I only heard it was a “Rat Rod” car show in Phoenix. My roadster’s a rat rod, whatever that means anymore, so I figured I’d fit in. Later I found out the party was hosted by my online friend Cadillac Cowboy (Bob) and his buddies from the Arizona Sinners. Bob’s got a few pics of his nasty Blown 427 Model T in his garage here at MyRideisMe.com.
The Arizona Sinners I’ve met have been easy going and die hard car guys. They build what the drive and they drive’m hard.
Please enjoy your brief, but meaningful and entertaining, look “over the shoulder” of painter Tom Fritz as he makes what I think is my favorite piece of Hot Rod Art to date (and he’s got alot to like!).
Over My Shoulder… Making Hot Rod Art
Written By Tom Fritz
(Car and Motorcycle fine art)
One of the side benefits of working at my art is that I’ve been blessed with the development of an extended family of very close friends, a rich variety of both men and women who support me in my self-inflicted torture. And as sit here in front of yet another blank canvas trying to figure out the combination of what I am and what the world needs, I’m reminded of all the conversations in which I’ve been asked, how hard is it to make my art, or how long it takes me to make it — in which they try to get a handle on how I put a painting together.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the European hot rodders that have made their way to MyRideisMe.com. This story is about a new member, Alan Brightmore from Manchester, United Kingdom. His member name is Slammed56 cause he’s added an in the weeds 56 Volkswagon Panel Bus. Not long after joining, I found out Alan’s quite an artist, or is he a photographer? Look closely at the image to the left. Is that a picture? No. It’s an amazingly realistic looking pencil drawing!
Minnie the Moocher
1964 Morris Minor 2 door sedan (See the Custom Morris Minor)
Written by: “Tootall” Paul from Cornwall, United Kingdom
‘Minnie’ is my Wife’s ‘64 Morris. She had wanted a kustom for a while and has a particular taste for ‘round’ cars. When one of our clubmates (We are members of UK Kustoms) suggested a Minor we looked harder at them and realized that one would make a great sled. When we were told that if we could find one before the 2002 NASC Nationals then the club would chop it for us, the search was on.
Friends sometimes make it easy on ya. Here’s one of those times. Dig this hot rod art from Brian Stupski, my buddy from G-town (Gilbert, Arizona, but it’s really not that hip).
I’ve said before that making new friends in the hot rod and custom world is one of the coolest parts of making and running MyRideisMe.com. Brian from Problem Child Kustoms Studio is tops on the cool list of new friends.
Never mind that Brian’s crapped out more knowledge about cars, especially historically significant hot rods and customs, then I have to this day, but on top of that, the man’s got skills! Skill in design.
Written by: Erock805 (Erick’s Garage) -Primer National Show Pictures also by Erock
Not sure if there’s a better way of spending a Labor Day weekend then in Ventura, California at the Primer Nationals. Why is that you say? Well first of all, Ventura breathes blue collar. Nestled between the grime, glitz and plastic of LA and the pure money and luxury of the uber-rich Santa Barbara lies a little beach town ripe with local color. Ventura has resisted the flow of dough from its northern and southern brethren. Urban sprawl has yet to conquer its pockets of agriculture, manufacturing, and overall laid back attitude. It remains the sleepy beach town, where both free time and surfing are worked into one’s daily schedule.
The artists and illustrators I’ve featured on MyRideisMe.com all are super talented and I could easily recommend them. In talking and getting to know them, I’m seeing a trend in the people that make art, especially car art, their living. In talking with Scott Fisk from Studio 669 and CAR-TOONER.com, I’ve found some of the same important features I see in Brian Stupski from Problemchildkustoms.com and from Jimmy Smith from Jimmyshotroddesign.com and it’s my suggestion you look for these 2 qualities in your next artist:
A true passion for all things cars.
A unique style they’re proud to use.
Run to the Pines – 2008
By our friend Devin Squire
(Devin’s all Ford Garage)
The weekend of Sept. 26th, 27th, & 28th, was the 25th anniversary of the “Run to the Pines” car show in Pinetop, AZ. My wife & I have been going to this show for at least 15 of those years. It’s a great weekend getaway in the cool pines of Pinetop – Lakeside, AZ.
The show is limited to 550 cars, of pre 1973 vintage, and it always gets sold out.
A person seeing my photography for the first time usually pauses for a moment, gazing, trying to understand just what it is they are looking at. I start to smile, knowing what is coming next. I say, “No…It’s a photograph”. The reply is almost always, “Really, I thought this had been airbrushed or something.”
The beauty of a well-designed automobile, truck, or, motorcycle inspires me to photograph them. I have a true appreciation for all the time and effort needed to bring a vehicle to a prime conditioned state. I see photography as a means of permanently recording that beauty.
When I first began searching the internet for a more artistic type of photography, I came across a series of photographs from Trey Ratcliff at the website: www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms. Trey produces amazing photographs with HDR, a computer generated enhancement tool. To fully understand all the nuances of HDR, check out the website, www.HDR.com.
The HDR technique I use blends several photos together bringing to life the color and texture that is seen, but not recorded by a single photograph. Every reflection, color, and shadow is enhanced to a degree that emulates what the human eye comprehends.
To produce a finished photo, I begin by taking a minimum of three shots of my subject from a tripod, each at a different exposure setting. During bright days, the exposures are set at a full stop apart; and on more overcast days, I work with about a 1/3 stop. (in case you’re like me and needed to know more about “f-stop or what’s a “full stop”, check this wikopeida reference)
These 3 shots show the three variations of exposures:
See the finished photos and all the text… and more Hot Rod and Pinup Blogs at MyRideisMe.com
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Thanks to Alan57 for writing this post.
Alan’s Home page:www.alan57.com
MyRideisMe.com featured a blog a while ago about the stunning, Grand National Roadster Show stealing (click to read->) 27 Chevy Modified built by Dan Collins of the Old Gold Garage. The car was built for his wife, Tiffany Collins, who actually purchased the car in a rusty hulk in Temecula, CA. If you dug this car, check out how the car was deservingly featured on the cover of Rod and Custom Magazine and they took some great studio pictures of the car and filled in some details. Take a look at the Rod and Custom online story. Congratulations Dan and Tiffany!
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