The Art & The Auto

CarbElecticCo

2011-11-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

Also for cyber Monday I'm launching some new products on a very limited basis. I've been constructing some lighting to use for future shows and offering them as of right now on Etsy. Take a look at some of these lamps!

Description:

An illuminated celebration of the Machine Age in a time of hybrid vehicles, these two lamps have been hand crafted and turned electric for your home or shop lighting. Each lamp has been cleaned, media blasted, acid etched and clear coated to give the appearance of a well oiled carburetor. The 6' cords are cloth covered, two wire (no ground) that end in a vintage styled plug. Each lamp can be switched on an off with a hidden pull chain in the choke hole. Each lamp comes with a 30 watt Edison style bulb to give a warm, vintage glow to your space. Many of the original fasteners have been cleaned and returned to the lamps for esthetics.

The Listings:

a pair of Ford 2 Barrel Carburetor Lamps w Shades

a pair of Ford 2 Barrel Carburetor Lamps without Shades

Holley 2 Barrel Carburetor Lamp w Shade

Big Ol' Holiday Savings and the Car-N-Art Store!

2011-11-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Right now, when you go to place an order you can take advantage of these codes at the check out of the Car-N-Art store. All the codes are good until midnight on December 25th, so you have a little less than a month to act!

First off, 25% off POSTERS! That's right, all posters for sale are 25% off when you place an order and enter the code: POSTERSAVE

Next up, 25% off all embroidered PATCHES! This is a great way to get some shopping done for a bunch of folks. Enter the code: PATCHED

A never before 15% off the Embroidered Pinstripe Devil Flexfit hat. Good quality product with a great savings to match! Enter the code: DEVILMADEMEDOIT

Lastly, for anybody who spends $100 or more, it's free shipping! This will automatically be applied to orders that total up over $100.

Start Shopping now: http://carnart.bigcartel.com/

FINAL W.A.R. recap video

2011-09-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Awesome little video giving the experience of being at the show for all that couldn't attend. I'm in there briefly signing posters for the new Arsenal of Design series.

An American at W.A.R.

2011-09-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

**if you only want the short version, here it is "Awesome". Keep reading for the whole, long story.**

I hardly know where to begin in my thoughts of W.A.R. The acronym stands for Weil Am Rhein, which is the town in Germany where the event takes place. It seems many of the European names of shows are based a little more straight forward than the American counterparts, which I suppose makes it a lot easier for folks to know where it's at.

The Road Devils of Europe have been putting on the WAR show for 6 years all together and decided that this would be the final one of it's kind in favor of doing a rolling show, much like the Power Tour that happens over here in the states beginning next year. Because this was the Final WAR, I thought it was time to meet my brothers from across the Atlantic and see what the show and the chapter is all about!

With a few quick posts on our Road Devils forum and a couple of exchanged email addresses, my plans seemed a bit shaky to an average traveler, but I felt that if these guys where anything like my boys back home, I'd be well taken care of, and I was.

Originally I was supposed to be picked up from the airport by brother Jimmy and stay at his place, but as all things that happen last minute when you are hosting a big show, things changed. Luckily as it where, Deniz and his buddy whom he shares garage space with picked me up in his 1953 Lincoln.

Quickly I was given the run down on how difficult it is to own an american custom/hot rod overseas. The Swiss government has high environmental standards and simply does not want modified, gas guzzling vehicles on the road. Most of the Road Devils cars in Europe are completely outlawed because they are modified and will not pass the strict laws to make them legal. Every time these guys take their cars out on the road, they run the risk of having them impounded or even destroyed by the government. Most of Europe shares similar laws and punishments so the trek across the boarder to Germany only a few miles down the road was also a risky one.

Needless to say that being a Road Devil in Europe is not a passive membership. Getting parts from America is a difficult and expensive hobby. Basically most folks are looking at doubling the cost of their purchase on nearly anything shipped from the states from anything like a fuel pump to a set of gaskets or a steering box. The shipping is atrocious. Every time an american shows up at the fuel station we cringe at the cost of fuel and often regret owning a V8 in our vehicles. Our European brothers are paying around € 1.38 per liter. There are nearly 4 liters per gallon so quick math shows them paying nearly $8 per gallon and probably averaging the same M.P.G. that we get in our old cars. Ugh! But when you want something bad enough, I suppose that cost is not an option.

Back on track now, Deniz took me over to the garage space they share tucked down a tight alley in Basel, Switzerland. Many of these guys share shop space and tuck away their hot rods and customs out of sight so there aren't any problems with the law. The shop was awesome; a huge glass roof made for a great amount of natural light to work in and made me envious of their space. Several projects from a Model A roadster to early Chevy trucks, hand painted toilet seats and motorcycles all where strewn about the place. From here we picked up a '70's conversion van and headed to the show sight to begin the long task of setting up for WAR.

Quickly we were on the road again and off to Germany. I am still quite shocked at the lack of border patrol there was between Switzerland and Germany (and France for that matter). This made for a safe passage for the illegal '53 Lincoln. Just a quick jaunt past a few round-abouts and we were at the show site which is the Carhartt/Edwin company/warehouse.

Final WAR, like previous date events is sponsored in part by the Carhartt clothing company and Edwin denim. When we think of the label Carhartt we think quality workwear of heavy coveralls and thick winter coats. In Europe, Carhartt is more of a fashion, though they still sell the quality workwear that we are accustom to. The two labels are popular with counter culture, skateboarders, etc. There was a time that Dickies was so in the states, but perhaps a lot less now than before. Kevin, an event rep. from Carhartt made sure all angles were covered and they provided the location and staffed the bar, audio gear for the stages and gave us room for vendors to set up. Sometimes it really helps out to put on a quality show by having some corporate sponsorship!

Thursday evening we spent setting up all the tables outside and inside. The Road Devils had their own bar located closer to the gate. When the work was done, we ate and drank. Some early folks came into the show and joined in the festivities. This is where I met most of my extended family of Road Devils. Most folks spoke some english so that helped me out immensely. Drinking went well on into the night.

Friday we woke and enjoyed a breakfast at Jimmy's flat. Thank god, because I hadn't slept much on my flight over so it was welcome to get some honest sleep! Friday was pretty mellow durning the day as most folks weren't joining until after the work day was over. I got my table set up later in the day bringing some Car-N-Art products to foreign lands for the first time.

I got a chance to meet 'Lil' Daddy Roth aka Dennis Roth and his girlfriend. It was nice to speak English with americans at times. And speaking of the English, Stuart (aka Sunshine) from the UK, the sole Road Devil from England had me smiling the whole time. His accent reminded me of Brad Pitt in Snatch. Sunshine and his wife Natalia who's originally from Russia and myself spent some time at the Edwin outlet store and even crossed over into France for a beer.

Friday started off hot in the higher 80's and then a storm ripped in and rained hard for a bit and dropped the temperature but nearly 20º F. Tarps quickly appeared out of nowhere and roadsters and other open cars were blanketed to protect from the storms. Again, all came into the bar for more drinks. A little rain wasn't going to stop this party from happening! Friday evening was the Road Devils Europe annual meeting. I stood down from it partially because it wasn't my business to be in but also because it was entirely in German and outside of a word here and there, I had no clue what they were talking about. My buzz at this point was strong enough to not even recall what time we got back to the flat and called it a night.

Saturday the main show began much cooler than the day before. It was still raining a bit in the morning, but nothing was going to keep true, hardcore custom culture fans away or the hot rodders from coming out to the show. I spent the better portion of the morning minding my booth space but I would randomly take a break for food and to talk with the Devils.

At a certain point it dawned on me how odd this experience was. Despite the fact that all the cars for the most part are american automobiles, the music blaring in the bar space is good ol' american rockabilly, the t-shirts that folks are wearing are printed in english and many of them are sporting american logos or american designs, but I was not in the USA, I was in Germany. Most folks who came up to my booth immediately wouldn't speak english to me, and for that matter had no clue I was american until I opened my mouth. I suppose my design work just blended right in. Despite the fact that my design work sports the name Detroit, where I studied and lived while in college, many folks had Detroit shirts on that were never even made in the USA or designed there. So I suppose the originality of what I brought to WAR perhaps flew under the radar or just blended in.

It wasn't until I bumped into American pin-up model Leia Lockheart that I started to feel less alone. 4 years ago or so I got a call from my friend Bob who was looking for a car to photograph Leia with and I was able to help out. Leia was traveling Europe doing some shows and photography sessions with folks and came to the show. I was nice to catch up and not have to find the right words to speak.

I only got a short chance at taking some photos during the day. I managed to capture a few images of the cars at the show. Later in the evening I busted my camera out to shoot the fashion show/burlesque ladies. After the stage show, it was time to just chat with all the good folks who were there and enjoy a few more drinks before calling it a night.

The good news is there were no altercations at WAR this year. Apparently there were a few issues the pervious year with different car clubs, so everyone was happy for a final, peaceful gathering.

Sunday we returned to the show site to witness the aftermath of the show. The bar was trashed, the bathrooms (toilets, they are called over seas) were overflowing. There was a lone Road Devils supporter past out on the picnic tables outside, baking in the early morning sun amongst the empty beer bottles strewn about. We took some time to break down the tables and clean up the Road Devils bar and carry the remaining kegs back to the show site before I got a lift to the airport. It was sad to leave my new found family. Goodbyes were exchanged from everyone who was scattering back to their points of origin.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all the Road Devils Europe for a great time and even better hospitality!

Christian: Thanks for the great time and chats along the way. You and your girlfriend were fun flatmates to hang out with! Sorry I missed the chance to see your Opel at the show but I did enjoy reading the article on the flight to London about it in Smokin' Shutdown!

Alexej: Thanks for showing me a great time at WAR. I wish I knew some more German or even Russian so I had more to speak about. I was told you can fix nearly anything on an engine, so you are a huge asset to have in the Europe chapter. I'm looking forward to seeing you again!

Deniz: Thanks again for picking me up from the Airport and showing me a good time! Next time I'll let me hair grow out to get a proper styling from you while I'm there! I enjoyed the ride in the 53 lincoln and thanks for letting me feel like family!

Jimmy: Thank you so much for putting me up at your flat the whole weekend and driving us around/back to the airport! Your hospitality is unmatched and you'll always have a place to stay when you are in the Detroit area!

Marcel: Thanks so much for the Swiss gifts and for making me feel welcome! Now you got to see Hotrod the movie. I still think you look a bit like Andy Sanberg! Someday I may take you up on that offer of skiing, I just have to learn to ski...

Matze: It was great meeting you and your wife! You guys are awesome! I love your 1939 Chevy Bomb too. You guys made me feel very welcome and part of the Road Devils Europe family!

Olli: It was great talking to you in the vendor area. Thanks for the hook up on the Smokin' Shutdown magazine. I enjoyed reading them on my remaining flights back home. Your "Tupperware" '32 has seen a lot of history and I hear it may be the most driven hotrod in all of Europe! You rock man!

