Car artist and Car-tooner

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.

More car art and drawing

Book Review: Build Book – From Concept to Reality

You’re walking around a show and when you see a car cruise in that makes you stop in your tracks. You’re stunned and instantly curious. You’re hear it and feel it as it drives by. Time for a closer look. Cars that make you feel that way have alot to see, but it’s all skin deep. What’d he do for the rear axle setup? Are those custom engine mounts? Unless the builder took great pics and brought them, it’s tough to fully appreciate what it took to bring that car to the show. That’s where Build Book comes in.

BuildBookUSA.com has published 5 books covering 5 cars built by some of the top builders in country. I met Scott and BJ Killeen (long time auto journalists) at the Grand National Roadster Show and they were kind enough to let me preview the complete series of books. You gotta check these out!

The first book, and my favorite, is about Joe Rogan’s “Sick Fish” 70 Barracuda. Built by the legendary Troy Trepanier & Rad Rides by Troy, this book oozes coolness page by page. What do you want to know about the build?

Barracuda Hot Rod: Read More

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Hot Wheels and Nintendo? Dwayne’s Blog

So I’m cruising the Grand National Roadster Show with ProblemChildKustom‘s Brian Stupski. He freak’n knows just about everyone, so it doesn’t surprise me when he knows Dwayne. Dwayne’s got a booth at the Grand-daddy show and in the main hall no less. He’s selling these prints like hotcakes: (click to enlarge, it’s worth it!)

I’m pretty sure these are all $10 and available at Dwayne’s Website: FutureElements.net Store

These drawings are enough for a wicked blog, but that’s not what I’m writing about. As I was thumbing through some of Dwayne’s work, I see one of my favorite Hot Wheels, simply named 49 Merc.

I’m impressed. We all played (or still play) with Hot Wheels, so now I’ve met the dude who designed one of my favorites. So I started asking a bunch of questions…

Click HERE for the rest of the blog…

So to wrap up the creative genius that is Dwayne, I had to ask him about this crazy drawing video he did on a what? Nintendo DS? (That’s still kinda freaking me out!)

Dwayne told me: I recently had a friend tell me about a drawing program for a Nintendo DS called “Colors”. The only way you can run it though is by modifying the DS with a Flashcart and a micro flash card. Basically it replaces a game cartridge and allows you to run new software on it. Then you install Colors and use it as a small digital sketchbook. It is really fun to doodle on. It is kind of like having a digital sticky pad with me all the time. It’s funny I draw for a living and I still love to draw in my free time.

This is only half the story! Please read the rest at MyRideisMe.com Click HERE for the rest of the blog…

Want to have a look around this MyRideisMe.com? Start here in the Killer Garages. Thanks for looking! If you like what you see, please JOIN!

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Big Trouble at Unique Performance

By now, this isn’t breaking news, but I just heard it. I thought I kept up with hot rod and general car news, but I guess not. On top of that, I’m a big fan of Chip Foose. There are several good blogs that are writing about this story. Basically, Unique Performance has been busted and raided. Check it out:

Shelby severing ties with Unique Performance

Round 2: Unique Performance fires back at Shelby

Foose Cuts All Ties With Unique Performance

Unique Performance raided by local police

What a mess! Uniqueperformance.com website is DOWN…

I’ll try to update this story as I follow it. I hope Foose’s name is cleared. Everything I’ve seen or read says he’s a solid guy.

The NY Times added this: A Cloud Over Reborn Shelby Mustangs

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Foose-like, Start to Finnish

I was hoping Janne Kutja, our friend from Finland would add more of his Chip Foose-likework to his garage here at MyRideisMe.com. His garage is looking good.

Here’s more about Janne, in his own words:

I’m Janne Kutja born in 1980 in southern Finland. I grew up there in small village, and got interested in cars was little kid. I used to draw my own car models back then, I didn’t look at any pictures. I guess that’s the reason I got interested in hot rods and customs. Hot rod magazines then fed my hunger and customs were the most interesting, especially when I saw Cadzzilla on the cover of the Finnish Street & Race Magazine (RIP), that was and still is really a huge hit. I did build model cars but I couldn’t find time, so focused more on artwork. I’ve drawn cars quite actively 12 years or so. I build cars too, but haven’t had time or money to do it much lately. My favorite’s sheetmetal work when it comes to building cars, and I even have chopped half dozen cars, some of them with my brother. My own projects are ´47 Ford Club coupe and ´63 PV both are customs.

