Racecar 13 | Tanner Goldbeck

F@$king Christmas toys.

2011-12-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

I like to think of battleships at Christmas. Like big giant tin toys of terror.

ICON Tanks

2011-12-08T13:20:00.001-08:00

Found a few ICON tank pics. Not too many brush painted tanks around. I never learned to airbrush much. Probably never will.

Toupee...

2011-11-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

Mr. Yuk was the man!

2011-11-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning cartoons had their cool moments. Every kid knew about the Bill on Capital Hill and Interplanet Janet... but Mr. Yuck was cool one. He made you sick. I wanted those stickers but never got them.

Downtown L.A.

2011-10-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Found some old photos of the downtown L.A. Some parts look ancient and others are exactly the same. Where have all the cool cars gone?

Found my current space in the Continental Building... probably still somebody's office...

This intersection has been used in countless movies and commercials. Look familiar? Most tv shows set in New York... shot right around here. Movies too...

Cliftons... now a shell of its former self... under new owners who promise not to change but guarantee to hipster out the last flicker of real life that made it cool.

Never got to see this spot... damn... The inside was just as crazy and if you didn't have any money, you didn't have to pay for lunch. What a concept.

Largemouth mentality...

2011-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different." Kurt Vonnegut
I took a work break to post some recent fishing pics. I'd rather be back at that pond today then occupying L.A. with my butt in this chair.

2011-09-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

If you spend your whole life drawing, chances are there is a file in a box somewhere in a basement with images way back before you ever knew what getting paid was all about. Drawings done just because you wanted to draw. Because it has always been an addiction, always been a part of your life and always made sense.

Dinosaurs have always been cool.

This one was off my Ozzy phase. "sold my soul for rock and roll" Too bad I never learned how to spell.

New Icon Alliance "Harbinger" helmet

2011-08-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

Always cool when a new graphic hits the streets. This dude got as much detail as I could figure out how to possibly stuff into one batch of Illustrator files. Vectoring splatter patterns... its a party!

For the love of sh*ts and giggles...

2011-08-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

For the 10 people who follow my blog... a little fuzzed out teaser pic of whats been going on. click on it for a bigger view... stay focused...

Old Ghost Photography

2011-05-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Found a box of negatives stashed away in my file cabinet. Pre 1990... Random shots from a few lifetimes ago. Mixed batch from where I grew up out in the boonies near the Mason Dixon line, and first year at The Maryland Institute College of Art, down in Baltimore City... I even found a shot of my old bosses from the 7-11 years in Jacksonville MD. Could write a book on that spot! Good times. Are these pics of any interest? Probably not to anyone who was never there. but what the hell... I flashbacked all over this stuff. I miss my VW too!

Skull ish...

2011-04-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

Color theory...

Last Vestiges...

2011-02-26T13:22:00.001-08:00

The thing about last vestiges is that you hardly ever notice when they are gone. Something once found everywhere and considered absolutely vital, can slip away silently one at a time until they are gone for good. Downtown L.A., like it's people, has a large population of survivors. They tenaciously hold on to their corners bearing the scars of age, abuse and neglect. But if you look, they are still there.

2011-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Icon has just released their Spring 2011 line up with the new "Lucky Lid" graphic. Most of the work I do for these helmets gets done over a year in advance so getting to see the final result is always a kick. If you get bored with your facebook and can't stand another tweet.. check out their gear or fart around on the Limiter site. And definitely watch their latest vehicular madness... I tacked the youtube at the bottom. I don't post too many tubes, but drifting a drag bike one handed is a bit fuc$ing nuts.

Helmet art on bikes

2011-01-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I get a few pics of artwork that people have transferred to fit their bikes. It is always a trip to see someone out on the freeway splitting lanes wearing something I was able to put together. Even crazier are the custom paints people have done on their own bikes. I've been lucky to be able to make art that people want to drop cash on. Hope that continues for quite a long time. Still trips me out.

Cranium Blend... Where to spend Holiday Cash?

2010-12-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

First shirt off the press for the new year. These are a limited run to see what kind of response I get. Haven't put together a decent site for the Cranium Blend empire yet but it will happen soon. If you wanna drop 20 bucks on a high quality, heavy weight shirt with a print that is as soft as the fabric and won't fade in the wash... send me a mail.
tgoldbeck@gmail.com
Skulls never get old, they never go out of fashion and lets face it... they make you all feel warm and fuzzy inside!

Duality opening night

2010-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Last night's DUALITY opening went off well. Artwalk can be a nightmare of rubber necking, tangled flesh jamming up sidewalks and chasing down taco trucks. Parking makes it that much more fun. Got to thank the people that showed up just for our gig, and all the people that hung out to see the show. Good times. Took some pics of each model for the final project. Eyeone, Kofie, Sharktoof, Retna and me.

Shot of Hacer, the sculptor behind the project, standing over the small model layout for the combined large pieces. Notice the little G.I. Joe dude hanging out for scale.

Had to add a few art and crowd shots too.

DUALITY Art Show - Thursday Nov. 11

2010-11-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

During Downtown L.A. Artwalk | 6-9 pm GH_STUDIO Presents: DUALITY Featuring: HACER | RETNA | KOFIE | TANNER | SHARKTOOF | EYEONE
CB Gallery | 408 S. Spring St. (at 4th) | L.A., CA 90013

If you're anywhere near the taco truck fiasco happening Thursday night in downtown Los Angeles... Stop by and check out our show.
I stuck a few shots of my contribution to the cause in progress. The eventual final piece will be somewhere around 8 ft tall and 12 ft long. Folded steel plates weighing damn near 10,000 pounds. Kinda cool...

Farting with Photoshop

2010-10-12T01:31:00.000-07:00

I had a black and white photo from a shoot a few years back. Spent a few minutes trying to imitate old colorized magazine photos. Its a doodle. I've seen this car out at events a few times over the years. Love the lines and roughed up paint job.

B-17

2010-09-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

B-17's were the heavy hitters over Europe in WWII. Their losses were some of the highest in WWII. Of the original 1200 pilots and crew, only about 300 survived. B-17's were known to take a lot of damage and still make it home. The photo of the B-17 with the exploded nose made it back to base. The skies were full of these monsters on regular thousand plane raids. Something that must have been unreal to witness... This gets into my head.

Art Show in Portland!!!!