Silvano: Thanks for entertaining me with everything. You and your girl are good people to call family. The Thunderbird is awesome! Looking forward to having you guys State side something down the road.

Simon: Your Model A modified would fit right in here in the states. It's a bad ass hotrod for sure. I hope you didn't run into any issues getting it home from the show. Thanks for the gifts as well! You are a good man.

'Sunshine' Stuart: It was great speaking 'English' with you and your wife! Thanks for entertaining me on Friday and the trip into France and helping me out at the Edwin store! I look forward to hearing from you guys again soon! Also, thanks for the advice on the Underground in London. It mostly worked out for me there, but got in trouble with fucking up on the differences of zones. All's well that ends well!

Thom: You made me wish that I learned German when I had the chance in school rather than Spanish. Your magazine is really top notch and I enjoyed reading the couple issues I got at the show on my remaining flights. Let me know if I can ever help out down the road on the 'zine. You remind me of the true punk rock spirit that is still alive in the club. It was great meeting you and Koshi at the show and look forward to seeing you guys again. I swear I'll try and learn more German next time around. You guys are aces!

Tino: It was awesome talking Cadillacs with you! I have a soft place in my heart for American Luxury cars and their bad ass engines! Thanks for the chocolate milk as well. It was awesome! As always, you guys are welcome to come state side and visit here in Detroit!

What's been up, what's coming up!

2011-08-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

I often find myself forgetting to update stuff like this. I'll wake early and think about it and a couple of hours later forget to do it! I know no why my parents always seemed forgetful; cause having kids wipes you out!

This summer has been filled with work and wrenching. I've cut down on the number of shows to attend this year, partially to the cost of gas and partially to spending time with my wife & son. On the upcoming shows list I will be attending the following for sure:

This weekend, Saturday, August 20 · 9:00am - 6:00pm: Relix Riot at the Gilmore Museum Hickory Corners, MI. Check out the Gilmore Museum website.

Next weekend, Friday, August 26 at 3:00pm - August 28 at 5:00am: FINAL W.A.R. Hot Rod and Art Show 2011 Weil am Rhein, Germany. Website That's right people, Car-N-Art goes Euro-trash!

Right after Final War, I'll be headed to London to take part in the Riots… outside of Fright Fest film festival where I'll be to support my movie Deadheads!

I think I'll lie low again until October where I'll resume some shows where you can grab up

some stuff or just drop by and chat. Considering The Rumblers show and HCPU #10 and last one…. Sad, but true.

Recent work includes:

Studio 13:

New England Speed & Custom:

Truckermouth 10' Banner:

Kustomrama Badge/Shield:

Vintage Torque #6 DVD cover art:

Devil's Hand production business card and logo:

Check out this great little video about the Hot Rod with No Name:

The Hot Rod With No Name - Logo Design from Jody Peterson on Vimeo. Be on the lookout for support shirts here soon!

Speaking of shirts, the ACME speed shop just started running my signature shirt for them. ACME Special or "Flying wheel"

I seriously reconsidered giving away this design, even for money. I love it and want to do more like it. I'm even ordering another one because I want it in my closet and it has zero to do with the fact that my names on it.

That's about all for now. Back to the barn for some body work on the Gow Cart '29 Roadster.

See you soon!

The Zombie Factor

2011-06-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to work on The Zombie Factor event poster for the pilot screening. Friends Matt and Sarah produced this comedy fakey reality TV show that asks what would we do with all the zombies post apocalypse? Take a look at the teaser

"The zombie apocalypse becomes REALITY on The Zombie Factor, the most dangerous show on television. Every episode, someone dies."

The Zombie Factor: Pilot Episode will premiere in Detroit on Thursday, June 9th at Saint Andrew's Hall. Doors at 8pm, shows at 9pm & 10pm. All ages show.

Wanna attend? Get some details on Facebook

Sins of Steel 2011. June 4th!

2011-05-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Sins of Steel: the cure for the billet blues.

I had the honor of putting together the designs for the show.

The event T-shirt:

The Back Detail:

The Event Poster:

The car I picked is what's been rolling around in my head over the last 6 years or so. It's an illustration of the Gow Cart. Granted, there will be some differences in the finished car that I didn't add in here and there (namely, the seat choice) but this gives you a sneak peek at what I've been thinking about.

At any rate, come on out to the show! All registered cars get a silkscreened poster, embroidered patch and sticker among other items in the goody bag.

Need more inspiration? Check out the recap video from last year's show!

Detroit - Las Vegas - Maquoketa, or bust!

2011-04-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

I'm packing up now to head from Detroit to Las Vegas for Viva Las Vegas. No, sadly I'm not vending this time around. I'll be helping the massive undertaking that is putting on the Car Show at the event with the rest of my Road Devil brothers! I'm thinking of it as a working vacation so to speak. I'm happy I could help out. RDFL! If you see a Road Devils jacket with Detroit on the back, that's me. Say Hi.

Straight on from Viva, I'll be heading to Maquoketa, Iowa. What's in Iowa you ask? We'll Torque fest you silly bastards! Already 350 Customs and Hot Rods registered and one of the few shows in the USA that you can take your ride out on the dirt track for a few laps and put it to it! I'll be vending there with a few brand new items for sale and some of the old classics! Bring some cash 'cause that ATM is gonna empty out quick!

Enough typing. Time to get my ears lowered and on to the other 150 things I need to do! See ya soon?!

A Massive catch up!

2011-03-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

2011 has been a crazy year already just 4 month in tomorrow! I know I'm usually better about updates on here, but I haven't found a minute to catch my breath from working and being a dad to make the time. Allow me a chance to play catch up in review since the beginning of the year.

Helping out my fellow Club brother Frank, I put together a design for his old 1959 Ford Pick-up doors. Designing was easy, but the application of painting two exact matching doors was a different feat.

The mock up:

The lettering was transferred to some over head projecter clear transfers then projected on the truck doors:

The end results after a quick scrub to age the one shot paintjob which took a few weekends to do it up:

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Also for Autorama, the "artist alley" many of us put together a piece with the single topic of a model A FED called "Little Honker"

This is a quick shot of the finished product taken with the cell phone on a test print. There were 100 pieces made of this 12"x18" two color silkscreened poster. #1 was framed and custom painted by Little Mark of Sled Alley.

This is a quick shot of #1, matted and framed, ready for auction. It pulled in $185 for the leader dogs for the blind. I'm happy to help out.

There are some left over from the show so don't feel like you missed out by not hitting Autorama!

GRAB YOURS HERE

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Quickly there after I put together Half Fast Chicago commissioned me to do an event poster for Burning Love #4, their anti valentines party.

It's single silver color ink on black french paper. It's currently on French's website in the sample room which to me is a honor to be listed there!

Also, you've got a chance to GRAB YOURS HERE

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Motor Age Clothing Co. hit me up early in the year as well for some new shirt designs.

and #2

You can grab yours up at the MOTOR AGE website

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Finishing up in 2011 for Vintage Torque Fest, I did this three poster collection for this years show:

This series is online and all signed. The original print series is only 50 pieces! You can grab yours up before the show

Also now online is last years 4 poster set. VERY LIMITED NUMBERS HERE!!!

GRAB UP HERE

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Back in 2008 I worked on this little indy film called Deadheads which is finally blowing up. The trailer alone has 70,000 hits! It recently got into the Newport Beach film fest where I wish it much luck! I worked a lot with the promotions people on photography for this poster:

Much of my set photography has ended up around the net for the film as well including Fangoria's website article on Deadheads

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In the midst of this time period of work, I also had a major set back in later January. If you are on my facebook fan page you probably caught me bitch'n about my Apple Monitor fail. Let me tell you it was the worst thing to happen to me in some time. But when the smoke cleared and all was said/done/installed/replaced/updated I got quite a nice replacement.

Right over my shoulder… it made me and my dog bomber here happy!

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Lovepedal custom effects commissioned me to do some handcrafted box art for their product line up for retail.

the fun part about this has been all the positive feedback on facebook from the lovepedal fans. Some even just wanted to buy the boxes alone!

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Rod & Custom Fabrication loved the Torquefest posters so much they wanted me to do a cross over / old timey logo brand for themselves.

This was the proof work and there are also business cards and a t-shirt design to boot.

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Pit Bull Racing contacted me about putting together some long sleeve designs. We kicked around a few ideas and came up with these race inspired versions of their sponsored riders leathers:

They don't seem to be up online just yet, but I'm sure they will be soon!

Also work for Pit Bull I've done includes

Pit Bull Metal Sign - Vintage

T-shirt, 3-color, bike on front

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Newlands Brewing Systems contacted me just before Autorama to put together an ad for a magazine on their brewing systems being made right here in Detroit! I was pumped to be part of their team and being able to bring my own art to their company look. I was also able to create some custom graphic for their display at the Craft Brewers Conference this last weekend in San Francisco

Ad:

Banners:

Coaster:

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At Autorama I got a chance to meet a bunch of good folks both exhibiting and attending! I was happy to unveil some exclusive products to them which should follow up on the website in April:

flexfit ball cap with pinstripe devil

Devil pinstripe patches:

black

Car-N-Art spark plug patches:

and stealth:

As well over the weekend I had John Jackson from Not Stock Photography keeping my dogs and couch company. He shot this of me sunday morning. Man, everything looks really yellow

under those COBO lights!

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Quickly coming out of Detroit Autorama I had a bunch of work to get back to! There is still elements of my display floating around in my truck.

Trophy Queen contacted me about doing an Americana/Evel Knievel design for a t-shirt:

I love her bags probably as much as the ladies do. I think I could pull off the diaper bag before getting suspect! :)

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Not too long after I found myself helping out my pal Lauren from Street Rod Visions with a sticker /t-shirt design for a show (I think this weekend)

She asked me something stock and I just don't have any "stock" designs. I really only can do one off's for people. She wanted a 32 3-window and that's what she got!

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Half Fast came back with their Spring/Summer/Fall bike night posters at the Orbit Room

A tiki inspired poster to polynesian perfection!

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Finding myself now at the end of March and taxes creeping up my back, I also had to get back to Torque fest art for the registration card.

This is a great little 11x7 inch mini poster give away to all who are registering a bike or car for the show. Something to hang in the garage to remind you what a kick ass time you will have in 2012!

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Lastly, on to my own stuff. Car-N-Art will have some new products shortly with a brand new poster series that will be highly collectable called "Arsenal of Design" 6 Poster series all sold as one (like the old Drive Wrench Repeat)

I can't show you all of it just yet, but it's brewing and you should see something for sale in Iowa at torque fest!

I can show you the shirt though:

Stay tuned to the FACEBOOK fan page for faster updates!

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Well crap! that's about it for now. Hopefully I can update more than once a quarter with work on here!!! Really sad overall. New stuff in the works for future shows, a new website within the year, and hopefully some national ink on the art. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!

