This Month's Header-Flower Power

April Showers Bring May Flowers.

When coming up with ideas for the header, I never quite know how they will turn out. This one really bloomed. You might say, some of the flowers are Pansies.


As an example. I thought of using this alternate version, but the top one was more in line with my original concept/vision. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes I like something better that comes from experimentating with the image and colors.

This Month's Header, Everybody Plays The Fool

This Month's late, late, late header is dedicated to the fool in all of us. No one is immune. One time or another we all act or do foolish things.

The April Fool. It's spring time and love is in the air. If a girl just gives him a glance, he thinks she's interested. The Fool's too dumb to realize, he doesn't have a chance.

This Month's Header

Like usual I'm late putting up a new header. I've been busy and didn't know what to do so, I just pasted in some new concept art I just finished.

The design was changed and I won't mention the builders name... to protect the guilty.

Valentines

From a card I made in 1997

This Month's Very Late Header

You might have noticed that last month's header didn't have a date on it. This was done since I originally thought I'd just leave it up for awhile. Then I had what I thought was a clever idea of changing it to honor Black History Month which would also be fast and easy. Clever might be argued but, fast and easy?... it didn't turn out that way.

Last month and this month for comparison. At first I thought going from one to the other wouldn't require much. You know, replace some heads (on people and bike), draw up some new bars, pipes, and seat. No biggie, until I got into the thick of it.


First, I found I had to redraw almost the entire bike. Then all the elements below. This alone took enough time. What I didn't realize was, how much time it would take to put everything in at just the right angle and place. I found I needed to move and tweak a lot of little things in the original art. Stuff like moving the tools and crate a touch, tweaking the box, and test placing all the new elements a few times until they looked just right.


All in all, it took much longer than doing the last header from scratch. Not to mention, it's late and for a short month. Was it worth it? I don't know but, once I get an idea...

There's a lot more to say about this month's header than just the process of doing the art (which I didn't plan on ranting about). Now, I hope to get to that while there's still time left.

Wheels Keep on Turning / The Dance of the Spokes

Back around 1979 in an Illustration class in Art School , we were given an assignment after being exposed to the art of Marcel Duchamp. I don't remember the perimeters of the assignment other than this being one of the things I came up with.


My generation grew up building models. Marcel poked fun at the art world. This was my way at poking fun at him,"conceptual art", and the model kits of the sixties.

Marcel Duchamp is considered by some as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Before you laugh, you have to consider that he was poking fun at the art establishment but, also the first (for better or worst), to experiment with "conceptual art", decades before the term was ever coined.

Marcel's words from a website I found: "In 1913 I had the happy idea to fasten a bicycle wheel to a kitchen stool and watch it turn."


The two sides of the box I made. Having fun with how those old AMT and Revell model kits were sold as Three in One.

He continues, "The Bicycle Wheel is my first Readymade, so much so that at first it wasn't even called a Readymade. It still had little to do with the idea of the Readymade. Rather it had more to do with the idea of chance. In a way, it was simply letting things go by themselves and having a sort of created atmosphere in a studio, an apartment where you live. Probably, to help your ideas come out of your head. To set the wheel turning was very soothing, very comforting, a sort of opening of avenues on other things than material life of every day. I liked the idea of having a bicycle wheel in my studio. I enjoyed looking at it, just as I enjoyed looking at the flames dancing in a fireplace. It was like having a fireplace in my studio, the movement of the wheel reminded me of the movement of flames".


My miniature was based on the one above he made in 1951 for MOMA New York. In many ways it's the the most significant one, since it was the first to be exhibited to the art world. I'm guessing it was the one I saw in my class and art history book.

Duchamp said that the Bicycle Wheel was a "personal experiment", which was never intended to be shown to the public and wasn't formally shown in a gallery space until 1951.


The original Bicycle Wheel (l1913 France), was lost. The one to the left (also lost), was the first recreation made after Duchamp came to the USA in 1916. Many mistakingly refer to the 1916 version as the original since it's the first photographed. No, that's not me (on the right), in my studio. It's Marcel wearing a lampshade with a later recreation of the 1916 version in the sixties.

Since 1951 a few more Bicycle Wheel replicas were made. In Milan 1964, 8 were made based on the 1916 version under Duchamp's supervision and were signed. I came across one that was auctioned off for $1.7 million!


For my wheel, I used the front wheel off a Revell Chopped Hog Harley model. The fork is a cut down top fork tree from the Highway Patrol Harley model with model trees bent as legs. The stool was scratch built from balsa wood, wood dowels, and toothpicks.

Too me, there is something about the juxtaposition of the two objects. I also wonder if I'm the only one that can appreciate this strange combination of models from the sixties and art.