2010-07-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Imagine a guy who makes art all day every day actually getting into an art show! It happens every now and then. Dropping some info on our show in Portland next Thursday the 29th. If anyone lives in or near the PDX... stop by and entertain your retinas at the Goodfoot Lounge for awhile. Ought to be a damn good show and well worth the effort. Gonna be a good show with great artists... Codak, Eyeone, Gabe Decker, J.Shea 9 and me... Racecar13.

Me 323

2010-07-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of airplanes! I'm generally addicted to all things mechanical. Gears, wheels, motors, cars, planes, rockets... all of it. Cross that with a love for history and you get a WWII aviation nut bag! Nothing brings rapid innovation like a full blown world war. Most people might be familiar with the greats... the B17's, the Mustangs, Spitfires, P-38's and P-47s. But there were just as many unusual creations that never left much of a mark.
We all know Germans were known for their big plans and super secret projects. I'm no fan of the Nazi plan by any stretch of the imagination but some of the remarkable projects they tossed into the sky rode the boundaries between pure recklessness and genuine cutting edge innovation. Perhaps you've heard they were the first to use rockets and to take shots at the flying wing design. But have you ever heard of the Messerschmitt 323? Maybe not.
When I was a kid I had seen a few pictures of one of these oddly shaped flying boxes. Never knew its name and never really looked into. I recently ran into this ugly bird and figured it was worth a blog. So here it for shits and grins...

The Me 323 was never an overly successful creation. It was built from several ideas that had already been in use. The concept was to create a light weight transport plane that could travel long distances to resupply forces along the Russian front as well as in Africa. She had a light weight body based on glider technology combined with six captured French 990 hp Gnome-Rhone 14 cylinder radial engines. The unusual mix of a massive wing and a canvas wrapped shell sounds a bit precarious at best. She could handle large cargo but never got a decent speed or ceiling. In actual combat, she was an easy target and suffered massive losses. On one run in 1943 while crossing the Mediterranean bound for Tunis, 14 of 16 323's were take out by British Spitfires.

Two gunner positions inside the wings of the plane.

Rockets were added to the wings to create lift on short runways. I don't think that technology was all figure out to well at the time.

If for whatever reason you've read this far... There you have it... The Me 323. Got to love this bird! She could very well be the ugly grandfather of all heavy lift aircraft in use today. Go drink a beer!

Whats the point?

2010-06-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

What really goes into making a graphic that might end up on a helmet? Looking at the slick new production samples is always a great artistic high. I get a buzz off staring at finished new images after so many weeks of brain frying clicking and dragging thousands upon thousands of points and curves that make up all the color layers. From the first sketches all the way through to final Illustrator layers I try to keep a basic idea on what the image will look like when its done. I try to set them up so that all the people who handle the files into the production process can see what I'm seeing and hopefully have little trouble translating the chaos. My small brain takes a beating attempting to process and direct the detailed tedium. But it wasn't always this way.

I grew up using only pencils and ink for finished images. Spent many hours in dark rooms with hand cut rubylith seps and diffusion transfer machines. Shooting halftones, bumping shots, choking and spreading exposures... not to mention changing fixer and developer all the time. I don't remember the last day I used a vacuum table or had to order a box of film. At some point I sat down to use a Mac and everything changed. I still love to use the pencils and inks for the lines but after a clean high rez scan... my little universe has completely changed.

The big buzz about the computer was how fast everything was going to get done. While it is quite true that operations go at lightning speed... My deadlines are just as tight, the work nights go as late as they ever did back then and the work never seems to get done any faster. So whats the point? Dunno... But it does looks kinda cool on a screen capture. Just for Kicks... Have a good damn day!

Pencils and finals

2010-06-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

Before and after pics on the new Icon Chieftain art. Something about pencil drawings seems to make them look dynamic. Pencils can look better then the final inks. Kinda cool.

Pigeon ball

2010-05-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Pershing Square piegeon pic for kicks. There ought to be some humor bit about a pigeon and big balls... but I'll keep it as clean as possible... Whatever works.

I tried to be Frank!

2010-05-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

To say that Frank Frazetta was an influential artist is like telling someone the sky is blue. After noticing every post on facebook I figured it was a bit redundant to say my peace. As it happens, I recently took a stab at a gas tank oil painting for an Icon project. No easy task, but I did what I could first time out of the gate. Some days I wish I had taken up airbrush... The next trick is getting the clear to stick.

Nice Day for a Drive

2010-05-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Got to take the Olds out for a spin this weekend. The Great Pumpkin lives.

Motor Cult Cranium Chaos

2010-05-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

Motor Cult loves skulls too. Got some new works in production. Don't know Motor Cult? You want the real deal and not that boutique mall, weekend warrior wannabe crap... Check them out.

Strangelove interlude

2010-04-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to drop a bomb on people to get their attention. Sometimes its cool to give props to great films with explosive endings and their creative use of military documentation. I think this might be one of the best endings to any movie I've ever seen. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb.

My Own Personal Sacrifice...

2010-04-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

Hopefully the world will not suffer any sudden, unforeseen changes that might reverse our collectively insatiable love for skull art. I'd be out of a job! RIDE ICON .... Keep buying skulls .... My landlord loves taking those paychecks!

LC gets paint for Thinkspace and Tina.

2010-03-19T15:27:00.001-07:00

Friday April 9th from 7 - 10 pm... Stop by Thinkspace's new Culver City gallery location... It's a double hit, new gallery space and book release reception for Tina Ziegler's new book, Hunt and Gather. Thinkspace always puts on the great shows and Tina has been hard at work putting together a collection of artists for her project. Well worth the trip out. So quit your facebook, check your google maps and fire up the Yelp apps and make a night of it!

Sketching Skulls

2010-03-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Figured there were so many video clips on drawing skulls... one more couldn't hurt.

Need For Speed on the Wii

2010-02-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I forget all the chaos and deadlines end up turning out some finished products. Once I hit send on the invoice, projects filter out of my focus. I'm not much of a video game player. Tore myself up in one night on the Wii. However... I did do some skins for a Wii game last year. never saw the game, never got to try it and don't know how many skins made the cut. But if anyone reading this blog plays the Wii Need for Speed... I would love to know which one of these graphics got in.

