak as evidence. Once, she brought home two large rats in the same day.
Peachey had to be in on any activity, conversation, or visit from friends and neighbors. She would run to our call, or along with us like a dog to the amazement of others. She seemed to like large dogs and sniffed nose to nose with several. I once saw her do the same with a skunk. Two other skunks didn't like her advances, and she paid for it with sprays in the face.
We were told she got her name from the spot on her back, because it looked like a peach, but many times it actually looked like a heart.
Peachey was the inspiration for this and many other cards and paintings I created for my wife.
Today would have been her 12th birthday. We loved her, will miss her very much and are thankful to have shared many good times over the last 10 years.
This Month's Header
Every year I try to come up with a card for my better half. This is probably the first that featured a MotorCycle theme.
From 1985. "Tanks for Being My Valentine", (5"x6"). It was done very quickly and meant to be a characture. At the time, I thought it needed the crash bars to give it balance and more weight at the bottom. When your working under the gun and directly to final art, there's no time for second thoughts
If I was going to use it for the blog, I just had to go back and retouch it some. One of these days, I'll do it larger and better.
From 1985. "Tanks for Being My Valentine", (5"x6"). It was done very quickly and meant to be a characture. At the time, I thought it needed the crash bars to give it balance and more weight at the bottom. When your working under the gun and directly to final art, there's no time for second thoughts
If I was going to use it for the blog, I just had to go back and retouch it some. One of these days, I'll do it larger and better.
This Month's Header
Can you believe it's January 2010?
Hasta la vista, baby... make that, old fella. Careful hot shot, don't disrespect your elders. You're gonna find yourself in this same predicament 12 months from now.
Have a good one!
Brass Balls FXR Concept Art
I recently did this Concept Art for Dar Holdsworth of Darwin Motorcycles (Brass Balls Bobbers), of a new model for 2010. The build of the first prototype will be documented in Cycle Source magazine and also on Bikernet.com.
For more info on this and his other bikes click on the following link:
http://www.brassballsbobbers.com/bikes
This Month's Header
For October I figured a Halloween themed header was the way to go.
At first, I was just going to post this art, then decided it would be better if it was something motorcycle related. I then thought, maybe I could make it a cool trike using part of my KnuckleReaper art.
The donor art.
It took about 4 hours of tweaking and color retouching to blend the bike into the scene. I think it came out pretty neat.
This Month's Header- We're One Year Old!
All together now. The first two headers were done before I knew what I was doing or had settled on a design. I don't think they ran all month... who the hell could remember?
Since I was out of town last week, this month's header was a little late in the making. As it turned out, it went up exactly one year to the day since my first post last year.
In many ways it's hard to believe it's now been one full year of blogging.
So let me take this opportunity to say thanks! to all of you who have sent emails of support, follow, make comments, or have sent in contributions to the Blog. It's great to know you are out there and I really feel like I've made some new friends.
From what I've heard, a lot of you like what you've seen so far. With that in mind, I'll do my darn best to keep the blog interesting and perhaps even better. So keep sending those comments and emails. - CK
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