~keven

Chrysler Eminem Super Bowl Commercial - Imported From Detroit

2011-02-11T05:35:00.000-08:00

The Internet: A double edged sword for designers

2010-10-25T17:01:00.001-07:00

I got an email from the good folks of the ACME Speed Shop asking me if I knew about a person selling stickers of my design for them on eBay. I had to see it for myself: item #220685777210

You've probably heard the old saying "Imitation is the highest form of flattery", but honestly, it's not; it's a down right violation of intellectual property and against the law.

Here's the hard part: I'm by no means well off. They don't call us starving artists for nothing. I need to show work I've done in the past to draw new clients to continue to work. But anything I put up on line is subject to being stolen, aped, ripped off, hacked, etc. So what can I do!? Watermarks only do so much good. The fact of the matter is anyone who can retouch a photo can make a watermark disappear (for the most part) and you also need to make an image large enough to show a client but at the same time not so large that someone can nab it, reproduce it, and sell it on eBay.

The fact of the matter is, I was paid to do this design (outside of a change in typeface of "speed shop" that the person who is trying to pass this off as their own work did) So really it's hurting the good folks who paid me to design for them, but at the same time this person is not afraid to place their own watermark on the design!

Man Cave Accessories? You didn't do this work, you are a hack. Your balls are mighty big to go ahead and watermark hacked work!

Vintage? It's only 3 years old buddy! Oh, looky here! You're from Westland. You are in bitch-slap distance!

Please everyone, don't buy from mancaveaccessories1 on ebay. This person is bad for the automotive collective.

My work was "copied" among about 200+ other rip off pieces that this person is selling illegally. If you are a designer, you may wish to check and see if your work is up there among his own too.

Fuckin' Ugh!

Tis. the season I suppose! The Zombie Factor

2010-10-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

A friend and colleague gave me a call about putting together an identity for his Comedy Zombie Pilot series called "The Zombie Factor". It's a tongue and cheek idea that after the zombie apocalypse happens, how would we return to life in the USA with zombies? Of course! Make them our new form of entertainment with their own reality show.

Anyway, I don't want to give too much away. I'm still waiting to see a pilot all edited down. But, if it pops up, I'll post it up here. Enjoy!

Manifolds on Main

2010-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

I was approached to do a more "classic" design (by classic I mean an approach you've seen before) There are a lot of old water slide decals out there of "powered by plymouth, ford, chevy, mopar, etc." This was my own skew on the same old wheel and tire for Manifolds on Main in Irving Texas. The coolest part about this is, not only was it used on an event shirt, but also as the participant award.

(not the best photo in the world of it here)

The design was given to a jeweler to create a 1.75" wheel with a bronze base for all who participated in the event. I don't have to often think in 3D any more with my work, but this one I did again (funny how out of practice I've become!) Here is the breakdown of how the layers worked out that was sent along to be machined out.

At any rate, I'm stoked! I love to see this stuff jump off the screen and become a physical object. My work takes on a whole new meaning when it becomes a product to me. I love to see designs pan out.

Huff-A-Palooza

2010-09-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

I saw the call out come down the pipe on the Road Devils C.C. forum about a guy who needed some help. I wish I could always help out with charities, but if I did, I'd quickly become one myself!

Bo Huff is a custom car builder who specializes in shoeboxes and Mercs, among other cars as well. I remember first reading about "The Bad Boy merc some time back with an article from Max Grundy.

At any rate, I came across this post with the cries for art submissions for the cause:

Dear Friends of Bo Huff:

Bo Huff has currently been diagnosed with Stage 3 Mutliple Myeloma and is in treatment at Hunstmen Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He needs to undergo 2 rounds of chemo and radiation therapy immediately at a cost of $25,000 per cycle. Our goal is to raiseas close as possible to $50,000 (2 cycles + medication) as he is on Medi-Cal and they only potentially pay for one cycle of treatment.

Our objective is to have an art/artist supported raffle to help raise funds for his therapy. We will feature this event in Car Kulture Deluxe magazine and I will additionally scout feature artists fromthe submissions. We have only 30 days until Oct. 31, 2010 to get submissions into me. WIll you help me put the word out to the art & hot rod builder community?

Note: In the spirt of positive thinking, we are affectionately calling the art show the "Glo Huff Chemo and Radiation Cancer Fighting Fundraiser. " He starts aggressive therapy this Monday.

Submissions can be anything/ format thats hot rod/biker/lowbrow art related but must be signed and preferrably original worksPaintings must be already framed and ready to display or hang with sawtooth or wire backing as I dont have time toassemble any framing prior to the event.Drop Dead delivery deadline is Monday Nov. 1, 2010.All items will be raffled off at the event by an MC and the funds will go into a charity fund to pay the hospital bills.

Artwork will be sent to me for staging and I will get it to the fundraiser. Please mail items to:Anna Marco PO BOX 1895 Beverly Hills CA 90213ph. 310 925 6966email: anna.osr@gmail.com

Additionally we are working on making event shirts and will have a Deadsleds (and others) car club sponsered music and car show in the Inland Empirelocation, date , and time TBD.

Your assistance will be deeply appreciated, please put the the word out to our usual suspects as will I. Bo has now agreed to let folks know he needs our help.

Much LoveAnna "saves fabricators" Marco"

My heart goes out and hopefully my submission can help raise some dough in a time of need.

Take a peek

It's a 24" x 36" framed, one of one print for the man in need. I urge you too if you have some sort of artistic talent to submit something.

KKOA DVD?!

2010-08-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

The 'Kustom Kemps of America' is perhaps one of the oldest running custom car and truck association in America. For a lot of the young guys into hot rods and custom cars, they often turn their noses up at high dollar cars and trucks but at a certain point, we'll all be the old guy with the car with a lifetime of $$'s put into it. You just can't deny the beauty and craftsman ship that goes into these cars and trucks.

I got an opportunity to put together a DVD cover and an ad for Ol Skool Rodz recently for the KKOA DVD which will be released by Vintage Torque around Thanksgiving (pssst, a good time to purchase this for that special gearhead for the holidays) Here's a sneak peek!

Over two years in the making: Deadheads

2010-08-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

It was 2008 in the spring (or was it 2007 in the winter?) when I got a call from my buddy Brett who was putting together a script about buddy zombies on a road trip adventure. He told me they needed a title slate for the film so they could start shopping it around. I gladly helped out with a few samples that ended up being used.

Months later I get another call. Brett this time needed a logo for the evil company that is in the story "Genutek". So again I got behind the mouse and made it happen.

Months later I get another call (now it's early summer of 2008) and Brett needs an assistant director for the film. At this point I was full time freelance and I wasn't sure how far down the rabbit hole I was going to get pulled. They claimed that the script was all broken down and they were going to shoot it in 3 weeks so all I had to do was show up and stay one shot in front of them.... little did I know!

Two years later now (August of 2010) Deadheads is all done and ready for the festival circuit. I've seen it now twice in it's finished state and I have to say I really like it, and I'm not being all the bias as I am a pretty critical film buff.

So as the film was in town here in the Detroit area last week for a cast and crew showing, many of the actors came into town as well. We finally had everybody in the same place at the same time for a photo shoot for some advertisements. Here is some of the work in action:

I put together a Deadheads poster with a "grindhouse" feel to it, much like the opening title sequence of the film itself.

Steven "Slavko" Milosavleski put together this one with some of the same photos from the shoot last week. His is a little more mellow, and perhaps a better representation of the film than mine.

There will be some more as the film starts getting into festivals here and there. Hopefully you all will get a chance to see this fun movie too!

You asked, so here's the answer!

2010-07-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

I got a lot of questions about how can someone who wasn't gonna be able to make it to the Sins of Steel show get their hands on my design. Well folks, here is your chance and they are even discounted!

For $12 you can get your hands on one of these shirts. Also many other SOS products up for grabs too. (click it here to get it directly)

Brand FRICKIN' NEW Stuff for Sale on Car-N-Art.com!

2010-06-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

It FINALLY happened! I caught up to speed on everything this week. This post is about all the new stuff that just popped up in the store of Car-N-Art! Here's a quick review:

Stickers: 4"x 4.5" Two colors! Your choice: $1!

The Speedy Stroller Baby Onesies! Available in 6M, 12M, 18M & 24M! $15!

"CRASH! #10 Helmet" Limited edition (100 prints) 2 Color Silkscreen (low numbers available folks) Signed and Numbered, and never to be reprinted- $20! (frame not included)

"CRASH" Red shirts. Two Colors available on Black and Cardinal Red. Metallic ink prints. Sizes S-XXL $20!

MINI Posters! Limited prints. 12" x 6" so it doesn't take up the whole dang wall! $10

That's it for now. So hurry on over to http://car-n-art.com and head to the store for all the lil details.

Radius Nation :: Old School Identity

2010-06-25T05:40:00.001-07:00

I got the esteemed pleasure to create an identity for Radius Nation. I also got a great chance to work on something that I love to do which is to create some old styled art to reflect the times and designs of the water slide styled art!

Bart puts on a lot of open wheeled classic meets and events so I drew up a midget racer and gave it that classic styling to it. I really dig!

Labold Classics :: Identity tune up

2010-06-25T05:22:00.001-07:00

Tim Labold had a great idea for a business. To sell classic cars and Hotrods to people turn key. Some of the cars are on consignment and others are just from Tim's private collection. Some time back I was asked to help create an identity for Labold Classics showing off his 1957 Chevy as part of the design. As time marched on so did the Chevy to a new home and along came a '40 Ford and so the identity came to change as well.

Thomson MetalBreaking: Identity

2010-06-25T05:14:00.000-07:00

After many variations of the design, I present to you Thomson Metalbreaking Inc identity. Dave is a true artist and focuses his skill set in many avenues of design from Motorcycles to Cars to BMX bikes to clocks, to sculpture and right down to hand painting.

Above are some of the touch points designed for Dave including the business cards, stickers and patches to come. Be looking for a Thomson Ad in DicE magazine down the road too!

Vintage Torque DVD Ad

2010-06-25T05:09:00.001-07:00

I'm playing a little catch up here with some quick updates and posts. The first of which is an ad for Ol' Skool Rodz for a big deal on two event DVD's for one low cost. Check out the current issue for the big score. Even if you missed the event(s) you can feel the rumble right at home!

Also of note, I put together the art for the Torque Fest DVD cover and disk. From what I hear there is also a limited run sticker inside too.

win some, loose some.

2010-05-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Chris's infamous 1962 Impala Wagon is for sale on ebay with only a few remaining hours to go. This car has been an icon for the Detroit Road Devils so it's sad to see it go, but it's to make room for a '40 Ford that Chris has been dreaming of for some time.

What makes it infamous you ask? Besides a lot of coverage in hot rod magazines and custom car rags, this car was in Semi-Pro with Will Ferrel as well as being featured in Motor City Motors TV show on the Discovery channel.