Getty trippin'

2010-02-26T00:59:00.000-08:00

Took a trip to the Getty today for a bit of culture. Every now and then I need to get knocked on my ass by the old school masters. Always something new to dent my brain pan and fire up some ideas. Never really took much time to stare at the sculptures.

T-shirt ladies and the love of virtuous vice...

2010-02-22T01:17:00.000-08:00

T-shirt art will never make any freelance artist wealthy. But they are great practice for drawing voluptuous vicars of venerable vice... Tails and horns optional...

West Coast Choppers - Busted Knuckles

2010-02-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

Visit the Long Beach Chapel for some decent merch. Nothing says love like a pair of busted knuckles... West Coast Choppers understands your pain... Reaper drawings are always good for the soul.

New Icon Variant Helmet

2010-01-16T02:10:00.001-08:00

Icon just release their new helmet called the Variant. A totally new helmet with a nice little racecar skull. It's pretty much the kind of thing you either really like or really don't. But thats what pushing limits and designs will get you. Nobody gets too far without testing boundaries. As always, they back up the look with high quality... that part helps quite a bit.

Halftones

2009-12-26T13:46:00.001-08:00

"Dizzy in a Haze for 40 Days..."

2009-12-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

A Racecar 13 holiday brain fart extraordinaire.

One Million Points of Light

2009-12-02T02:03:00.000-08:00

More like a million cans of cheap beer. Cheap beer maybe, but not the light beer. Dark nights in funky bars with sloppy drunks bumping your arms. Crushed up at the bar, elbows soaked in puddles of brew listening to people dropping names and telling stories. Dudes trying to pick up ladies, ladies trying to ditch the dudes... I've been drawing skulls on coasters for too many years. Bar art! The more you draw, the slower you drink. People think you are deep in thought but its more fun to listen to them. These are just doodles... No brainer art. The bar ballpoint pens are always running out of ink and the coasters used to be thicker... Every now and then you get a fresh batch of circle coasters... life can be good. Some people buy you a beer for a swap, sometimes people get inspired to do their own. You never know what is going to happen. Usually I leave them behind or give them away but somehow these dudes made it back to the house. Strong swimmers... so they end up on this post for shits and giggles. Next time you're at the bar by yourself, hit the bartender up for his pen, find a thick coaster, peel it in half and have at it.

J. Shea 9 from the PDX to the DTN

2009-11-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

My long time east coast friend J. Shea 9 made his way down from the PDX this weekend for a show at the Hive Gallery. Always a good time to hang out and eyeball some works. Good friends, a few beers and some fresh new art...

Hot Rod Reunion 2009

2009-10-22T00:20:00.001-07:00

Got to roll the Olds out to Bakersfield for the Hot Rod Reunion this year. Truly an Ozone hole burning event not to be missed. Lots of old race cars and drivers came out from across the country. The Cacklefest was out of control. If you've you ever hung around a running top fuel dragster... close enough to get the burning eyes and oxygen robbing methane breeze... Image 100 running at the same time. Not the greenest event ever, but fossil fuels can be so much fun. A good day for sure.

Semper Fi part 2

2009-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Artwork in Afghanistan. My new friends in the Marines have landed in country and setup shop. Its still kind of a trip to know a small piece of what I do is hanging on a wall over there. From what i've been told, there is a whole lot of info that cannot be sent, pics that can't be posted... secret stuff that rivals the James Bond stories. But there may be some more photos and posts over time. I was also told by my friend in the pic that the Marines require sunglasses to be worn in photos. I thought they were just for the cool factor... Not that the trusty little peace keeper didn't add enough attitude.

Don't Tread on Me!

2009-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is the tangible manifestation of a single brain fart. The tangled, orgasmic, blasphemous image ocean my little brain treads water in 24 hours a day. Within this crumpled, chaotic pandemonium exists the daily struggle to select thoughts and focus on specifics. This is not my brain on drugs...

SEMPER FI

2009-09-12T16:45:00.001-07:00

I'd like to think I draw images from reality, or that they come from something that has a loosely realistic base. Most of the time the images go off in their own imaginary little directions and I never give it much thought. Nor do I think too much about who runs across these images and how it might influence them. I recently received an email from a Sgt with the 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion out of North Carolina. Turns out these guys wear gas masks and do the kinds of things that push the limits every day. Seems they like my version of the gas mask citizen. The Marines are getting ready to deploy over in Afghanistan this fall... They are getting ready to go off and do the things I only read about on my happy little CNN homepage every morning.
I don't often get a chance to do something for these people who are out there risking their ass every day... So in my own small way... I can make a few images they can take withe them. Hopefully they will stay in contact and I can post pics while they are over there. SEMPER FI

Labor Day Cruise 2009

2009-09-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend is a great time to get out and do whatever the hell you want to do. All you need is a grill, some coals, meat and a lighter. Beers are nice little accent as well. For the past few years I've been hitting up the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa for the annual Labor Day Cruise. A Rojas family tradition that they have been keeping for hundreds of years. This is the first year we've taken the Olds. Project cars are always going to be a labor of love. The more work you put into them, the more fun they are to drive. The Oldsmobile is a prime example. We love this pumpkin! She makes a lot of noise, eats way too much gas and handles like a dream.

The things you can find out about yourself online.

2009-09-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

Everybody Googles their name once in a while. As an artist, getting exposure online means business. Usually the business of "me" is mine... Never gave it much thought. Its always a kick in the shorts to see who else is out there and how they got on your search. Today I found a winner. On my quick Google search rambling I came across Art 98 Turns out I can order a genuine hand painted Chinese reproduction of my very own artwork.
At first I was a little pissed off. But then I started to think about it. How cool would it be to order up an actual hand painted reproduction of my own piece? I read on the site that they will even take a photo of it in progress to see if you want changes made... These guys are great! They even included the title of the publication they stole it from next to my name on the piece. I'm going to read more about the prices and see if i can get a bro deal...
Just for grins, I put up the original piece... Racecar Mother... Their reproduction photo was a little sloppy.

Los Angeles fires

2009-08-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Shots from city, east towards the mountains. When the wind shifts back towards the city it gets pretty thick downtown.

2009-08-18T00:19:00.000-07:00

Icon recently introduced a new graphic. Look ma... no skulls. Every now and then I do something that lacks the human skull. Its rare, but it can happen. This is the new Alliance SSR - Represent - graphic. Something different. You can get different cities on the cheek. Hence the "Represent" From New York to So Cal and even the Dirty South, you get a nice variety while keeping your mellon safe.