Now, before you shrug his concept off as stupid, think about it. 1. It wasn't Duchamp, rather the art community that made big deal of his Readymades. 2. It was a thinking machine for him to get ideas turning in his head. 3. Who can resist touching and turning a wheel? Who hasn't played with spinning a wheel, or been mesmerized by the criss cross visual flicker of the dance of the spokes?

This Month's Header-Workbench Wise Guys

Be it a project you have in mind or yourself, the beginning of the year is a natural time reflect and think about what your going to get done. For those in the colder climates, it's a natural time to fix or rebuild your bike.


This month's art was originally inspired by the art below. It's also inspired by events that may or may not have actually taken place. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely intentional.

Cool old art from something titled Workbench Wisdom. I don't recall what blog it came from.

I usually don't make resolutions but, this year I plan on getting a lot more stuff done including finally finishing a motorcycle and doing more art.

The other day I heard a study that said, 92% of new years resolutions are not kept. While that doesn't bode well, Why wait for New Years? You can decide to make a change any day of the year.

TMH Part 2 The Stripped Dresser Part 1

Here's my painting that I modified for This Month's Header.

The Harley art (below), for the 1958 model brochure served as inspiration. At the time I only had a postage stamp sized image for reference and thought it was cool so, wanted to do something like it only with more of a 60's look. The bike was made a 1960 model by changing the gas tank paint, emblem, and a headlight nacelle. I used the rocket graphic from that eras saddlebags along with some stars for the background which sort of gives it a Jetsons feel.

I call this style of Harley a "stripped dresser" since from about the 60's onward, FL's were pretty much sold with windshields, saddlebags, luggage racks, spot lamps, parking lights/turn signals, etc.

Rigid frame bikes definitely make the best choppers and bob jobs but, in my opinion, the Duo-Glides look even better when it comes to this stripped down elemental form.

This Month's Header-Merry F'ing Christmas

Can you believe it's already December?

Sorry about the lack of post but, being busy and leaving town for the Thanksgiving holiday, not much could be done about it. It's so bad that I'm posting this month's header back to back with last month's somewhat late explanation.

This art (re-worked for the season), is based on a piece I did several years ago. Why do I bother since, for the most part, I dread Christmas?

Later in the month, I'll reveal the art it is based on plus some ramblings on a related topic. I'll try to make up for the recent lack of post.

This Month's Header-First Ride

WTF? This Month's Header explanation is a bit late, but is about and dedicated to First Rides. (Since no photos exist of this machine, I decided to illustrate this story)

When I say First Rides, I'm talking about that first time you rode a two wheeler powered by something other than your own two feet.

Here's how my story goes....

I'm the youngest of 3 boys, all two years apart. My oldest brother Lewy says the year was either 1964 or '65. This would mean he was about 13 or 14 years old, my next brother was 11 or 12, and I was 9 or 10.

He says that a friend from school with the last name Cruise had a homemade mini-bike and was in the process of upgrading to a better one. He told my brother if he bought 2 wheels with solid rubber tires for $5 dollars he'd give him the frame.


The Beast. A bicycle framed, lawnmower engine powered, push started, clutch-less/direct belt drive, solid rubber wheeled, no brakes suicide machine, on sesame seed bun.

While I don't remember every detail of what went down when my brother first brought it home , I seem to recall that dad was a bit pissed off and it taking him a few days to be OK with it.

A deal was made. If my brothers and I agreed to use the old push mower, then he could borrow the Briggs and Stratton engine from the Craftsman power mower. It was a second hand mower also on the older side, made in the early fifties.


Dad lays down the ground rules before the trial run.

I'll never forget the last part of how that first trial run went. I believe dad tried it out first, deemed it sound, and assembled the troops in the driveway. He then says to my oldest brother, "Take it out around the block... (turning to my brother John), and when he gets back... you can ride it." He pauses a moment, turns to me and says, "You can't ride it... you're to little!"

Since it had no clutch, we pushed Lewy to get it started and off he went. When he returned he shut it down to stop, John climbed aboard, and again we pushed to start it for his turn.


The running hand off. Before long, we came up with a better system. Since it had no clutch, you'd go as slow as possible, jump off and hand it over to the next rider who'd run up beside you. To stop you would kill the throttle lever and let it chug to a halt.

I don't know if it was the disappointment on my face or what, but when my brother John came back, dad said, "Oh... alright, you can try it.... just don't move the throttle lever past here."

What that says about my dad, I'm not sure, but for the next few days we were chasing each other riding what had to be one of the most dangerous vehicles a kid could have fun on... yelling for our turn and smiling ear to ear.