Here is literally the last chance to bid on this car. Do it up before you kick yourself hard

Sins of Steel Show (part 2).

2010-05-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've just gotta sit down and type out my feelings on this show. I'm SO proud to be part of the Sins of Steel custom & Hot Rod show coming up on June 5th. When all the anti billet shows started popping up, rejecting the Boydmobiles and high dollar, gold chain dudes from the old style hot rods and customs show, there was an unforeseen backlash. This "backlash" birthed a new shitspawn known as the "Rat Rod".

Coined over 10 years ago now, this term "Rat Rod" has seen it's day in the sun and it's time to throw a cover over 'craptastic retrorides' with the halloween decor displayed upon the fenders and the Pringles cans that are being employed as velocity stacks! It's obvious to most of us who are around these cars what happened. When the high dollar cars became passe, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction. The next thing you know low buck rods became the rage and everyone and their brother was buying up old rusted pieces of crap to make a "rat rod". Websites popped up left and right and even Magazines were spawned with this esthetic being the focus.

What was gained by this happening? Not a damn thing!

Shows that encouraged traditional styled cars came to look like a scrap yard on show date. People went over the top with how shitty they could make a car or truck appear as bragging rights. No sense of style or history was even being considered when putting something together. It was if people took a bunch of jigsaw puzzles out of the closet, mixed them all together to make one crappy collage. Cars have been built so unsafe with ugly independent front suspension on a fender-less car. Street signs became the floor of choice as opposed to the craftsmanship of their ancestors. And the list of crap mods goes on and on. It's seriously ridiculous anymore.

Coupled with this was the 'Anti Trailer Queen' movement. "Drive your car" was what everyone chose as a battle-cry which gave us a little leeway on stone chips and some mud on a fender on show days. But then the inevitable happened; Rat Rods began showing up in trailer and on flatbeds because they were too uncomfortable to drive or were too 'craptastic' to be on the road. Time and again at shows across the country with the Anti Billet theme you began to see Rat Rods being unloaded the night before, sometimes miles away from the show so people could cruise in to the city limits in their Ratmobiles trying to look all bad ass. You guys aren't fooling anyone!

So now where are we? The pendulum has now found it's place back right where it should be, straight down the middle with all the classically styled customs and hot rods (notice, I spell custom with a c) The Sins of Steel show will be turning away the junk as well as the high dollar cars. It features 1964 and prior TRADITIONAL style rods and customs ONLY!

No visible billet anything! Especially wheels!
No 80s graphic, Night Ranger playing, big-haired pro-street cars
No trailer queens - all cars must be driven in unless they are vintage drag cars
No IFS on fenderless cars
No mag wheels made after the 60’s
Traditionally styled choppers and bobbers ONLY! (No fat-tired theme bikes)...
But this show has a twist too. No "Rat Rods" either. It's bad for the scene to make something intentionally crappy just for the sake of being different. Let us harken back to a time when builders like George Barris and Gene Windfield were making customs nice! Hell, even good old Big Daddy Roth could make a sweet "art car" out of crazy stuff lying around and not just crappy welds on a rusted frame. Having a flat black car isn't saving you much money either. Lets face it, you can buy single stage paint for the same cost as a Hot Rods Flat paint by the gallon!

Build a car safe, build it nice, be proud of the work you do, and bring it out to Sins of Steel on June 5th

Catch Up!

2010-05-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks for me with little time to sit down and type anything out. Last week you saw BugSpray for my buddy Junebugs custom paint service and before that I put up some photos I took of the exotic super car GTX-1 Ford GT conversion that was done by my buddy Kip Ewing.

A few weeks back I showed you the sneak peak at the EXTEND-O-MATIC. Well, I just got mine in hand and let me tell you, the prints are fantastic! You can grab yours up from Volksrods.com

The Detroit Road Devils Support shirts are selling great too! We're already on our second run of shirts which sadly will probably be the last of this design. So if you liked the look of the support shirt, make sure you write to munro36@hotmail.com for info.

Torque Fest was this last weekend and a good time was had by all! Lots of great venders and folks who are all looking forward to next years event. Lots of my art work went into the advertising of the Torque Fest. The show posters that you may have seen in magazine and on flyers were being sold in an exclusive set of four 11"x17" posters in a collectors binder. All signed and number for $35. I still have some of these for sale so I'll be updating my website in the near future!

Also on that very same topic if you grabbed a copy of DicE Magazine #31, on page 31, you can see my 'Motor psycho" poster art advertising the show. I got a lot of great feedback at the show from kind folks who came up to tell me how much they loved seeing it. I also was the high bidder on the 7' version of it used to advertise the show!

Additionally, the Vintage Torque Bobber shirt was for sale in charcoal with discharge ink. I had to pick one of those up as well. I'm not exactly sure where to find them for sale online, but perhaps John has them at a show near you.

What Else? enough talking about what's already gone down, let's look at what's coming up! That being SINS OF STEEL Hot Rod and Custom show! Outside of just being excited for a first EVER 'no rat rods' show (thank you jesus!) I also got some opportunities to help out with the show. Photographing Brandon's built '50 Ford is always a pleasure to do which is being used in the advertising of the show, but I also got the chance to design one of the show shirts as well.

What else? Man, there is a lot more in the works. A few new identities in the works for businesses and car shows alike. The Big Red Rocket from France is about ready to release their album which I did the art one finally. I can't seem to find the time to update enough to keep you all posted. I'll be in California this weekend so over and out for now and see you at Sins of Steel if not before.

Latest crop of goodies

2010-04-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Latest and Greatest from Car-N-Art is local right here in the 313 area code. My good buddy and club brother Junebug has been painting up a storm in the last few months since the beginning of 2010 and finally hit me up to do his business identity. 'BugSpray' came from his old man who told him that would make a great name and we all agreed that it seemed to work perfect even in the sense that old hot rodders would paint cars with bug spray plunger cans.

For the ID we talked about something flashy like custom paint from the 60-70's and that was the direction to go with the lettering as well. Jason's business cards will actually be glitter vinyl stickers the same size and shape of a typical card, but can be put on anything. I did a mock up here with some different color schemes.

This project was relatively quick, though we began some time back with this simple variation which isn't far off from the end result.

And of course I didn't feel that I did enough illustration without doing up an actual June Bug for the card, but this didn't end up working out:

----

Also, this weekend is Torque Fest in Iowa. I'll be there with Junebug selling posters, framed photos, matted photos, patches and t-shirts so if you are planning on coming out, this is a great way to save on shipping items, plus all of the photos are only available at the shows, so here is your chance to own a one of a kind piece suitable to hang in the house, office or the garage. I will also have a limited print set of all 4 Vintage Toque Fest posters signed and numbered 1-100 that will be for sale exclusively at the show, so here is your chance to grab them up. I know John already mentioned many pre-orders have been pulled aside. Look for the Car-N-Art booth and drop by and say hello and help me put some gas in the truck for the way home!

peace.

ewing inc :: GTX 1 :: Ford GT Roadsters

2010-04-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Vintage Torque Fest 2011?!

2010-04-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know what you are thinking... a little early for a show over a year from now, but it's already in the workings for 2011 Torque Fest! The request came in and I did it. Since the icon car for the first Torque Fest was a hot rod, this time around John was looking to do a Custom and Bike. Enjoy the sneaky peak!

the Bike: Chopper HD with crazy springer front end.

The

the Custom: '40 Mercury Custom

The Berkley Chop Shops new Identity

2010-04-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

Jason (aka Jay-bone) from the Chop Shop gave me a ring a few weeks back asking for some new business cards and I was just ready to place the order when I got the hook. "I want to update the look with the new cards" he said to me. So I got back to work stripping down the old logo to it's bare bones. Knowing that the type was going to remain the same I just wanted to get rid of the extra elements that were confusing the look of it. Bye bye rocket and pinwheel behind it.

The biggest part of the logo I struggled with was the shape that the text sat on. The original design that Jason was using was a knock off of the "Cars" logo from the movie. It resembled a 50's car badging which was cool, but how does it apply to haircuts?! From that logo I devised one that used the scissors as the V shape in the V8, but he also wanted a barber pole, a rocket, a crown, and a kitchen sink in the design. I talked him out of the kitchen sink after all and the last version of the logo was born in 2006.

So I got it down to basics and managed to fashion the badge shape into a comb which helped me a lot with it visually. I also hate tacking in extra elements for the sake of putting something there. Jason did want the crown in, so it's in the middle of the scissors now. Overall, it cleaned up nicely, like a nice hair cut to a logo revision should.

Speaking of revisions... After the smoke cleared on the Hunnert Heads-Up I found my design on the side of the road with the tires missing. Nah, the Chrome Czars went with someone elses logo, which is fine, but I sure could have used those header flanges for the Gow Cart! But the design lives on. I actually got two different offers for the design after I initially posted it and with a first come, first served attitude, I pasted the design along to John who wants to create stickers and t-shirts from it. Vintage Torque will be dawning this design now. Thanks John!

Volksrods :: Extend-O-Matic

2010-03-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Steve from Volksrods.com was one of Car-N-Art's first customers and a happy one at that. I'm happy to have him around as he allows me to shine on design. Often he'll give me the freedom to 'take the ball and run with it' which is what I did on this three color front, two color back t-shirt for the Extend-O-Matic.

Some years back a volksrodder discovered a way to increase the wheel base of a volkswagon (volksrod) pushing it out 8" beyond the normal wheel base, creating a more roadster look to the whole design. Over the years many were produced and if you are into the scene you may have increased your front end too. To commemorate this discovery I was given the opportunity to do up these designs with a semi-sexual innuendo on the reverse side of the t-shirt.

Everyone around here is happy with it as am I. So be looking forward to dawning one of these on your back soon. Blue shirts were the staple idea, but other colors could be in the works.

The Garage Journal :: Hot Rod Leather

2010-03-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

A week or so back I got word that the Garage Journal ran a story on Hot Rod Leather who makes fabulous (and I don't use the word "fabulous" lightly) leather made goods. This one is on a tool roll that many old cars had as accessories when the inevitable happens.

I had the distinction of taking these photos of Eric's products up the Speed Barn. You'll have to check out Hot Rod Leather to see the rest.

Check out the Garage Journal article.

Motorcycle shirts for Vintage Torque

2010-03-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Brand new stuff for Vintage Torque! I was commissioned to do a Bobber bike shirt for Vintage Torque which should be for sale at Torque Fest at the latest. It's a mid sixties Triumph bike. Though bikes aren't my strong point or true love, I could see myself on this one (or in the shirt anyway!)

Torque Fest patches!

2010-02-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Working together with Ed Evans and John Wells to com up with some Torque Fest exclusives. These patches are for the elite who will be running on the dirt track. But the trick is you gott be there on the first of May. Torque Fest

La Segunda Barbacoa Anual de Matanza de Camino!