Icon Interview

2009-08-10T00:19:00.000-07:00

I've been lucky enough to work with Icon for more five years now... Great people to hang out with. Not many companies live life the way they promote it. People who want to put out great products that they are going to use and know are going to last. Even on the art end of the line, they spend the extra time to make sure things are going to look good. The extra attentions to details other people tend to skip. Doesn't hurt that they like the skulls... Buy more helmets...

New Art Show August 8 - Santa Barbara

2009-07-24T02:18:00.001-07:00

If you're raging around Santa Barbara Saturday August 8th, stop by and stare at some new creations. If Fiesta hasn't completely burnt you out and you feel the need to exit State Street for a few hours... come by and hang out for a bit... Grab the Lowrider cab, bring some of those confetti eggs and we'll party!

Companeros - Art Show in the PDX

2009-07-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

Low Down and Shifty

2009-07-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

My first tank paint job... no airbrush. A few months back I got to slop some paint at the Icon home base. I've been working on my Mary skills. Painting on canvas is basically easy... nice and flat. Traditionally painting on tanks can be a bit harder. In this case, the tank painting was almost as flat as the canvas. A good first step towards 3 dimensional paint jobs.

2009-06-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Two of the original artists from our Santa Barbara Collective are getting together for a show in Portland next week. J. Shea 9 and Larry mills will be showing their works at Igloo. If you happen to be in the Portland area, take a look at the new collaboration. Should be a damn fine event well worth your time. Stop by, eyeball some new works and have a great time-

Big Green Head

2009-06-26T02:08:00.000-07:00

Put some sketches together for my part in a wall mural set to happen this Saturday in San Diego. I get to throw some work up with an artist I truly admire... Mr. Ekundayo. Also in the mix, another great artist, Austin Blasingame will be jumping in to do a 20 feet long by 8 feet tall piece of art. I'll post what happens.

Messing with my iMovie

2009-06-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have two solid addictions. The first and foremost addiction, the one that runs my life rides my back and beats me like a redheaded stepchild is undeniably... art. Almost every art in any form has some kind of attraction or motivation. iMovie is just another way to fumble around and try to make some cool short flicks. The second addiction is automotive. Anything with a motor. Preferably something fast, loud and/or just plain cool. The older the better. This little ditty mixes the two quite well. "Drive it like you stole it"

Red 22 - New Silkscreen Print / Self Help Graphics

2009-05-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

I finally got a chance to put some film positives together and make an official silkscreen print. Seems rather fitting that the first image I get to slap down on some nice heavy weight, acid free paper would be a giant red skull. Hence the title, "Red 22"
This isn't your typical giclee, Epson inkjet, limited edition until someone hits print again series. Nobody is going to run off a hundred more next year if they sell out quick. There are 80 prints in this edition and thats all she wrote.
I was invited by my friend Gronk, to meet with the people from Self Help Graphics in east Los Angeles. They have a great history of printing with artists all over L.A. Joe Alpuche and his son Ivan are two silkscreen master printers that can tear it up with the big squeegees on the vacuum table. They've been doing their thing for years and that kind of skill and attention to detail makes the whole process seem easy.

If you'd like more info on picking up a print for yourself, send me an email and i'll help you out. "Red 22" is a spanking new, very affordable print that would look great in any room of your house. You'll also have the added satisfaction of knowing you've helped keep my lights on a few days longer. What more can you ask for?

Took a few shots while roaming the shop. I was able to spend a few days there drinking coffee, working up the nerve to try the super hot sauce and playing with the fish. Its a friendly and professional shop with people that really know their stuff. A great experience for sure.

Mary Treatment

2009-05-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

If there is one image of the Virgin Mary, there are millions. Those millions inspire millions more. I added one sketch to the collection. She is a rock star in some neighbor hoods around here. Who else can claim so many statues, murals and white vinyl stickers?

Dragfest 2009 Weekend

2009-05-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

Another pic blog without much copy... There aren't many things that can disturb the senses quite like the ear crushing blast of a top fuel dragster. Two of them launching in chorus is enough to make your ears bleed and leave you trying to shake the echoing ring out of your head. The smell of nitro a split second before the eye burning fumes cross your path... pure excitement. People who know me know that I have no sense of smell, but that experience is something you can taste. Something you feel in the air that puts your whole system on alert. Its adrenaline and panic mixed with anticipation and passion.
To be able to drive your race car to the track, make your passes and have a good time... thats what its all about. Dragfest was a great weekend. Not too many events where you can see so many nostalgic gassers, rails, funny cars and other drag cars come out and tear up the strip. Good times...

Oldsmobile Thread

2009-04-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Why build an Oldsmobile? Why not...

Viva Las Vegas 2009

2009-04-13T01:26:00.001-07:00

"Drive it like you stole it!" Quoted from an intensely intoxicated man just before he threw himself into a fight outside a Del Taco in San Diego several years ago.... Thats what our trip to Vegas is all about. 350 miles through the desert. A couple of old cars, trunks full of parts, spare tires, sleeping bags and flashlights. Last year we didn't finish the run. 80 miles into the return trip, the Olds burned up her crank bearings and we had to flat bed all the way home. Thanks to the shitty quality of Fram oil filters. Got'em? Get them off your cars!... AAA made no money off me last year.
You take your licks, suck it up and start rebuilding. This time we added a beefy race cam and few other tricks for some definite attitude enhancements. She's still a work in progress, needs paint and some body work, but we made it through this year. Desert trips are always the hardest. Running in the day with high temps can be harsh, traffic makes it worse. The winds get crazy out in the Mojave. I've seen it strong enough to rip the hood off Rick's car a few years back. Tore it from the hinges like paper. You never know what you're going to run into. One year it was butterflies. Millions of butterflies. So many that they were choking up radiators. Things you can never predict.
This year we pulled it off. The Oldsmobile made the full round trip. Being able to get a little redemption feels good. To put your motor through 700 miles of crazy driving conditions constitutes a decent break in tour. We survived 80 miles of stop and go holiday traffic in the sun, got to do some flat out open running at high speed, and had a great time. In the end, thats what its all about. Getting out on the road and testing what you've labored over for so long while trying to keep an eye out for trouble. That same guy at the Del Taco, having lost the fight and limped away, also said something else I remember... He yelled, "Your momma puto!" after running back, hopping a railing and sucker punching me in the head while I was ordering my grub. God Bless America...

