1320Designs – Hot Rod Concept Drawings

Drawing Cars with My Buddy Joel

This blog post is a long time coming.  We at MyRideisMe have shown off a number of talented hot rod artists.  Joel Nelson of 1320 Designs is most definitely on that list.  I mean, just dig these drawings below.   Asking Joel how he got into drawing cars, he said:

I got into drawing cars from watching The Dukes of Hazzard on prime time and Smokey and the Bandit. Thankfully CarTOONS was in full circulation too and that really put me over the edge! Then during the late 80′s and early 90′s, I really got into drawing Pro Street cars. Nothing was safe from becoming “pro street-ed”. You could make anything look nasty by dropping it and adding a set of big ‘n’ littles!  I like to work with markers and pastels mostly but have been known to do hand painted work in Photoshop too. Nothing beats pencil and paper though!

This first one is Joel’s latest and is our own Pikesan’s 1961 AMC Rambler Wagon gasser concept drawing.  You’ll be seeing more of this concept from Joel in the future as he fine tunes Pikesan’s ideas onto paper for his project Rambler.  Like a budget Chip Foose if you will, drawing Pikesan’s project car ideas, allowing him to visualize and try out different mods, looks, paint jobs, wheels, etc. I’m amazed at the skill involved to do drawings like this.

Why “Ameripan”?  Well, Rambler American Wagon + Japan sourced engine (aka Nissan Titan truck 5.6L V8).  “Ameri – pan”.

The ’61 Rambler wagon looks so right as a gasser, don’t you think?

On to some of Joel’s fine hot rod art…these were his favorites.

Joel says if he didn’t have his other projects and had a little more time/space, this is what he’d build.  I can see why!  Very cool and clean rod.  I dig the brown color with the white walls and bumperless frontend.

Joel drew this ’66 ‘Burban for friend and fellow MyRideisMe.com member, Mr. Freeze.  He says these are 20″ Boss 338 wheels.  Shows great detail on the wheels with the chrome lip and gray centers.  The orange and white creamsicle 2-tone paint scheme flows nicely with this body style.

I personally love these 60′s GM short bed hot rod trucks.  This “Chebbie” is drawn more as a Custom with the black scallops, mini white walls on chrome Astro Supreme wheels.  Notice the ride height of all these rides.  Just hugging the ground. That’s the way Erock, another MyRideisMe.com member likes it!

Dig this funky Ford Econoline pickup. It was no small task to bag the stock suspension.  The rear meats almost look pro-street.  I love the detail in the pug-nose grille and headlights.  Stance and wheels can make anything look rad.  Even check out the decal in the rear glass.  You gotta stare at these renderings by Joel, there’s all kinds of details. This one’s also buddy Erock’s ride.

I love these old fenderless hot rods.  This is a 1936 International Harvester, an old friend of Joel’s built this.  Thanks to Facebook, they are back in touch after 20 years.  Check those Rallye wheels.  Check the weather and rusted paint details and aluminum fuel tank in the bed.

Now, I think I personally prefer the hand sketched/drawn hot rods with pencils, markers and pastels, but I have A LOT of respect for the skill to do digital renderings.  Joel says on his website that a buddy used to own a ’78 Ranchero.  If Joel got a hold of one, this is how he’d do it up.  Cool retro paint scheme and big Keystone mags.  Digital allows you to do beyond real reflections and shine.  Boom!  That’s wild!

Well, this was just a taste of Joel Nelson’s skills.  Hit him up with your project ideas or just go check out his other work on his website which also includes pinstriping.  Ya, he has some radical pinstriping skills too!  Lucky!!!

1320 Designs Blog

Thanks Joel for sharing your art with us.  Can’t wait to see the progress of Craig’s Rambler Gasser in the future.

Haddens Hot Rod Drawings

Hot Rod and Car Art

I wish I could draw cars.  I was decent when I was young, but now I’m useless.  Ryan Hadden of Hadden Hot Rod Shop is a car nut who digs drawing cars too.  His own hot rod, a ’54 “Plain Lorraine” F-100 pickup was featured in a blog where Andy Kawahara painted a “shop truck” door logo.  If you missed that, check it out HERE.  Ryan has helped friends visualize their hot rod projects by sketching their custom car and hot rod ideas.  You may have seen his work in the Andy’s US Forest Service Truck feature.

Such a cool shop truck idea.  Ryan captured it perfectly in his sketch above and Andy built it to spec.

When choosing an artist to sketch your hot rod, there are many options.  The two biggest differences I see is an artist who uses pencil/marker and paper and the artist who uses a computer.  There are also differences in price.  There’s artists out there to fit anyone’s budget.

This is Andy Kawahara’s other hot rod truck (I see a theme here), a 1961 Apache done up in a Mild Custom look.  I’m really diggin’ the white walls and how they accent with the white top and tonneau cover.  I hope you can build it to look like that man!

Dig this crazy Camino!  The cool part about sketching cars is you can get crazy and creative.  This looks rad!  What do you guys think?

