Paint by Numbers | all of those tank badges were painted by hand. Each one painstakingly given a pearly white background and black enamel lettering infill.
Factoid: Dan Robbins who invented Paint-by-Numbers in the fifties died last week aged 93.
March 25, 2019
For want of a spade
Kustom Kat |For over five decades the custom motorcycle scene has been dominated by one name Arlen Ness. He passed away over the weekend leaving a void in the genre. Taking the laid-back Californian attitude and rebuilding bikes into crazy vestiges of their former self he would use mostly Harley Davidson’s to create multitudes of choppers, bobbers, and, like this Triumph, diggers. This latter style was a needle thin profile with stretched out forks – highly impractical but look beautiful. Arlen Ness 1938-20019 RIP
March 14, 2019
21
Lightning | an unusual marketing move using the image of Mach 2 capable RAF jets to promote the futuristic appeal of the 350cc ‘Twenty One”. The streamlined semi-enclosing bodywork may create a sense of tomorrow especially that rear ‘bathtub’. Nevertheless I like the page layout and mid century graphic form.
March 12, 2019
Lake Shore Drive to Wacker
Three One Two | The area code for Chicago and today’s date March the Twelfth. Here’s a ripper of a custom cafe by the lads at Analog Motorcycles, a small scale custom ‘shop based in Waukegan IL. The donor bike is an ’08 Thruxton and plenty of goodies were added to its capable chassis to assemble a very unique machine. It ain’t brutish, nor a wallflower, but is purposeful with a confident stance.
March 5, 2019
Gotta Wear Shades
Optimism | Iconic motorcycles usually look back for inspiration. Tradition, timeliness, nostalgia. “If it ain’t broke; don’t fix it!” Well sometimes we need lifted by inspiration of a dream that could be. Sci-Fi is an escape to days of what-could-be. Not the bleak dystopian horizon that current world events often hint at: but a exciting dynamic Brave New World. This slick offering from Barbara Future Custom Motorcycle looks ready for 2059 – one hundred years after the legendary Bonneville.
Oh. And the future is electric too!
February 18, 2019
A Trick of the Tail
But is it Art? Our feline friend finds a comfy perch to snooze the day away on. Or perhaps reckons the seat makes a decent scratching post. Nevertheless tabby complements this custom ‘flat packer’ two wheeled piece of furniture by Italian designer Joe Velluto.
January 7, 2019
Whittled
Woodworking Wonder – Russian Carpenter Yuri Hvtisishvili has created a marvelous full size replica of a Soviet era IZH 49 out of pine & beech. With superlative expertise in sawing, planing, routing, augering, chiseling and sanding; it’s a wonderful expression in wood.
January 6, 2019
Do or Do Not… there is no Try
Resolute – It is typical of the New Year for us to put on the mask of Janus and look back at what we achieved (or not) the previous year and thus look forward to the coming twelve months and make a determination of what we want to achieve. Usually in an effort to better ourselves; and, in a way, make this time we have count. Me? I’m not a big one for ‘resolutions’ but it’s fun to think of things that you would like to try and do. A list you ask? Well, here goes:
- Write/Illustrate a children’s book.
- Ride the Triumph Tiger more.
- Sketch more.
- Ride the Lake Michigan loop.
- Fettle the Bonneville for occasional vintage runs.
- Get the Cub out onto some off-road shenanigans.
January 5, 2019
Branded
GB Logo for page header- draft example of a look similar to the Triumph Tiger logo yesterday.
January 4, 2019
Branding
Logo – looking for inspiration for an update to the blog page header… watch this space!
December 15, 2018
Velocette Vixen
A Ray of Sunshine – today is the birthday of one half of preeminent mid century designers, the Eameses. Ray Eames was born in 1912 and along with her designer husband Charles created some of the most iconic objects in the fifties. Their hard work ethic relied on playful creativity to push the boundaries of design.
December 3, 2018
Machine
Three and a Half – further to yesterday’s posting with the LE to JO’G race here is some illustration, literature imagery and motorcycle photography of the Triumph used in the run. It’s now considered an antique at over a Century old but some collectors still ride them with passion.
November 12, 2018
Marvelous
Excelsior! “You know, my motto is ‘Excelsior.’ That’s an old word that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory.’ It’s on the seal of the state of New York. Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” – Stan Lee 1922-2018
November 7, 2018
B&W
Vector – technical illustration of the Tiger. Nice lineweights for suitable definition.
October 24, 2018
Couple
Twenty Scored- today we celebrate our 20th year as a happily married couple. Here’s an old photo we reconstructed with us posing like design couple Charles & Ray Eames.
