Drawing isn’t dead.
Well, it might be to some guys. Not this guy. I always keep a journal of crazy sketches, ideas, visions that come to me in my sleep… anything that inspires me. I have shelves full of them - no shit.
I can’t stress the importance of this enough: Drawing isn’t just a fundamental skill in my world, it’s the foundation upon which EVERY paintjob is built. Without the ability to share my vision of the final product with a client, I’d be screwed. The concept bikes that I create are typically the result of a many conversations based around my initial group of sketches. The sketch phase is where I’m able to turn a client’s verbal description into something that they can really start to SEE . My goal is to take them much further than they thought was possible.
It’s not just one sketch either… On any given job, I start with a series of no less than 5 fully-detailed sketches. By the time I’m putting an idea onto an actual bike, I need to be intimately comfortable with the way the composition will work. I have to sort out all the complexities on paper before I even enter my paint booth. If I don’t, I run the risk of wasting my time (which I don’t have alot of), the client’s time… and ruining my good name. I’ve saved alot of production hours by working out my designs in a sketchbook first.
These are a few of my recent sketches. As this site grows, I’ll probably post more. For anyone interested in working in this industry, you’ll find that your pencil gets used more than your airbrush. Never stop drawing, and keep your ideas well-documented in journals. After all, the best motorcycle paintjobs in the industry are about much more than quality paint and steady-handed craftsmanship… they’re the best because they started with good IDEAS.
Can I see more of your sketch work? Do you have any concept sketches from your finished paint jobs that you can post?