2010-02-19T05:40:00.000-08:00

Thinking about warm weather and the smell of gas and BBQ mixed outside actually sounds refreshing! I got a new postcard invitation together for the Road Devils Detroit chapter second annual Road Kill BBQ. This will be an awesome time! It's by invite only so if you got one, make sure to write the email address to get the low down for the show down.

Hunnert Car Heads-Up! Water Slide Decal Design

2010-02-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Chrome Czars put on my favorite charity Mid West show, Hunnert Car Pile-up, hands down to date. So I'm thinking that the Hunnert Car Heads-up should also be very impressive! The Chrome Czars put word out that they were looking for a design for the water slide decals for participants who will be drag racing. Here's mine:

The prize pack alone pushed me to do lend a hand! I wanted to use every bit of real estate on a square so I flipped it on end to make the most of it. I modeled the '38 Chevy Coupe loosely after "Outta Control" from Iowa with the same thought for wheels and tires.

I got to thinking about the tag line and as much as I wanted to put something like "I blew your doors off" or "kickin' ass & shedin' shame" I think it's safe to say that when you race heads up there is a clear distinction between who won and lost. So I wanted to concentrate on not winning or loosing, but the thrill of the race. I think about what my heart must sound like before racing if I had a stethoscope and it would probably sound like a thumping of a husky Cam.

Check it out: http://www.hunnertcarpileup.com/headsup

Torque Fest Poster/Ad #4

2010-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Last, but not least is Toque Fest poster #4. This one is for the 'celebrity cars" at the event.

The Reverend Horton Heat's '50 Ford 'Big Blue Car', Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's 'Asphalt Angle' V6 Trike, Voodoo Larry's 'Voodoo Psychosis' '31 Ford and lastly Hot Rod Chassis & Cycles built 'Tangerine Scream' '33 Ford Pick-up. These on top of the poster #2 with the Barris Cars and The Roswell Rod; it's shaping up to be one HELL OF A SHOW! This doesn't even include all the home built beauties, Bobbers, Choppers and Hot Rods ripping up the dirt track outside. Oh yeah, and the bands! Too much to even think about right now.

There is going to be a very limited run on all four posters for the show being sold together as a collectors edition 11"x 17" on card stock, all signed and numbered, but you may want to be there to get your copies on May 1st. Numbers are limited (somewhere between 50-100 prints only) So make your travel plans now to head out there.

Keep in touch with the show by visiting www.vintagetorquefest.com

Motor Psycho | poster #3 for Torque Fest

2010-01-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

Just completed: This is the third poster in the series for Vintage Torque Fest. This one was dedicated to all the Custom Bikes of the Chopper and Bobber flavor. The Bike round up will be all indoors at Torque Fest and sponsored by DicE Magazine. Be looking for the ad coming up in a future issue (#31?) of DicE too. Time to sleep some now. More work to do.

Jones Soda boomerang effect

2010-01-22T03:54:00.001-08:00

This shot is of a '49 Cadillac Sedanette (one of my favorite cars) at the first ever Hamtramck Hustle in '07. Later that year I threw some photos at Jones Soda and never heard back. This week I got a call from my friend who said he just bought one at a ghetto party store/gas station. Apparently they were released in 2008! I was wondering what the shelf life is on fufu berry two years later?! Wish Jones Soda would have shot me an email about it. Talk about delayed reactions!

in SPEED we Trust!

2010-01-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Three Colors! Now I gotta get some pics of people wearing 'em!

My '49 Ford in Switzerland? Sin of Steel? Stickers!?

2010-01-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

Swiss!

my friend Nico tipped me off to my '49 Ford being in an online Swiss 'zine. I have no idea what it says though...

Here is the link if you can help me out? http://swissside.xooit.com/t41-Keven-Carter.htm

Next Up I wanted to give a shout out to the Best thing that's happening in 2010 in the Motor City this summer. Sins of Steel (has a nice ring? wonder where the influence of the name came from hmmmmm......) Not to be confused with the new T-shirts (actually, kinda a funny story that came from this... actually, not really that funny.) The Road Devils Detroit are helping out with this and the photo of Brandon's car probably looks a little familiar from an earlier posting? Anyway, this show has the Car-N-Art seal of approval and you know I'll be there. It promises to be everything that the Old Billetproof was, but won't be any longer under the new management and location. This is classic hardcore hillbilly the way it was intended to be, not some quaint bar crawl in the historic part of Ypsi.

Burn out contest, CHECK!

Live bands, CHECK!

Model Contest, CHECK!

Pin Stripe Jam, CHECK!

Bad Ass Hand Made Trophies, CHECK CHECK!

there is also rumors of a Pin Up Contest Ladies! Stay tuned to SINS OF STEEL dot com

Lastly, Just got my Car-N-Art Support stickers today and I'm thrilled with the quality!

These are 4" x 4.5" in size. Two color in either Black and Silver - Brown and Khaki.

People who order posters will find them in the tube, so that's the best place to get one now.

Sins of Speed™ is Here

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Available in Wine Red, Classic Black, and Olive military Green.

All Discharge ink so the print will never wear off. "Sinner" on the Front and Full graphic on the back.

These shirts are so bad ass they whoop their own butt twice a day.

COME AND GET 'EM

Road Devil Support Shirts: Coming to Cobo

2010-01-14T14:46:00.001-08:00

Take a sneak peek. These will be coming to Autorama and will have a short run so better get your Detroit support while you can.

Flattery in Rod and Custom

2010-01-12T14:36:00.001-08:00

Out on the shelf right now in Rod & Custom (March 2010) there is a nice little blurb in "The Rod Shop" on the Acme Speed Shop and all of their Artists on page 16.

I'm so very flattered to have my name up there with the others on the list with the title "...the best automotive artists..."

New Stuff! Sticks and Shirts

2010-01-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Coming up quick! Two styles of a new 4" by 4.5" Car-N-Art promotional sticker. On the left is metallic silver and black on white vinyl and the right is khaki and brown on white vinyl.

Also:

The Sins of Speed Shirts are in! Sizes small to XL in Black, Wine, and Military Green cotton shirts.

Built '50

2010-01-07T15:49:00.001-08:00

My Road Devil Brother built one hell of a nice ride and got his girl Angie to help clean it up a bit for this shoot. This is being used for a promotional piece for the Sins of Steel show coming to Davisburg MI. on the former date, time and location of Billetproof. We were all happy to work on this together and sponsor our time and effort to the Poor Boys c.c. and the Peckerheads c.c. for putting on our favorite show. Take a look at these pics!

Brandon was also nice enough to lend his stature to some shots for Hot Rod Leather. I think I lost a UV lens to this though. All in the name of Art.

Motor City Motors: New episode Tonight

2010-01-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

I just hope that the concept drawing is a little better than this for episode #2. I think we are gonna see Aaron's 34 today on the little screen driving down the road. Good stuff!

Hey Producers of the show (Original Productions), Need help? I can help you out. Give me a call.

Seriously!

One last piece of 2009

2009-12-30T16:09:00.001-08:00

One last piece for 2009 (well, still in progress). I had a request to turn a '55 Pontiac into a gasser. Here it is. This seemed fitting as the Pontiac line sadly ended here in 2009. Lets not dwell on the sadness of loosing the Pontiac nameplate, but look forward to some more Pontiac inspired art to join the rank of topics of many fine artists. The Chief will always live on in our heart and art.

See you in 2010. Have a safe New Year and make your resolution to support the arts!

Motor City Motors (city motor city motor ∞)

2009-12-28T14:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight Detroit embarks on it's own ghettowood stardom. At 10 pm on the discovery channel the premier episode will be on a Model T turned into a gasser.... doesn't sound that strange but I bet it makes for an ugly ass car! I suppose I'll have to tune in to watch.

I wonder where all the cast off parts went from that '26?

For those who don't have cable tv, I guess suck it!

or you can read about it here

When the Road Devil Episodes come up in January-Feb, I'll give you a second shout out about it.

Sneaky Muthatruckers!

2009-12-28T10:19:00.001-08:00

I'm currently having an 'issue' with one printing company that I've recently been dealing with. While searching through their website looking to see who is in the wrong with my transaction, I came across this little tid-bit. Under "SALES TAX" they slip in that all materials that they print become their property and can be distributed to other parties despite what the second line about "will not be given to any other party"... This clearly contradicts 'given to' and 'distribute'

I hate the system of double talk and lawyer speak. Watch your asses... and also know that websites can change this info as fast as they can type it. Make sure to do screen captures of how this are written if you are ever in a problem area.

Tammy Tradewind

2009-12-25T16:20:00.001-08:00

My cousins got together to commission a piece of art that is going to be used as a spare tire cover for my Uncles 1962 Airstream Tradewind, which he loving refers to as "Tammy"

They asked me to come up with some nose cone styled WW2 art for it and I jumped right in. Instead of bomb runs I decided to go with trailer runs, so there are tiny AirStreams painted back there. I can't wait to hear his response.

Sins of Speed™ coming 2010

2009-12-25T16:16:00.001-08:00

Shirt #1 coming in 2010. Black and Wine color Tees!

Get ready!

Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year

2009-12-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a minute to wish everyone a great holiday season. I'm wishing for world peace again this year, but I will probably just get a lump of coal again. It's kinda an odd experience going through this season with a little guy. Exciting too. Here at the Carter household we really don't go nuts around this time of year. We just try and stay mellow and not go into debt and enjoy togetherness with friends and family. To me that's a great Xmas. No eggnog, no chopped down trees, no stockings (other than on our feets), but the snow is here, but it looks like rain is in the forecast for Detroit on the 25th (which I'm fine with!)

Before the year is out I still gotta turn 35 years old. I remember thinking I was going to be over the hill by then when I was younger, so I guess I'm over the hill on the 29th. Go ahead, rub it in now. I did pick up the nickname "Grandpa" this year... but that's more of a reference of my taste in cars (I'm not into super extreme chops and slams and certainly not the Rat Rods)

Lastly, I gotta kiss '09 away soon after the birthday. It was weird getting used to saying "oh-one" or "oh nine"... what the hell are we gonna call next year? My vote is "twenty-ten" First person who says "oh-ten" gets a smack. But I'm looking forward to a lot of events in 2010. Autorama, Torque Fest, Sins of Steel, Hell on Wheels (if there is one) and Hunnert too. Plus I plan to have some new products out here soon! New patches and the launch of "Sins of Speed ™" line up! Twenty Ten here we come.

Happy Holidays in any which way you celebrate.

Cheers from the Motor City.

Keven+Wendy+Cass Victory of Car-N-Art

Detroit Tin Patch :: Facebook love

2009-12-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks Zac! Looks good on that jacket!

Detroit Tin Patch :: READY TO SHIP

2009-12-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

THE PATCHES ARE HERE AND READY TO SHIP!

