It occurred to me the other day that I've wandered far and away from Photography in the past while. I haven't thought about it much since the Tesla project. I've never considered myself a photographer, just someone that likes to play with cameras... who also owns Photoshop... and went to Art school...
Okay, so maybe I'm gloating a little bit. I really don't consider myself a photographer, but I am pretty happy with the end results in the photos! Take a look-see, some of these will be for sale a little later in the Etsy Store. Until then, feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to request one :)
E-Mail: zenangel13@gmail.com
Gas Mask
Honda Dream
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda V-Twin Cafe Racer, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Honda XR650L, courtesy of Saint Motor Company
Junk Drawer
Junk Drawer
Junk Drawer
Engine Screws.... and more Junk
British and Japanese Axles
Ratchets
Yamaha Seca and Honda Goldwing
Sockets
Sockets
Sockets
Sockets
Vice Grips
Work Bench
Work Bench
Wrenches
All of the above images are the intellectual property of Kyle Yarrington (me). Don't plagiarize me or edit my name off the photo. I will find you, and I will destroy you. However these works are published under a Creative Commons License, which allows you to share these images with your friends, family, or the rest of the internet (provided the image is unedited, credited to me, and not used for any commercial purpose). If you can adhere to these rules, then you will be sent hugs, kittens, and good vibrations via USPS. There, I have made jargon :)
These paintings are new as of this week and are the second and third paintings in a series called "Colors". The first was "Retro Joe", which has already sold. These two paintings are now up for sale on Etsy :)
Butterfly Eyes
12" x 18"
Watercolor, Pencil, and Ink
on Watercolor Paper
"People are naturally organic just like Butterflies. We are all essentially the same at birth, but throughout our lives we develop our own personal tastes and characteristics, like butterfly wings."
Self Portrait
12" x 18"
Watercolor, Pencil, and Ink
on Watercolor Paper
"It's imperative, every so often, to create something completely out of spontaneity. This piece had no plan except that it should be a portrait. Only through experimentation and quick thinking were the fundamentals of art considered and implemented."
I'm calling it "Retro Joe" because I based this off of a photo of a man who's identity is still unknown to me.
The painting is watercolor and ink on paper, which measures 12 inches x 18 inches. I really like the look of the motorcycle racers from the early 1900s through the early 1950s. The clothes and gear were typically handmade, and not many racers were sponsored by high-dollar companies, most did the prep work themselves in barns or sheds with their friends. If a bike broke down on the side of the road during a race, then the rider would pull out his tool kit and try to fix the bike before the other racers could pass (it was okay if they did, because chances are they would break down at some point too).
It's because of men like the one in this picture, and the work of himself and others like him, that modern motorcycles are more powerful and efficient than they have ever been, and that we as riders have better protective and safety equipment than ever.
Here's a few photos to pique your interests. Keep scrolling past the photos as well. There's a lot to learn about this little gem....
The video below was a special shoot with Jeff Yarrington (the builder), his son Kyle (lifter of all things great and heavy), and the MotoLady aka Alicia Elfving. Alicia is one of those people that has energy for days and days, so during her time here in Maryland there was a lot of shenanigans mixed with work. Here is her website, The MotoLady. She's a professional photographer/designer with a huge love for bikes and is super fun to work with (as if being an avid motorcyclist wasn't enough) :)
The body is probably the most unique piece of metal work to come from Saint Motor Company. Originally the idea for the entire bike came from learning of the experiments and theories of Nikola Tesla (thus the moniker) and the appearance was loosely inspired by the 1990s Disney film, "The Rocketeer". To build a body that would fit the bill, Jeff started with a "wire frame" using steel rod that was bent by hand and spot-welded together.
After the completion of the wire frame, the bike needed to be skinned in metal. Using basic tools, mostly hammers, dollys, and sandbags, Jeff began hammering out the body into the appropriate shapes and enclosing the creation.
Pictured below is the bike with a 90% completed body and the custom made exhaust for the bike. With other projects and builds coming and going, Tesla remained this way for some time. While working and tinkering in the garage, Jeff would take breaks from time to time just to stare at the bike. He never looked at it to admire his work, but rather to check the body lines, ask himself what to do about wiring, to figure out what else could it use... The man's mind is a labyrinth.