Flatheads Forever. Several years ago, I found the exact same type of engine off another Craftsman mower at a local swap meet for $10. I'd love to recreate that first bike but, with a clutch, pneumatic tires, and brakes. I failed to mention, while riding that deathtrap you had to keep your leg away from the spinning, sock eating, rope starter.

It doesn't seem like we rode it for long and I can't recall why we stopped, or what became of the frame. I do know my oldest brother soon got a better unfinished frame, but that project never got done.

Later, we had proper mini bikes. I got a new Taco 44 and then my brother John got a Flexo Big Bear Scrambler from a friend. That got crazy!

For a lot of us, it's in our blood. Once you get a taste of 2 wheel power, there's no turning back.

I'm sure many of you got your own start in a very similar way.

All Hallow's Eve

Have a "Safe Insane" one.

This Month's Header, A Little Knucklehead

This months header's art is from a small painting I did of a friends bike back in 1995. If my memory is correct, it was a rare 1942 model. I used a H-D factory photo from a 1939 model for reference and then made changes to match his bike. He ran a 18" wheel in front and a 16" in the back. One mistake, I retained the smaller size of the earlier model's air cleaner.

Knuckleheads Rule. Ruler and penny for scale.


Getting old sucks. It even surprises me the level of detail I use to paint without the use of reading glasses.

This Month's Header-Under The Influence

I did this drawing sometime in 1973 and you can clearly see the influence of the two bikes below.

Much of the general design was inspired from Joe Hurst's White Bear, but I used a Cone Motor instead of a Generator Shovel.

The bike from the center spread of Big Bike Magazine Sept. 1972 was the other source of influence. Borrowed from it were the rear fender, polished mags, rectangular headlight, pullbacks, and much of the style of the paint. It was also a South Bay bike but had more of a AEE Choppers look rather than the Dick Allen/Fats South Bay Style. The photo looks to be taken at the break water in King Harbor Redondo Beach, CA. with the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the background.

L.L.Long Bike Art

Here's a drawing I did either late in 72, or early 73. Long bikes were still in but getting lower. No high seats and pipes. The performance trend was gaining strength. Big carbs, magnetos and custom oil tanks were the hot set up... as were "Hot Pants" (short shorts on da'ladies).

CK's Chopper Sculpture

First, I posted Greg Parigian's sculpture and then Bruce Parrish's, so here's mine. It was done in the fall session of my senior year in 1972. It was part of an assignment in a art class where we were suppose to learn the craft of lost wax casting a plaster figure. Of course I made a biker figure for the bike using a wire armature covered with and sculpted in wax. I never did the casting part nor remember any classmates doing it for that matter. I think we all ran out of time.

It's a time consuming yet primitive technique since it takes no welding or soldering skills...
...just needle-nose pliers and wire.

Check out the amazing detail!... ...I kid.


I wish this old photo was better. The figure was actually fairly detailed and pretty cool. I kept it in a box with other stuff for a long time but finally grew tired of the wax sticking to things so tossed it. I now regret that.

This Month's Header

I really liked the art I came up with for last July's header and wanted to do something similar. My wife said, "why don't you do fireworks coming out of exhaust pipes?...
...and choppers and bobbers only"!

Born Free 3 on Saturday

Just in case someone still doesn't know, the big show is Saturday. Click on this: Born Free for all the show info.

This brown version is one of about 24 I did working with Mike and Grant. Grant probably did another 6-12. I want to make a collaged image of all of them.

This Month's Header

June means it's time to get ready for Born-Free 3. Seems like it's been along time coming, but not for long.

I Photoshoped the girls onto the Born-Free knuckle after the first Garage Co. party, so I couldn't resist going all the way. I'm hoping this is how the day will end.

Tattoo Progress

Ryan sent a progress report on his new tattoo.

The Knuckle Reaper was originally from my October 2010 Halloween header art. It got more reaction than any other art on the blog. Should I do a T-Shirt of it?

Old Chopper Drawings

When Greg Parigian sent his sculpture photos, I asked if he could send some of my old drawings that I haven't seen for years.

I haven't seen the top one since about 1969. He sent a copy of the bottom one a few years ago and it's been posted before.


The chopper out front is a trike featuring a surrey type top and wooden pickup box in the back. Until now, I completely forgot this drawing. It's funny how the memories come back.


I'm 99% sure this of an actual trike. There's are just too many details that I know I didn't make up. There was a Asian biker who went by the nickname "Chink" that had a trike like this. He and some other bikers lived in an old two story house across from the Jack in Box on the corner of Flower st. and Century Blvd in Inglewood, CA. Greg and I once rode our chopped Sting-Rays over to check out their bikes. The bikers got a real kick out of our bicycles and took turns trying to ride them. If only we took a camera. I Google mapped it, and it appears the house and a remodeled Jack in the Box are still there.