You don't drive some fiberglass repop of the old thing right? Tell those trophy / trailer queens what you got there by showing this off on your geasey garage jacket or on your colors. This Car-N-Art designed 3" patch is fully embroidered and ready to be stitched. Here is you chance to grab one up for yourself no matter where you are in the world. Only $6 plus $1.50 shipped within USA. Orders outside the USA, please contact me for best rates on shipping.

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

Ol' Skool Rodz #38 March '10/ Max Grundy Ad

2009-12-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

At the News Stand:

Well, it's not everyday that you make an advertisement for another artist. On page 48 I did the ad for Max Grundy for Vintage Torque done in his sort of style. Is it a great feeling to do this? I suppose it's a big honor to have the ability to do so, I just wish I had the dough to advertise myself instead!

Here's another look at the ad, minus the DVD case. Too bad my cover didn't get ads like this one, but it all had to start somewhere right? So pats on my own back for that right? Oh wait, on page 7 there is an ad with my cover art on it!

On the cover I also noticed Justin's "golden shower" and an article written by his beautiful wife Ms. Metal. There is a shot of his tool chest with the sticker I did for them on it, but out of focus on page 15. These two are expecting parents and I expect to hear from them any minute now to find out the name of their boy!

PIT BULL t-shirt designs by Car-N-Art

2009-12-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

I got word today that the first run of t-shirt designs I put together for Pit-Bull.com are up for sale! Pit Bull makes products for Motorcycles: Stands, steering Stabilizers, Sprockets, and of course top quality apparel. Look how happy these two are to be wearing something Car-N-Art made! It's a three color design on the front and two on the back side. Stay tuned for other releases for Pit Bull soon.

If you want to grab one up for someone special this holiday season, you can head right here to buy one in your size!

Detroit Tin Patch :: DeLAY

2009-12-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hey folks. I wanted to apologies for the delay in the "Original Detroit Tin" patches. The ship date was supposed to be December 7th, but in all likeliness it's going to closer to the 18th. All I can say is it's beyond my control and if I knew then what I know now, we wouldn't be in this "stitch-uation"

That was my poor attempt at a pun.

PRE ORDER your Original Detroit Tin Patch now, shipping on Dec. 18th.

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

20 Questions from The ACME Speed Shop

2009-12-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

Cynthia from the ACME Speed Shop sent out 20 questions to the participating artist of 2009. With only a few weeks left I finally got around to answering them. Life has been a little crazy and a little busy as well. Here's how it goes:

1. How long have you been doing art?

I suppose the answer to that is I really don’t know for sure. I know that my parents put crayons and markers in my hands from the time I could close them around something. I know for sure that there was never less than a stack of paper in front of me so I could always have something to draw on. Was it all art? Hell no. It was a way to keep me out of trouble.

2. How did you first get started?

As I mentioned in Q1, I always had crayons, markers, paper and pencils around me to keep me occupied from the time I could close my hands. From there I suppose a lot of encouragement goes a long way too.

3. What was your first commercial job?

First commercial job, or first job I got paid doing? I illustrated a few books when I was in high school, but didn’t receive any pay for it. Later I went on to do some illustrations for local Detroit music zines. I think the first one officially I was paid to do was a corporate identity for a start up computer service company that no longer exists.

4. When did you first start referring to yourself as an artist?

I still don’t refer to myself as “an artist”. I feel there is something pompous about the term that I can’t really get over. As cliche as it is I feel like I should be wearing a beret and painting or something that you’d see in a cartoon. I refer to myself as a graphic designer, photographer, and the closest I get to that term I suppose would be “Artisan”... but I tend to just use the term Designer. Those two terms are a little less threatening and don’t have the same flaunting sound to them that “an Artist” seems to have. Maybe I need to get over that?

5. What was the first piece of work you sold and do you know where it is today?

When I first started off in college I took a oil painting class and my teacher insisted that I put a bunch of my work in the student show. I really didn’t want to participate and I wasn’t ready to sell anything yet as it wasn’t up to my own standards. The instructor was persistent and I buckled to their requests. All of the work went to the show (not for sale). The show ended after a month and all of my pieces went “missing”. I left that school after that without even photos of my paintings and no money, but apparently they went to someone who really wanted them.

6. Is art your primary business or is there anything else that you do for living?

Times are really tough right now I think the world over, let alone here in the Motor City! I will literally do just about anything to make some money for my Family. I worked part time in a Custom Car shop for a while and also made Carbon Fiber one off hoods for high end racing Mustangs. I like to work with my hands and I get a good feeling from a hard days work. Currently I’m also holding down the fort as Mr. Mom to our new son Cass Victory.

7. Are there any special works that you would like to share with our audience or perhaps some new ones that have not been published elsewhere?

Though I’m probably known better for photography and graphic design work, I love to paint, but I really tend to take my time on pieces, so there isn’t a massive collection of them. Painting take time to work on and it’s nothing that can be forced for me to work faster or harder. I just take my time and let them come along when I feel like it. I think that’s my favorite part about painting. I have a painting of a Cadillac that I’ve been working on for some time that isn’t finished. Maybe 2010 for the finished Cadillac painting.

8. What's your media of choice?

I dabble in a little of everything. I think media choice is a matter of what I’m creating. I will fully admit that I love the idea of being able to undo on the computer which has changed me forever now. I wish in many ways that I wasn’t exposed to computers for artistic purposes, but now it seems like it is a necessary evil in what I do commercially.

9. What are some other tools/supplies/mediums that you primarily use for your work?

Pens, Pencils, Markers, straight edges, brushes, Rapidographs, Sharpies, My cameras, a crazy homemade Light table, 3M enlarger, I’ve used coffee mugs to get circles from. I like making my own textures out of everything that I can use for final application on the computer to distress work. It’s a big combination of low tech and high tech ideas used together.

10. What, besides your art, brings you creative fulfillment?

I don’t tend to think of what I do as ‘art things’, and ‘non-art things’. I suppose playing music is probably the next best thing for creative fulfillment to art. I play some guitar, years ago I played in a few different bands. Over the summer I completely renovated my barn (the speed barn) and found that I also got the creative feeling that I get from my art pieces. Same with my ’49 Ford and my roadster project (the “Gow Cart” ’29 Roadster), they are incredibly fulfilling in the same way as my art, and equally frustrating too. All of these things I can stand back and admire them at the end of the day and feel good. Though my son is less than 6 months old, I know he will also provide me with creative fulfillment as well.

11. What are your motivations for creating?

I would say my surroundings here in Detroit are enough motivation to create. So much is run down and destroyed; once beautiful buildings have been stripped and trashed and I feel I can feed off that as a motivation to stand up against that thought process as it’s so easy to destroy and very difficult to create. And probably much like when I was little, art has kept me out of trouble even as an adult.

12. How do you know when a piece you're working on is done?

I don’t! I have a good feeling when something is close, but refinement can go on forever. I try not to beat myself up over a piece and convince myself that my energy is better used in other ways. Sometimes it all comes together quickly, and other times I can wake up in the morning and not find any motivation to work on something, so it’s best to not force yourself I’ve found.

13. What are some of your artistic goals for the future?

Bigger pieces is one goal. I would like to focus more on painting large pieces and working in some new mediums. I would like to get back to doing more limited run Silkscreened posters (50 pieces only) I’d like to keep doing small runs and move on to the next piece rather then have stock in something for years to come. It helps me keep fresh and not grow tired of my own work. I’ve dreamt of doing a coffee table book of photos involved in the new generation of Hot Rods and Customs as well as the people who are making it happen. I have some ideas for apparel lines that I’m getting ready to launch.

14. What other artists or movements influence your work?

I’m highly influenced by the movements that came along with the Industrial revolution: Constructavist, Bauhaus, Art Deco and Pictorial Modernism is perhaps what I mimic the most in what I do, but trying to manipulate in a modern way. Artist that inspire me are A.M. Cassandre, El Lisssitzky, Alexander Rodchenko, and Herbert Matters. The one movement that I enjoyed the most was the Futurists who admired speed and machines, and if it weren’t for their equal admiration of death, war, and fascist views, I think they would have been the perfect art movement. I get super excited when clients come to me with requests for these styles of work. I feel like it’s my wheelhouse.

15. When you start a new model, no matter whether it is for work or your own personal portfolio, what are the first things you do?

Clean up! I know its more customary to clean the space when something is complete, but as in question 12, I don’t tend to know when projects are done, so I also don’t clean up! Sounds funny now that I think about it, but it makes sense to me now.

16. I know it’s probably hard to pick, but do you have a favorite out of the work that you’ve done?

I often tire of my own work after its complete. I don’t marvel at the work that I have done, but rather the work I can do. Every once and awhile I will come across something that I did in the past and want to keep in my personal portfolio, but that’s seldom.

17. What kind of projects are you working on of your own right now?

My free time has pretty much gone to the wind for personal projects. I have some plans for painting projects. I want to paint my old bullet riddled doors off my roadster in hopes to sell them for new doors. I also have a Taylor Tot from the late 30’s that I want to customize for my son, but I have a little time before he’s sitting upright to use it. I have still a lot of work to do on the interior of the Speed Barn, but I’m okay taking my time.

18. What advice would you give for artists who are just starting out?

To be a working artist, you need drive. You need to be constantly work ing on something all of the time. Constant practice helps a lot as well. School is up to the individual as far as if it will help you or not. There are plenty of people out there that never needed it, but even with lots of practice, it’s good to be exposed to other artists work and fellow students of art as well. I feel it was very beneficial to myself.

19. And lastly, a fun question! All artists have their quirks. Name one of yours.

It’s hard to identify your own quirks as they are idiosyncrasy all unto yourself. To me it’s all normal. My wife tells me that when I concentrate very hard on something I either bite my lip or stick my tongue out between my lips slightly. Is that weird?

More Auto than Art :: Gow Cart Support!

2009-12-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

Coming up in a short while you too can show your support for the Gow Cart Project. The Gow Cart Patch is the one on top, the sticker is below. Lord knows I could use some help here! Just putting 2000+ miles on the truck, the gas alone was $300! So any help is appreciated. Stay tuned for the Patch launch, probably in time for Christmas.

There already are stickers for sale here:

$2 for a Gow Cart Sticker

GOW CART Chronicles Blog begins.

2009-11-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

Though this story has been going on for 5 years already almost to date, I'm finally getting around to blogging it up. This will be a specific area for the GOW CART build. Add this to your fav's and links:

http://gowcart.blogspot.com/

Brand FRICKIN' NEW Stocking Stuffers!

2009-11-25T05:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's about time right? Just in time for the holiday shopping season and everything is stocking stuffer priced! Keep in mind also the "Speed Barn" T-shirts are here (rumor has it you might be seeing them soon on television on a new Discover Channel series) And posters "Blown" , "Tripower", and "Cranked & Shafted" are all marked down too! Take advantage of FREE SHIPPING until 2010 on all posters, after that it will be your nickel (actually it will bring the price up another $6 so it's like getting posters are close to 25% off in some cases)

Car-N-Art limited Patch - Six Pack of buttons - Gow Cart Support - Detroit Tin Patch-

And here are the four Brand NEW Items:

PRE ORDER your Original Detroit Tin Patch now, shipping on Dec. 7th.