Sweet!  Check that grille and louvered hood.  I love these post WWII cars!

Here’s a cool delivery pro-street hot rod Ryan calls “Better Idea”.

Hope you liked these sketches by Ryan.  You can see more of his sketches and photography on the Hadden Hot Rod Shop Blog. You can contact him through his blog or email him HERE if you’re interested in having him sketch your hot rod ideas.

Ryan and I are working on a Hot Rod Sketch Tutorial, a step by step look at Ryan’s drawings with one of my crazy car ideas with a certain late model Japanese grocery getter.  Stay tuned!

Hechtspeed

Mellow Artist Paints Nostalgia and Speed

Car Art and Hot Rod Art Become Fine Art

Have you ever met Tom Fritz? Chances are, you’d remember if you had.

You probably noticed the dark display at one of your favorite car shows, then you were drawn in by the vivid paintings filling almost every bit of dark.  I last ran into the flip-flop wearing, ultra soft-spoken Fritz at Barrett Jackson 2010. I don’t know crap about art, especially fine art except for what I like, and I like what Tom’s throwing down.

Tom’s art is all the more sweet when he takes the time to talk with you about each piece and fill you in on some of the catchy titles like: “Feeling the Belts”, “Raising Merry Hell II”, “Ancient Barbaric Amusements” and one of my favorites, “Quick Sombish”.  (link to Fritzart Gallery) Tom wrote about the making of “Quick Sombish” from the concept sketches to the in-process work and of course, the finished piece (shown here). To date, it’s one of my favorite stories at MyRideisMe.com and a recommended read for any artist. Read about this Wheels up front engine dragster by clicking here.

To pass the time when Tom’s at a show, sometimes he’ll paint. Swanee nabbed this action shot of Tom at my request because I just couldn’t believe how he holds his brush. Arm extended, holding the brush nearly at it’s end, he paints these strikingly beautiful paintings. Is anyone else amazed by this? I’d shake and be smooth like a California highway. It’s a treat to watch.

You can barely see the reference photo he’s got behind the light, and even tougher to see in a photo is the sketched image he’s after. From there, Fritz usually adds a period character that no doubt loves his hot rod like no other (or is driving the piss out of it!)

These two paintings are 1 of a kind. I know the Hemi powered, blown dragster racing out of the blazing sunset was sold before the paint dried. As you can imagine, Barrett Jackson attracts quite a few who only want (and can easily afford) original paintings.  Up in the top left corner of this picture, you can see another of my favorites, mentioned above, called “Feeling the Belts”.  Chutes-out, this front engine dragster’s easing to stop through an almost Tom Fritz-signature, warm and glowing sunset. Damn Tom, it’s hard to pick a favorite!

So when you see Tom at the next show, go say hi and ask about, “Messin with the Institution” or maybe, “Shaving the Devil’s Beard” shown in his display. The same warm glow seen in the painting’s also waiting for you in conversation with Tom. Enjoy.

Visit Tom Fritz website here.

GNRS After Party: Pinups, Hot Rod Art and Music

My friend Mitzi, pinup and hot rod photographer extrordinaire from Mitziandco.com, has helped out MyRideisMe.com by generously supplying some of the hottest pinup pics found in our pinup model gallery and now is throwing a party!  Saturday night, 1/30/2010, after shooting pinup models wide-open at the Grand National Roadster Show, Mitzi will open her new studio to show her favorite pictures, hot rod art and a special burlesque show!  Everyone’s welcome, so we’ll see you there!  Some more details for you:

Join us for an evening of Art, Music and Burlesque on Saturday January 30th as Mitzi & Co. along with Cherry Martini bring you Fueled The Art Show. An amazing collection of artwork will be on display and for sale from artists Keith Weesner, The Pizz, Max Grundy, George Barris, Mitzi Valenzuela, Dwayne Vance, Tiki Ray and more.

The evening kicks off with live burlesque performances by Miss Rockwell DeVil, Violet Valentine and Betsey Bosen.

Join us for the after party following Grand National Roadster Show on Saturday night.
Only 10 minutes from the Pomona Fairplex at the Mitzi & Co. Photo Studio in San Dimas, CA. (address on the flier below)

Show starts at 8pm and goes till Midnight. Complimentary beer and wine!
See you there!

(click on the flier to see it full size)

If you’re coming to the party, leave a comment! (you don’t have to be a member!)

“Internet Barn Find #11″: Sandy’s Soda Can Hot Rod Masterpieces

This is probably the coolest Barn Find to date.  I’m not gonna talk much on this one, because it will take up too much space where pictures should be.  Please check out this website. 

Looks like each car can be purchased for $2000.  Heck, if you’re crazy enough, you can purchase his drafting plans for $10/ea to build your own.  Good luck though, because you’re going to need serious craftsmanship to build it. 

Here’s the website: Sandy’s Can Cars

You’ll be blown away, I was!

Hechtspeed

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