All Eyes

2009-04-07T18:54:00.001-07:00

retina |ˈretn-ə|
noun ( pl. retinas or retinae |ˈretnˌē; ˈretnˌī|)
a layer at the back of the eyeball containing cells that are sensitive to light and that trigger nerve impulses that pass via the optic nerve to the brain, where a visual image is formed.
Eye docs have cool cameras...

Too many Places Twice as many Faces.

2009-04-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

20 years... 17 addresses - 35 roommates.

I caught myself on a thread about moving locations and all the old residences... I started to think about how many places i've moved into, how many times I packed up all my stuff and changed addresses. Turns out the list is longer then I had thought. Seventeen and counting. I'm not much of a list maker, but it goes something like this:

01. Lutherville Maryland - Division Ave.
02. Monkton Maryland - J.M Pearce Rd.
03. Bolton Hill, MD - 1400 block Park Ave.
04. Bolton Hill, MD - 1700 block Park Ave.
05. 75th St Ocean City, MD - Southern Comfort - Drink of choice for that phase.
06. 45th St Ocean City, MD - Bayside
07. Berlin, Maryland - Grays Corner Rd. - Town location for Runaway Bride... no shit. Middle of absolute nowhere.
08. Monkton again - J.M. Pearce Rd.
09. Dover, New Jersey - Clinton St. - Joe Kubert House
10. Dover, New Jersey - Blackwell St. - boarding house above "El Officina Del Abigado."
11. Santa Barbara, CA - Bath St. - Crazy nine fingered Polish lady landlord.
12. Summerland, CA -Evans Ave.
13. Santa Barbara, CA - Castillo St.
14. Santa Barbara, CA - Clearview Rd.
15. Santa Barbara, CA - Haley St. - Lived in an old restaurant converted into a studio
16. Santa Barbara, CA - Nopal St.
17. Los Angeles, CA - DTN 4th and Spring St.

That train of thought lead me to the inevitable roommate tally. I cannot remember all of them by name. Some I'm sure I left out, but I have lived with just about every kind of citizen you can think of. From a mild mannered Mennonite to a kleptomaniac blond who stole a boat, this list includes a wind surfing Dead playing hippie, Lesbians, a closet gay male who lived in total denial, a house full of anti social comic book artist's another house full of vegetarian alcoholics and a man with an egg selling brother who couldn't stop telling people he was in Vietnam during the war. Some became life long friends, others got warrants and split while the rest just faded away. All in all, it has been a wild ride. I now live alone and have been for three years. Heaven is not having someone eat your meat, steal your cheese or leave dirty dishes in the sink. I love knowing that my stuff will be in the exact same place no matter how long I am gone! AMEN...

01. Kurt B. - first roommate for MICA
02. Kevin L. - second roommate for MICA - I probably drove him nuts.
03. Rasta Berkley Man - Had a thing for having sex with white girls.
04. Soren W. - Never wore shoes, unbelievably disgusting eating habits. Listened to the Grateful Dead every night.
05. Amanda G. - Had a crush on her.
06. No name Girl 01 - short timer friend of Amanda's.
07. Kelley S. - Took her to my high school junior prom, moved to the beach as friends.
08. No name Girl 02 - girlfriend of Kevin - Nice girl, very sweet and easy to get along with.
09. Kevin - boyfriend of girl 02 - equally nice guy. They made a decent couple.
10. Jessica - crazy blond kleptomaniac- stole bikes, boats and money.
11. No name Girl 03- blond who fought with Klepto on a regular basis.
12. Amy - Also fought with klepto - she moved in and out in half a summer.
13. Brian W. - Damn cool group of vegetarians... all four in one house...
14. Rob M. - Vegetarian number 2 -Hairy dude, loves to party. Girls love him!
15. Dave L. - Vegetarian number 3 -Smart, politically motivated, loves the Redskins, still friends.
16. Kara - Vegetarian number 4 - Dated Dave, super cool.
17. Dan - Thought he was hot shit and let everyone know about it endlessly. Disappeared with with warrants in tow.
18. Kevin - Jekyll and Hyde - got drunk and got mean. Punched a hole in my wall.
19. Eric H. - His brother was the Egg Man. Had a cat, loved the Kings Pub in Berlin.
20. Dave M. - Skinniest artist ever. true friend that passed away.
21. Chris W. - Damn good artist, shy as hell.
22. Tyson M. - Shape shifter, doing well these days.
23. Damon S. - Damn fine artist from Flatbush. Cops pulled him over too often in Jersey.
24. Morey H. - Alaska boy, allergies... and walked in his sleep.
25. Guy roomed with Chris - Nice dude, seemed heavy into Jesus, not sure.
26. Tex B. - Elderly man with a young man's brain. Great artist who passed away.
27. Eric - Wrestler artist. Got drunk together first time in Jersey.
28. Scott - from Minnesota.
29. Trevor M. - Dude I roomed with at the Clinton House. Watched Cartoon Network 24/7.
30. Katee - First cohabitation with a GF.
31. Joe S. - The man, the myth, the legend. Great artist and truly a great friend.
32. Mary - Joe's girlfriend at the time.
33. Larry M. - Great photographer from Turlock. Still the man.
34. Ricky R. - Brother in my mexican family.
35. Coreen M. - Ex girl of Ricky. Married his twin.

Thats probably the only list post I'll ever make.

Van Wraps

2009-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Things you do, forget you've done and then find them again. My first van wrap for West Coast Choppers... Somewhere in the LBC city officials are cruising to their luncheons and ribbon cutting ceremonies in style.

Vegas Cup / Icon Moto

2009-03-24T01:37:00.001-07:00

Parts in the process. A small post from sketchs to print... Most of the work that goes into any logo or illustration, never gets out.

Time to dry-

2009-03-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Looks like this dude might be done. Not a whole lot different then yesterday's post. Details in the creature. I tried to get a more direct shot with my little camera. I need to let it dry and not touch it no matter what I think it needs...

More Progress

2009-03-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

Day 2... A bit more detail. The flying creature is starting to look respectable... Just a little.

painting update

2009-03-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Some sort of progress...