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

Support the arts by showing this off on your geasey garage jacket or on your colors. This Car-N-Art patch is fully embroidered and ready to be stitched. This item just was recently added to the web store but has been for sale at limited show across the Mid West. Here is you chance to grab one up for yourself no matter where you are in the world. Only $6 plus $1.50 shipped within USA. Orders outside the USA, please contact me for best rates on shipping.

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

For some time I've had the little ones come by my booths at shows wanting to take something away that was affordable and I just didn't have anything for people with only a few bucks in their pockets so I came up with the "sixer" series #1.

This Six Pack isn't of the cold variety, it's a little hotter than that!. These Car-N-Art designed 1" buttons come along with a Car-N-Art sticker while supplies last. You get the Gas up can, Torque Thrust wheel, The Skull and Crossed Wrenches from the upcoming "Sins of Speed" series, (2) 97's on red and on black and lastly a "Gow Cart" support pin.

Only $5 plus $1 shipped.

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

The GOW CART is a pet project of mine that I hope to get off the ground in about 2-5 years total. It started with a rear axle and it's come further than I expected in a short while with many helpful hands and folks out there who want to see a good old Hot Rod on the road. But, like every project, it doesn't come without a dollar sign put to it.

The plan is to build a traditional style 1929 Highboy Roadster on model A rails but lowered with a drop axle and Z'ed in the frame and a lot of rubber raking. I know there are a lot of good folks out there with parts just sitting around their garages collecting rust and dust all at the same time, so here is your opportunity to get those old "door stops" put to good use!

This isn't a "rat rod"! In fact most of us who are younger who are building cars HATE that term. It is a low budget Hot Rod, but trust me, it will be nice. No billet anything, just good ol' parts for a good old A bomb. That's all. So are you interested in helping this poor boy out?

What I'm looking for is a small donation. It can be parts, it can be spare change, it can be leads on parts. I'll take what I can get at this point! What I'm offering right now is a bad ass oval sticker (seen above) for $2. All proceeds go to this car and this car build alone! This isn't a scheme to get rich, it's just to get a jalopy on the road. Down the road I will also be offering support T-shirts, Patches, and Posters that will be associated with the project that will be in the same form of donation that will help this project along, but right now I gotta move a few stickers first!

The Gow Cart Blog (coming soon)

$2 for a Gow Cart Sticker

Or send check or money order to:

Keven Carter PO BOX 172 Clawson MI 48017 United States

Torque Fest Poster #2 (Customs)

2009-11-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

All brand new today. Torque Fest poster #2 from Car-N-Art. This one focuses on Customs both old and new (well, kinda all new in the sense that The Hirohata Merc and The Blue Danube are clones) The poster design is inspired by old car magazines like Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Hop Up, etc. It's 11" x 17" and will be exclusive to Vintage Torque Fest for sales (I don't even know how many will get pressed) There is a TON of detail in this and impossible to see it all online so I did a few blow ups to show some.

ABOVE: this is 1/4 the detail level. You can start to see the dot matrix halftones of the design if you look very carefully.
Here is a 1 to 1 detail level of the same parts as above and it really starts to show all the details that I got into on this poster. I can't wait to see the printed version!

vintagetorquefest.com

Friday the 13th :: DEAD files

2009-11-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

I woke this morning with that Friday the 13th feeling with nothing completely finished this week and started going through my "dead" archives of work that never happened (well, it happened to me, just never got the check for my effort!) It's a shame that they shouldn't be seen and enjoyed so being Dead on Friday the 13th seems appropriate. Here are a few:

"chi-chi-chi, ha-ha-ha" -Jason Voorhees

Sins of Speed™ update

2009-11-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

Sins of Speed™

A bunch of badassness coming from Car-N-Art

I've got another patch design that I'm working with from an old patch that my buddy Ed sent along.

REPENT:

The original patch just had a skull and crossbones wearing a helmet that had "REPENT" written on it. I couldn't exactly make heads or tails of exactly how it was meant to be read, so I developed the line: "never repent for the sins of speed; only for what is failed to achieve". I liked the idea of "Sins of Speed" so much I started to play with the idea a little more:

I'm currently so damn excited about this it's kept me up and working away on t-shirt designs. Here is one of them I did. In total there are already 4 concepts going:

You can get your first piece of art for your computer background/wallpaper.

grab it up RIGHT HERE

Stay Tuned!

Moto Boner

2009-11-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

I love the "pudding bowl" styled race helmets! I especially love the ones with visors. I wish I could stumble on one for cheap out and about, but I never seem to.

This is a Davida Classic "pudding bowl" that I'm in love with. Not really a silver person myself, but I love the lines and the height of the helmet. They just don't come cheap... These average around $300 for a hand laid fiberglass helmet with leather straps and built in the UK. I don't think you're even getting something DOT approved for that price either, but you will die in style.

Here is the HCI RETRO #50 which is DOT approved and averages around $55. Not exactly all hand made and stitched and certainly not made in jolly ol England either. Still you get the protection and style minus the Davida price tag.

Though many may argue that one must wear a cafe' style racer jacket with this upon their bike, I would also love to point out the Schott leather "police jacket" is what I'd wear.

I searched for years on ebay for one of these and also spent a lot of time in many thrift stores across the state looking for one I could afford. This one is affordable! The down side of this company who was known for being a USA made co. is that they recently in the last few years started making their designs over seas. This made a lot of people who were die hard Schott supporters kinda pissed. Schott makes the "Perfecto" which is widely known for being the jacket worn in "The Wild One". They also stitched the American bomber WW2 jackets and still produce them to this day. I should note that some of their jackets are produced here and some overseas. If you can't tell by the quality then the price tag should tip you off. Schott has high standards so you can count on all their products to be nice

$25,000 Rat Rod?

2009-10-30T15:07:00.001-07:00

This "Rat Rod" model A sedan named "Rod Zombie" sold recently for $25,000. You heard me right! Not $5000, $2500, or even $15,000.... Twenty Five Thousand Dollars (US Dollars at that!)

I was blown out of my seat as read this. Not even a vintage power plant, it's a TWIN TURBO Vortec 350ci, which I guess some might feel is super bad ass, but what's the point of trying to carry on a vintage theme on a car with such a modern power plant?

You can see the complete listing HERE from the Hub Garage sold listings.

Patch Concept renderings

2009-10-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is in the works for some patches. Since I was a kid growing up in the 70's I had a few jean jackets that were covered in patches that good ol Mom used to sew to it. When ever we'd travel anywhere I was sure to pick out a patch that either showed where I had been or represented that place and time, and on the jacket it would go.

As I grew up that same mentality then transfered to tattoos. Unfortunately, I don't have the dough to get tattooed everywhere I travel! I wish I did. But I still often buy patches whenever I go anywhere. It's kind of a sickness, like all my sicknesses that need to be fed.

3 Patch concepts:

Linking up!

2009-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Man, I'm terrible at updating. I had a bit of down time to do some links up. I know there are a ton of folks out there who asked for a link and I can't recall who you were in my geezer old age! Please give me a shout at the email addy:

carter.fine.art@gmail.com

Remind me again and I swear I'll do something about it provided that you have a banner already made up!

Keven @ Car-N-Art

Hot Rod Leather

2009-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

I got a small package from Eric at Hot Rod Leather today (I'm always happy to get brown paper packages tied up in strings!) Inside I found a Hot Rod Leather T-shirt and a few key fobs, all with the two different logos I designed! This is really only a small sample of the awesomeness that is Hot Rod Leather. The products are outstanding and you'd be proud to put them on any car. check out Hot Rod Leather!

Hot Rod Leather Apron! Me wants!

Black and red Key Fob

Rods-N-Kustoms

2009-10-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

Steve from Volksrods.com hit me up for something brand new with the volksrods world. Rods-N-Kustoms is bringing the two worlds together, European and good old American automobiles. Why should they be separate anyway? So, in commemoration of the brand I got the honor of doing up a logo and T-shirt design.

Think of this as a "sneak peak". I'll keep you updated when they are up for sale.

You want a coupe, but got a sedan....

2009-10-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was sent this link by my friend Nico in Geneva and I was completely blown away.

BEFORE:

You start with a 1934 "Mordor" Sedan and end with a chopped '34 5 window coupe!

AFTER:

See everything in between by heading to The Cheaters Geneva! I think you'll be blown away at the succession of photos and what one will do to get the Hot Rod he wants!

Major Award! (thank you!)

2009-10-13T14:26:00.001-07:00

Look what popped up in the mail box today! No, not the famous leg lamp major award from Christmas Story, but a custom metal pinstripe in 3D from ACME Speed Shop as a thank you for being a contributing artist!

I'm really impressed! Now you gotta help me out and buy something.

600+ miles

2009-10-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

I had no idea what it was going to be like driving 8 hours in the rain at highway speeds in the old Ford. I found out quickly the limitations and a whole set of new issues with the car. The windshield cracked on me right before heading out the door. The I noticed a leak in the rubber surround which left my foot soaked for the whole trip. I lost a beauty ring while cornering onto the highway and nearly missing a semi truck. I broke a lake pipe mount and lost something from the underside of the car as I was nearing home as it was skipping down the freeway shooting sparks.

All in all, outside of the freezing temps at this years Hunnert Car Pile-Up, it was a fun trip for all of us. I didn't go to be a vender, just a spectator this time. I kinda needed the vacation to say the least. Now, it's back to work.

Speaking of work, I wanted to shoot a note to tell everyone that the ACME Speed Shop is now open for business online. You can pick up one of my ACME "Bomb Shop" logo shirts (as seen on the young gent below) from them! The back design of the 36 Ford 3-window will be a later release.

ACME SPEED SHOP was born from my passion for hot rods, customs & automotive art.

We have a small area tucked away in the back corner of our sign shop where we work on our cars. We’re by no means professional builders; just do what we can, with the time, tools and experience we have. Although we have a few nice cars between us, it has always been “just for fun”.

Starting a company based on automotive inspired clothing and art was not what we set out to do. We just wanted a couple of cool t-shirts for us and some friends. Somewhere along the way the idea to make a simple shop t-shirt grew into what is now Acme Speed Shop.

We will be featuring the art of many well known artists on our custom designed clothing. New designs will be added often and we have a lot more up our sleeves (pun intended). Please read the bios of the artists and check out their websites too.

BUY ART. It’s good for you.

2 years in the making: The Old Ford GOES!

2009-10-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

I know some wait a life time to get their dreams rolling, so I shouldn't complain. But two years ago my car pretty much went off the road other than short trips to shows around the Detroit area and now it is finally embarking on a long journey!