I have been studying industrial design in Lahti Institute of Design four years now (almost graduated). Before that I was one year at art school. Nowadays, I do alot of illustarations and (custom) concepts mainly for private customers and friends. In many cases we discuss about the project and usually my customers agree with my concept. Once we agree, I start to draw, sometimes I’ll do a couple sketches before final work.

Janne is certainly talented! Be sure to check out Janne’s Garage and his website. Janne has also agreed to donate to the My Ride is Me membership drive. If you like his art work, maybe you’ll win an original print! Stay tuned!

Where’s the other Finnish hot rodders? I know you’re out there! Please leave a comment.

Chip Foose-like, Start to Finnish

I was hoping Janne Kutja, our friend from Finland would add more of his Chip Foose-likework to his garage here at MyRideisMe.com. His garage is looking good.

Here’s more about Janne, in his own words:

I’m Janne Kutja born in 1980 in southern Finland. I grew up there in small village, and got interested in cars was little kid. I used to draw my own car models back then, I didn’t look at any pictures. I guess that’s the reason I got interested in hot rods and customs. Hot rod magazines then fed my hunger and customs were the most interesting,

especially when I saw Cadzzilla on the cover of the Finnish Street & Race Magazine (RIP), that was and still is really a huge hit. I did build model cars but I couldn’t find time, so focused more on artwork. I’ve drawn cars quite actively 12 years or so. I build cars too, but haven’t had time or money to do it much lately. My favorite’s sheetmetal work when it comes to building cars, and I even have chopped half dozen cars, some of them with my brother. My own projects are ´47 Ford Club coupe and ´63 PV both are customs.

I have been studying industrial design in Lahti Institute of Design four years now (almost graduated). Before that I was one year at art school. Nowadays, I do alot of illustarations and (custom) concepts mainly for private customers and friends. In many cases we discuss about the project and usually my customers agree with my concept. Once we agree, I start to draw, sometimes I’ll do a couple sketches before final work.

Janne is certainly talented! Be sure to check out Janne’s Garage and his website.

If you like this blog, there are many more to read at www.MyRideisMe.com It’s free to join so why not have a look?

Also, if you’re an artist, I’d like to see what you’re up to for a similar feature at www.MyRideisMe.com. Thanks for looking!

Get the MyRideisMe.com blog delivered by email, click HERE or Subscribe in a reader

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A Great Start – Concept Drawings

If you’re like me, before you even purchase a car, you’ve made the plan in your head. After buying the car, the next step is usually trying to find the parts you need to start building your dream, but that’s not how big time builders do it… their next step is always a concept illustration ala Chip Foose on Overhauln’. When your dream takes shape on paper, you’re miles ahead to getting what you want… You’ve got a real plan. That’s where Brian at Problem Child Kustoms comes in. How sweet is this illustration!

Brian’s a hot rod and custom car designer that actually builds HIS dreams when time allows. He grew up on the standard Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines and got the drawing bug from MAD Magazine (Mort Drucker’s his hero) and from CARtoons magazines. Now, after hard work refining his skills, Brian’s been published in the mags he grew up reading like: Hot Rod Magazine, Street Trucks and Custom Rodder, not to mention a bunch of graphic design, website design, t-shirts and logo work. He’s proud to be showing his backside to the doubters he met along the way that said he won’t go anywhere drawing cars!

Here’s an illustration of the sick Project Panther. It’s a hybrid Camaro and Nova spliced together made just for Brian. Look for this one soon…

So take a look at Brian’s website and the work Problem Child Kustoms has done. You’d be surprised to find that his illustrations are very reasonable and after you’re done, you can hang it on your wall! He’ll do a one view sketch all the way to routing your brake lines, all from the illustration.

Brian’s a member at MyRideisMe.com and has used his garage to showcase the work he’s done. Here’s a link to his garage. If you’re also an artist, please feel free to post your work and use the garage as an online portfolio with links to your page. Thanks to Brian for being a great friend to MyRideisMe.com! I’m trying to slip into his schedule to do a concept for my 61 Rambler American Wagon. Watch for that one too!

Please join MyRideisMe.com and get your own Custom Garage Space (that one’s mine!) to put pictures of your car, project or whatever you’re driving!

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