Oldsmobile Project Pics

2009-02-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

Three years of pics and vids off my little pocket camera so far... I finally got around to posting a selection of photos taken along the way. Putting together a custom ride with it's own character and style is most definitely an art form.
Got to give the props to Rick and his family. Rojas Speed and Style... To all the online catalog guys who have so graciously taken my credit card numbers and accepted the extra cash to send parts 2 day air... you guys rule! I hate you. Call you next week.

Click here to see the pics

Monkeys and Peacocks

2009-02-18T19:26:00.001-08:00

New York Post's Wednesday cartoon by Sean Delonas-
I read an article about the New York Post's Wednesday cartoon by artist Sean Delonas and felt compelled to write something about it. Moreover, to vent my reaction to Al Sharpton and his media grandstanding, finger pointing banter that never fails to drum up attention. This week's cartoon uses direct reference from a current event in which Police shot a chimpanzee after a Connecticut woman had been mauled. In my opinion, I just don't see intentional racial inferences.
It seems quite natural for political cartoonists to use current events as springboards for their particular commentary. In a CNN article, it was noted that Sharpton has been the butt of previous Delonas cartoons and I kinda have to wonder....
Sharpton was quoted as saying, "The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best, given the racist attacks throughout history that have made African-Americans synonymous with monkeys." ... duh... Its too bad the woman wasn't chewed on by a warthog or maybe a mad beaver.
Sharpton is calling for the cartoonist to be reprimanded and that the Post clarify their intent. CNN quoted Delonas as saying,"absolutely friggin' rediculous." Col Allan, the Post's editor-in-chief hit the nail on the head when he said, "It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more then a publicity opportunist," ouch! I get the feeling this media rumble has more to do with a certain strutting peacock then a dead chimp. Thats my own two cents...

Needles, ink, blood, tissue and compliments.

2009-02-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

Over the last few years I've gotten a few photos from people who have had some of my artwork inked. That has to be one of the coolest compliments any artist can receive. To have some of my art end up on someone's else's skin for the rest of their days... thats a trip.

The Ripper art show... ASR San Diego

2009-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

If you don't quite know VCJ's classic Powell Peralta Ripper graphic... then this show wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. For artist's old enough to recall the 80's, the Ripper has a certain historic precedence. For me, he was an early introduction into the world of art I kick around in today. It was great to see all the different styles and variations. People really spent time and put in a lot of effort to make this event a success. I Had a fun catching up with old friends and tossing back free beer.

Nothing like rolling up on an art show with you trusty digi and finding out your memory card is still at home plugged into your computer. These shots are all off the iphone. I must admit that iphones get some decent low light shots.
Jason Redwood and I hit San Diego for the opening night event. I didn't get all the art, However, Powell will be turning the art into a book. Kinda cool...

Didn't get a straight shot of my own piece...

Painting Dogs with a Mouse

2009-01-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't dropped cash on the stylus gear yet so I'm still using a mouse. I've used a mouse for so many years, it just seems normal. But I hear the pressure sensitive features are great for full paintings. So here is Ringo in a few stages...

Middle of the road progress

2009-01-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's paint session. Still working on defining the hands and some other details. Maybe half way through the process...

Work in Progress

2008-12-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

The main reason I created a blog was to pass around some artwork. I started taking these progress shots yesterday. I never know how they will end up. Could be good... could be a disaster... Who knows.

Playskool Fool!

2008-12-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Found this image and had to post it. Every now and then you run across an image of something forgotten that instantly takes you back to the very beginning. Something personal that cuts through the haze of vague flashes and fragmented events back beyond what you thought you could remember. This Playskool garage is definitely one of the earliest things I remember freaking out over. Maybe 1973-1975....

Finger Food

2008-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Stuck a philosophical finger up my slightly crusty art nose and picked this little dude. Larry Mills was cool enough to shoot some figure reference for a new painting that I'm trying to figure out. Turns out they posterize quite well. Gas masks always do. While pushing images around and contemplating some possibilities, this little giblet came to life. Dunno what to do with him yet. I never think that far ahead. Smells like a stencil, feels like a t-shirt. One more image for the Racecar files. So very... Soviet.

Another Science Fiction, big money waste of time!

2008-12-12T19:35:00.001-08:00

I've seen a film that was so bad in every way possible, I was compelled to write about it. I fear the future of big money science fiction films. Fear that there may never be another classic great feature to look forward to. Only more of the same lackluster, let me down again, lost causes. The blatant forgoing of good story telling while pressing total focus on the digital effects and pseudo scientific/military/paranormal babble that mystically pops up out of nowhere. The things that make a story worth telling, or in this case retelling, will never be found in those special effects. In my humble opinion its no secret and never has been that the value of a great story will always be found in the character and plot. By ignoring the basics and putting all their attention into dazzling the audience with earth ending disasters, moviemakers have bought themselves another giant celluloid bomb. Having said all of that, I must also say that I love what digital effects can do. I freaked the first time I saw the t-rex in Jurassic Park marveled at Lieutenant Dan and have been awed by them ever since. Digital effects and their endless applications are not to blame. Like any part of film making, they are merely a tool to enhance the story telling. I'd like to reference the saying, "Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should".
I left the theater reeling in angst just trying to hold onto one piece of that film I could speak fondly of. Nothing... Not a scene... Totally contrived in every single way. Whatever happened to character development? Just because an actor looks the part, does not mean it works. Every person from the totally hot, yet slightly reclusive babe scientist genius mom struggling to bare the pain of recovery in the loss of her husband all the while attempting to raise her angry, perfectly cute african american stepchild, to the redneck, hair trigger army leader that launches the always futile assaults against the alien ship. I understand that one beauty of old science fiction films has something to do with their more then predictable moments... but this film was so unbelievably politically correct down to every hair toss, tear loss and overacted hug... it all adds up to one big generic poop.

The one thing positive thing I will say about this version of, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is that it has inspired me run back to the first with open arms. To love the old films more and enjoy them for what they were. I will go back and watch "Starman", "Close Encounters", "Aliens" and "Blade Runner". Those spots in the film when the special effects were fuzzy or flat... perhaps when the space ships look like toy models or the aliens have zippers.... they will be loved and respected even more. I hope that one day some director will rise from the chaos of all these heavily saturated product placements, insanely over lit night shots and perfectly choreographed big budget battle scenes to bring us a film that really knocks me down and takes me for a ride I will never forget.