Skipping ahead to now, the bike's body has been finished with a translucent brass powdercoat, giving the metal it's think "epoxy-clear-over-gold" appearance. The frame was also treated with powdercoat in the smoother ivory color. Pictures below are courtesy of The MotoLady, Alicia Elfving.
The bike as a whole is a work of art, but the smaller, less noticeable details took patience and even more creativity to really go the extra mile. Pictured below is the handmade chain tensioner. It utilizes a standard sized chain-gear, along with a fabricated steel armature and a small coil spring to take up the extra slack in the drivechain.
Another wonderful touch is the "GPS" that was placed just behind the handmade quarter fairing/headlight. The GPS is a real, somewhat working antique compass.
The exhaust guards/heat shields are cast steel pieces with mounting brackets in the shape of the Fleur-de-Lis. When Tesla was still in the metal stages, the back of the gas tank had a small guitar jack for a key, the original keyhole has since been covered by another matching Fleur and the key removed.
Even the smallest bolts have been given the victorian treatment with accented washers, which were then painted black and scuffed to create a more aged look, which would match the rest of the bikes powdercoated brass finish.
The rear end may be familiar to some people who loved the 60s and 70s hardtail chopper scene. The back half of the frame is an Amen Savior, with steel spring boxes allowing the rear wheel roughly and inch-and-a-half of suspension travel under heavy forces.
Other small things that may be difficult to see in these pictures include:
A brass air screen on the carburetor made from repurposed lighting parts
The kicker has a very nice sleeve over the peg as opposed to the standard rubber pedal
The exhaust runs 2-into-1-into-2 (the muffler is under the seat and was handmade for this bike, the exhaust exits from just under the tail)
The electrics for the bike are not complicated at all, which makes owning and possibly maintaining a custom bike of this quality much simpler. Note the "ignition on" switch and indicator light just behind the kicker.
This particular project has also garnered some attention from other sites, blogs, and motorcycle enthusiasts as well. Read more about the Tesla build here:
In the past three years that Jeff has worked on this project, there have been more friendships created, partnerships started, and art inspired than any of his other previous works. To everyone involved in this weird thing we call Saint Motor Company, Thank You. Work feels more like play every time you're all around :)
*That's right, I went all touchy-feely. Bringing out the big guns haha :-P
Project "GIVE ME SPEED" is finally done. It was fun to do and the process of working with steel, powder coat, welding, and framing were exciting processes. I'm really pleased with the way this piece turned out. It's probably the best example I have of something turning out the way I had always pictured it in my mind.
The letters were formed, assembled, and welded by me, the powder coat was done by Wally's, and the frame was made by Still Life Gallery. The workmanship in the frame and powder coat is just amazing. Pictures don't do it justice, every time I walk by this thing I sit and stare at it for a few minutes.
I'd like to keep it, but that was never the plan. IT'S FOR SALE! Please view the picture in full screen to get all the info about it. If you're interested then please feel free to send me an e-mail at "zenangel13@gmail.com" to discuss pricing, shipping, yaddah yaddah yaddah :)
Also, for my local people, I'll be displaying work at Westminster Station soon. Here's a little Artist Bio that I made up for the Gallery section of the shop. There are several other artists participating and more to come as the Gallery at Westminster Station gets it's footing. If any other participating artists, musicians, bands, etc need or want a printable page made for themselves then please send me a message on Facebook, comment on my blog here, or send me an e-mail to the aforementioned address!
I'm going to make coffee now. Many things have to be done, and it's quarter to midnight. Still Early!
Made a nice badge today. This is .025" thick copper that has been etched. Three tabs allow for small screws to mount this badge to whatever flat surface you desire. I left the sanding marks pretty pronounced to stay with an industrial/rustic kinda feel. For all the kids my age who haven't seen these things before, that's a "hammer" and "nails", and the letters spell "work". Heh heh heh, I know, I'm a smarty pants :)