The '49 Ford that I pretty much refer to as 'the Ford' went off the road in the fall of 2007 to be converted from 6v to 12v. Among other changes: 4 barrel carb switched for 2 Stromberg 97's and a new fuel tank, new Mallory duel point distributor, electric fuel pump and wipers. The car was fairly stock when it came down to it. In fact I went out of my way to switch the wheels and tires back to the stock size around the same time.

I'm no wiring guru. In fact, I'm just the opposite. I can easily screw up wiring so I took it into a Hotrod shop in town to do that for me. Sometimes even the best of the best can make mistakes. After the switches were made, there was a bog in the engine which happened when the car got up to operating temp of 180º. While it was there some of the above mentioned changes occurred as well.

After long periods of trying to tune the engine from both a fuel and ignition stand point, the mechanic kinda threw his arms up at it and suggested that I had some tired rings and pistons. So a year later the engine came out for a full rebuild along with the trans.

The flathead was torn down to a bare block to be built from the ground up. The trans was rebuilt too in the same respect. Months later when it was all fresh and ready to go back in, bigger and better than before (4" Merc crank and 3 5/16" bore, taking this flaty to 275 ci) the bogging still remained.

To make a long story a bit shorter, a new wiring harness was put in along with rebuilt carbs, a different coil was swapped, new solenoid, new keyed ignition, geeze, everything electrical that you can imagine. The last step was to replace the 2nd electrical Mallory distributor that was swapped for the duel point Mallory. When the new distributor showed up in the mail I noticed that the shaft didn't have a hole drilled in it for the distributor gear. I riffled through the paper work to find out what size it needed to be, or if there should have been one in there in the first place and some Chinese dude took a nap when this one came down the line.

Nothing in the paper work says that you need to drill a hole to put it on, but it's obvious that the pin needs to go through a whole to hold it in place. But, there was a cheesy zerox'd half sheet with flathead directions on it. The directions explained that it's required to lop off the long end of the distributor after the gear. At this time I glanced over at the dual point and the borrowed electric mallory distributors and noticed that neither of them had been cut as the directions had stated.

None of my buddies who make there living as mechanics thought this would make a difference since the distributors had the clearance to fit in the timing plate and there wasn't a good explanation as to why this would change things. But at this point there wasn't a good explanation of why the damn car wouldn't run like a bat out of hell!

Last night the new electric Mallory, sans the extra length of shaft was dropped in and timed out properly. It wasn't long before heading down the road where the normal bog would happen at certain RPM's and speeds. After two years of driving around the car I knew exactly how it behaved and where the bog began and ended.

Well, no bog....

We all still don't know if it's an electrical problem with the engine ground interacting with the charge of the distributor or if it's oil pressure building up behind the gear pushing it away from the engine.

Lessons learned:

1) Always read all the instructions

2) Just because experts have years of experience, doesn't mean they don't make mistakes.

3) Don't give up and drop a small block in after 2 years of dicking around trying to get it going.

Hot Rodding from back in the day

2009-09-30T11:18:00.001-07:00

Jak Prints pimps my old posters

2009-09-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

My original set of 'DRIVE WRENCH REPEAT' got a little press from the company that printed them. Notice the very small 'DRIVE" poster.

I wonder if they'll give me a discount next time? Doubt it.

BRAND FRICKIN' NEW T-Shirts!

2009-09-24T18:36:00.001-07:00

"Finally" you say to yourself! "I was wondering when I could get my hands on a CAR-N-ART shirt". Well friends, the wait is over! SPEED BARN: where Speed is born and Style is perfected! This two color design (red and natrual white) commemorates the building of my home studio/speed shop! Sizes available from Medium to XL only and limited quantities too! 100% preshrunk cotton shirts. $20 plus $5 to get shipped anywhere in the USA. Orders outside the USA,

Hit my Frickin' Store to snag yours today. And I wasn't shittin' about the limited quantities!

1950 Buick Special Jetback Sedanette for SALE

2009-09-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

1950 Buick Special Jetback Sedanette. $3,000.00. Warren (Detroit Metro), MI. This is a project car. It is a very desirable fastback body. I bought this car basically as it sits 8 years ago with the plans to make it a traditional 50’s custom. Sometimes life gets in the way so now I am offering this car up for someone else to enjoy. The car was disassembled when I purchased it and obviously does NOT run. The front fenders, rear quarter panels and deck lid have been stripped but now have surface rust as you can see. The owner that I purchased this car from had started filling in the trim holes on the fenders and quarters. The steel on this car is very solid with the exception of the floorboards. It looks like they have been patched but there are no huge gaping holes that I can see. The glass has been removed and some of the side glass is cracked but it is flat glass that can be purchased. The windshield and rear glass are the originals and are still useable. The engine is a straight eight with a manual transmission but there are parts missing from the engine. There is no intake/exhaust manifold, distributor or starter and also no generator. The interior is disassembled. The dash has been removed and disassembled and the interior trim pieces have been stripped. The seats are basically just springs but they can be redone. All of the gauges and bumper parts and fasteners that came with the car are in the trunk. This is definitely a project vehicle but not in the sense of major rust repair, just in the work involved to reassemble the car. But if you are looking for a great car to paint and put back together, half of the work has already been done for you. You will definitely need a trailer or a flatbed car hauler to get this home. I would not trust a 2-wheeled car dolly for transport.

This is a very desirable fastback body style and would be perfect for someone looking to do a restoration or a custom car with a different drivetrain. These cars look really great chopped if you have the skills or the money to do that.

Please call with any questions. Call Steve at 586-292-3318. It is best to call first as it may take a day or two to respond to an email. I will do my best to answer any inquiries.

Thanks and please call Steve at 586-292-3318.

Take a look at the full web gallery to view all photos of the car for sale

BLAM!

2009-09-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Bigger poster :: torque Fest

2009-09-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

Vintage Torque Fest poster art

2009-09-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars now for May 1st, 2010 for Torque Fest! I just finished up the posters and postcard art last night:

Poster: 11x17 inch

Postcards: 4x6 inch

If you are planning on coming out the Hunnert Car Pile-up, you can grab one for yourself!

For more information, head to www.vintagetorquefest.com

Introducing...

2009-08-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

Cass Victory Carter was born at 7:47 am. 7 lbs, 9 oz and 21" long. Wendy (mommy) is recovering nicely here at the hospital and I just can't believe my eyes as I'm filled with amazement!

Here is the first view the world got to see.

Cheers from the Motor City!

Keven + Wendy + Cass

The Stork flies low this morning!

2009-08-26T01:22:00.000-07:00

It's 4:24 in the a.m. and I'm trying to recall the last time I woke this early for anything other than a plane ride out of Detroit. I like to get up early, but this is ridiculous for sure, even for me! Why the hell am I up at 4:24 am you ask?! Well, if you can't figure out from the title and the picture to the left, we're finally having our baby!

Yesterday, we had our week 40 meeting with the Doctors and had some interesting news come up. The baby bump was measured normal at 39 inches and height and weight of mom was normal. Wendy was dilated 1 cm and the doc felt "the head". We were excited to hear we were on the way to having this baby! After the physical exam we were placed on a fetal heart monitor for 1 hour to insure that baby was healthy and strong which proved positive for one hour straight. our Son's heart is like a perfect lil' freight train. The last step was a last minute ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid which surrounds the baby to insure that he's in good shape for coming out smoothly.

The Fluid is measured by the amount of open space around the baby which they calculate in cm. Anything 5 cm and below is cause for concern. We measured at 6.5 cm which was still on the low side, but normal. But the real concern came from what the Doctors had been wrong about the whole time in the last month that the baby is not head down (which is the position needed for a natural birth) but rather head up. I guess our Doctors don't know an ass from a head. :P

After about 37-38 week the babies position is not likely to change, so our plans to have a 100% natural birth without drugs or interventions fell apart on us. We're a little saddened by this with such hopes of being about to bring our child into this world drug free and fed very healthy for 10 months now on purely a vegetarian diet, without any complications and perfectly normal measurements all the way around. (Don't EVER let a Doctor tell you that you can't sustain life without meat!)

So, under our Doctor's advice, we'll be delivering via cesarian section this morning, scheduled at 7:30 am. We have to arrive at the hospital 2 hours prior for preparation of the surgery. It's a little anticlimactic in the sense that I've hoped to bring every one of my friends up to date, minute by minute as our son arrives. Now you all know. No surprises here. At 8 a.m. I'll be a dad.

Months of preparation have been spent on our end learning techniques in breathing, hypno birthing, trigger point pressure relief, researching soothing music for the room, birthing balls, alternative birthing documentaries, and Lamaze techniques, just to end up a by-stander in the birthing process. Frankly, I'm a bit sad here about it (as is Wendy), but I know that my sadness will turn to joy as soon as I hear him cry out for the first time.

Keven + Wendy.

Time to Change that Wallpaper/Background!

2009-08-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

With the baby on the way any minute now (5 days from the projected due date) I haven't had a ton of time to devote to art being a good hubby and future dad helping the Mrs and around the house, but I was playing a bit when my wife was sleeping soundly (actually, snoring like a chain saw) I was inspired by the old Hellings Co logo with the fella with the race helmet and huge 'tashe to do something for my chapter of the Road Devils using some recycled elements:

I turned this into a wallpaper for the 'puter that looks like this:

If you want to change your background because you've been staring at that same old pic, you can download a copy for yourself: DOWNLOAD FOR standard monitors 1920 x 960 or DOWNLOAD for WIDESCREEN MONITORS 1680 x 1050

enjoy.

DRIVE WRENCH REPEAT

2009-08-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

It's all said and done. Every single last set has been sold now. I appreciate you all who took a set home from either online or at one of the many shows I dragged them around to. Hopefully they all soar up in value from here on out for you all!

Cheers from the motor city!

Woodward

2009-08-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

After a long week of driving and wrenching, the Dream Cruise has come and gone. The Dream Cruise brings out the best and worst of the area as far as rides and people are concerned. I was happy just to make a single loop around Pontiac and back to Detroit.

Fellow Road Devils Chris, Brandon, Evan, and Eric joined the big loop.

Getting ready for The Dream Cruise

2009-08-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

One nice thing about being a Detroiter is being near all the automotive madness that is The Woodward Dream Cruise. It's good and bad, like anything out there you may be in to. The strip has been utter chaos the last few evenings with people everywhere and cars galore. I spent a little time this week replacing my carburetors and putting on some more resilient return springs. I still need to tune them a little better, but it runs decently. Today, if all goes well I can get some help on my electrical issues so I actually have brake lights! I haven't gotten out too much in fears of the police nailing me on it. Fingers crossed, I'll be out tomorrow.

Seriously, 3 left!

2009-08-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Just 3 sets left, never to be reprinted! Be one of the last to get your hands on these! Click on my store tab at the bottom and grab one up!