The potential to do so much with such a great classic had me fired up. The movie had me running for the door. At one point during a scene in a graveyard, you could hear some people in the audience barking comments and laughing...

Exit night

2008-12-09T03:14:00.000-08:00

The Exit night at Salon Sessions in Pasadena ended up being quite a show. It's not uncommon to have two or three mini events going on in one opening night. Pablo took that idea and ran ran with it. In one night the lineup included a band CD release party with live performance plus a full DJ setup, a video room for movie projections, a collaboration mural display, full art show, model and hair demos, car show and bike installations. The art show included large sculptures, live painting, photography and managed to pull in a top notch line of artists as well. All within one hair salon. It came down to the wire with installations and prep, but the turnout was impressive and the citizens were seemingly entertained. I took a few shots early on but lagged in the last half.

What can you say when you've got Ekundayo and KMNDZ together on one mural along with Steve Caballero and Lance Mountain... I finally got to meet up with Easyroc and swap some art banter. Installing work in a group show outside of a regular gallery is guaranteed to take a lot of preparation. Setting up can get hectic and a little out of control. I couldn't have hung my big skulls without the help of fellow artist Gerado Hacer and his brother the electrician who... I've ingeniously forgotten his name... Great people that make all the work worth wile.

If I had bothered to continue taking pics, I'd have one of Caballero. Finally got to see some of his stencil art in person. Cab's a great guy with a big heart and tons of fans. I don't know how he ever gets anywhere. People come at him from all directions. The skater artist combo lineup was an all-star list for sure. Got to meet Hosoi for the first time over dinner. Nothing like looking at digi pics of skate shots while cooking raw meet over a tiny little grill.... Good times.

One of the original Z-boys.... Mr. Chris Cahill overseeing the hanging of his art work.

Overall, a boat load of work, lots of people coming through, new faces, raw meat, babies, cars and good times. The next day, it all had to be put back the way it was. Get your hair did at Salon Sessions Studio 112 S. De Lacey Ave. Pasadena 91105.

Dusk

2008-12-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Dusk over the D.T.N. click the pic to see the whole image.

Upcoming show

2008-12-02T21:53:00.001-08:00

Definitely have to drop a promo bit for an upcoming event. I was lucky enough to get in on a great lineup. This Saturday, December 6th. Salon Sessions Studio - 112 S. De Lacey Ave - Pasadena 91105
Rebirth record release party...
Works by: Ekundayo, KMNDZ, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain and myself racecar 13. Also: Antonio Pelayo, Christian Hosoi, Ngoho, Craig Stecyk, Chris Cahill, Gerardo Hacer, Fater, Mtendere M., Corey Cady, Pacman, Easyroc, F. Gamboa, Skeem and Punkstar Kid. Looks like there will also be some custom bikes by Earl Shinya Kimura and screenings of "Bombit" and "Choppertown"
If you get a chance, drop in....

2008-12-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Top of the Dome... Crewest Gallery puts on a great show. I took a shot at some 3D artwork this year. Joe Shea 9 inspired creations that turned out somewhat interesting. I started with the idea of creating one tree sticking out of his head and covering the rest of the skull with graphics. Sorta went all woodsy instead.

Anyway, if you're ever in the L.A. DTN... check out their gallery - Crewest Gallery 110 Winston st. L.A., CA 90013
Foliage courtesy of Big Lots on Broadway. Hacked up some of their festive X-mas decorations.

Ripper Versions

2008-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Ripper is up for artistic interpretation. Powell has invited a crop of artist's to take a stab at the iconic VCJ masterpiece. They will be sponsoring an art event for this upcoming ASR trade show. Word is that there will be a book on all the variations. Got a look at Caballero's piece... Very cool.

Downtown L.A. in Living Color

2008-11-23T01:28:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore

2008-10-09T07:48:00.001-07:00

Snap shots on vacations used to cause slide shows in living rooms. I spent the better part of two weeks back east and these pics represent what my mangled brain managed to focus on. Trips can cause souvenirs. I came back with two Oriole t-shirts, a set of Oriole wristbands (to cover the breather on the Olds) and one genuine New Jersey Turnpike t-shirt too... That one is bad ass. "What Exit?"

Best part about flying Jet Blue is this screen. Nothing like being reminded that you are cruising at 30,000 feet going roughly 600 miles an hour while trying to get some shut eye...

Have you ever received a Social Security letter in the mail telling you exactly how much you've paid into the system? First seven entries were right here. Oh Thank Heaven for Seven Eleven. First paycheck was spent on one of the fancy top loading VCR's from Radio Shack. Almost bought the Beta... That gem was eventually stolen in our first and only home invasion not long after the purchase.

Our family eats Rappa scrapple and we use real night crawlers. You ever spend an hour or two creeping around in the dark at night with a flashlight and a bucket trying to sneak up on earthworms? Thats hardcore right there!

I included these trophies just for scale...

5 1/2 pounds, 21.5 inches long and the most insane part of my whole trip...

Beautifully Chewed up Metallic History

2008-09-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is an art blog dedicated to all the things that directly and more specifically, indirectly influence whatever final product ends up on a page. Today's thread... Vintage machines. Old race cars built by innovative speed freaks. Photos of races with people who have long since crossed the over to the great beyond. Still moments that were taken on random days in ordinary time without much thought of future longevity. Damn cool, chewed up frozen history.

The Almighty Scrapple!

2008-09-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

I found some pics off my last family visit to Baltimore. Over ten years out here in California and hardly anyone knows what scrapple is. Let alone how good this stuff tastes! Its not Spam... It is the missing link in a west coast perfect breakfast.

Read the ingredients... Barbaric combinations of Alpo inspired leftovers that would make any hearty eater think twice. But then again, what's really in a hot dog? Got to love the pork purity in this product... Pork stock, pork, pork livers, pork fat, pork snouts, pork hearts, a little bit of wheat flour, salt and a boat load of spices. So sweet!

Notice the loaf. What was that canned food Carl ate in Sling Blade? Lips and assholes....

3/8" perfect slices. Thick enough to brown well and cook through.

Flour both sides and place in a preheated pan at 375 degrees.

