Retro Joe

New Painting! Woo-Hoo!!

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.

The New Goodies :)

The last few weeks have been pretty fun. I've been finishing up some required classes for my AA, one of which is 3-D Design. The teacher is enthusiastic and has more tattoos than me, I am loving it. Our first project was a paper sculpture. This one below was based on the idea of a radial airplane engine. I was going to use some metallic colors but I didn't feel quite right about it, so instead I went for a nice, warm color palette, thinking about fire and combustion. Kinda reminds me of the sun :)

Radial, approx. 16" x 16" x 3"

This next project is a wire sculpture. Of all the ideas I had sketched out and thought about the ease of making, this Barn Swallow was probably the easiest, and most fun. I used to watch the swallows try and dive bomb my cat at the old farm house in this nice pose, kinda where the idea came from. The frame was made from 5/8" steel rod, the outer contours made from 1/8" steel rod, and then finished it off by wrapping the wings, tail, and beak with 16 gauge galvanized steel wire. It hangs from the ceiling surprisingly balanced and looks like it's just about to fold in it's wings for a quick dive. I think once the summer semester is over it may be taken apart partially and redone with sheet metal to make it more representative.

Steel Barn Swallow, approx. 36" x 36" x 9"

This last painting is one that I've been wanting to do for awhile. It's based on the Ural Racer from Saint Motor Company that I had done some of the pictures for awhile back. After doing the "Tesla" painting I really wanted to do another dramatic, moto-inspired piece, but since it's raining outside and I can't ride today, I went a little nutty with my big brushes and did this one pretty wild and loose. I like it, I've always dug the abstract expressionism, so maybe this could be my new thing :)

Ural Racer, Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 48"