Brown them on medium heat for 8-10 minutes, flip and repeat. So damn easy, even I can do this.

Good to go. Scrapple doesn't taste like sausage or bacon. Its got a flavor all its own. Its not crispy or overly greasy.

Ketchup works on everything. In this example, pops has skipped the toast and gone right for the soft egg mix. California style would be to add some hot sauce of course...

Pops grew up on a farm. His stories on how this stuff got made in the old days... That might keep you from the table. However, if you've tried all the exotic toasts, sampled all the crafty egg combos, exhausted the plethora of homemade jams and life still finds you wanting more... treat yourself to scrapple. You too will understand why every breakfast deserves Scrapple. It will be the answer to your new dining prayers. Try it and let me know.

Labor Day Weekend...

2008-08-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

Racecar13.com was built to promote art. Art is what I do. Paintings, drawings, commercial jobs... its all connected. This blog page ought to be connected as well. Hopefully it will be. A painting just doesn't happen spontaneously. I used to think that they did. I'm finding out that more often strong influences can come from small details. Every artist has a unique way of filtering and composing their thoughts. I've been looking over old works and realizing that I have memories attached to them. Songs that were playing while I was painting, jobs on my mind while I was drawing... all seemingly random yet definitely woven into the final product.
What did John Singer Sargent listen to when he painted? Did Jacque Louis David contemplate paying his rent while creating his master works? Who was trying to wrap up one last section before dinner or trips to the pub? Who was hung over or had to take a dump? Surely Picasso had something unrelated to work running around in his mind while mid way through some mulit-million dollar painting.
In no way would I consider myself on any level near those greats, yet everyone who spends time on their own art, no matter how famous, how rich or how old... has in common the virtuous patter of little things rolling around in their own brainpan's while scratching out new creations. These blogs will be for those little things.

This particular blog is about Labor Day. More specifically, what I did on Labor Day weekend. I made my way to the Orange County Fairgrounds for... The Great Labor Day Cruise. The big choice with this weekend is to either hit Ventura Fairgrounds to attend the wildly successful Primer Nationals car show, or do as I did and check out the cruise. Times are rough for car guys. I am a confirmed car junkie as my credit card company will attest to... I'm on the phone with catalog people more then I talk to my own mother... Sorry mom! Gas prices and green people are making life difficult for those who love high octane. So crowds can be a little thin, but diehard gear heads won't be shut down.
The ever popular, highly advertised, often exploited car culture society is as random and chaotic as any other group of enthusiasts. The old guys, the traditionalists, the period types, posers, kids and general public. I personally gravitate towards the older styles and customs. I love the lines of the old bodies, the tricked out headders and blown big blocks. What the old school drag guys put together back when technology was more in the hands of people in back yards. I guess anything up to the early 70's can get me to stop and stare. So I snapped a few pics with my trusty old Cannon SD400, made a little vid and it ends up here. I hope you like this blog page so far. I'll keep adding as time and new fodder allow. Have a good day-

T

I am 8 Bit

2008-08-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

While I am still high off my second cup of coffee... I'm posting this one for the upcoming event of the decade. In my case, a couple of decades ago when video games were new and most people who might read this weren't even proverbial sparks in the eyes of their parents... I played Pong and it fractured my skull! Loved it!

Go see the "I Am 8 Bit" opening Thursday night August 14, 2008
8pm to Midnight.
World of Wonder Gallery
6650 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA

Gonna be some great stuff to sink into the gray matter.

On the lighter end of things... I was lucky enough to get myself interviewed and tossed up on the Juxtapoz site for a few minutes. Thanks Tina and Derek... check out all the posts for Hunt and Gather....

http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4001&Itemid=1

The Haley Collective... Opening Night!!!

2008-06-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed it... Opening night was a blast! After many long hours, and probably too many organic beers, having a packed house made it all worth while. We couldn't have asked for a better turnout. Thanks to everyone who broke their banks to fill their tanks and show up Saturday night. Many thanks to Scion and all the great people that worked hard to help us put this together... The show is going to be up until June 28, If you get a chance, stop by and eyeball the work. I've posted lots of pics from many people, but it's worth a trip to see everything in the flesh...

T

Art Show June 7th, Culver City... Scion Gallery

2008-05-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

Don't miss this one! If you're sitting around Saturday night with nothing better to do then surf Myspace! Head to Culver City. Featured artists: Joe Shea 9, Vanae Rivera, Larry Mills, J Rivas and myself... Tanner Goldbeck... racecar 13
This is our largest LA venue yet. Eyeball some new works, toss back a few drinks and enjoy the show. Its free, its fun and its good for you too!

1981

2008-04-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not brained out on the layouts here just yet. I figure I will be soon enough. For now I'll keep it simple. Larry Mills and I had a photo show opening in Santa Barbara at Art Resources last weekend. We had a great turn out. Lots of friends, a few drinks and some auto-motivated tunes from Mr. DJ Matt Armor. The show is up until May 10th so stop by and eyeball some prints... Might just change your life... Might not... You never can tell about these things. Larry Mills has posted a few pics on his blog... Gone by

Saturday, Tino rolled over to the Rojas Speed and Style yard, with his new toy. A 1981 Impala with a few minor alterations. If you've never gone down the road on three wheels... You don't know what you're missing. Last time I felt that sensation, it was followed by a roadside call to AAA and waiting for a tow. Too much fun and a shit load of batteries.... All good. I'm learning the imovie edits.

180 Specials of the day...

2008-03-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

180 hours, 180 cups of coffee, 180 repetitions of "Today's Special", 180 ways to decorate the same rectangle in a new way. Almost 180 spelling errors.

One hundred and eighty days of photos taken over a two year period put together to document what one routine can produce. There were multiple days of bad photos, mornings I forgot the camera or when the battery was dead. Towards the end of the sessions, the upper left hand section had the letters permanently worn through the board. The edges were getting beat up and the surface was wearing thin all over. These boards are in not specific order but you can tell the earlier specials from the stiff handwriting and funky spacing. If you're curious enough to stare, I hope you get a kick out of it.

A side note: One board took a few seconds off my fifteen minutes of fame. Intern Ross spent a day at the shop. I made him a special "special" that got a few laughs on the Tonight Show.

Oddly enough, I never got a straight shot of this board.

Racecar 13

2008-03-10T14:07:00.000-07:00