//// art challenge 8: regional custom styles \\\\

Alrighty then....

Nate had asked if I'd choose a subject for this go-round of the Art Challenge... And I thought "why not make this an opportunity to not only explore some art, but to study regional differences in car building styles as well?" Then I thought "man... what a long sentence."

Anyway, I've always been a huge fan of customizing in general, and intrigued by the difference in styles,depending on the region the car was built in. The Bay Area had its own style, in Southern California, you had greats like Valley Custom Shop and more names than I'll type here... There was the Wichita style, and, of course, the East Coast style, and so on...

My thinking for this edition of the challenge, should you care to accept it, is to either design a hot rod or custom car in the particular style of a region (like those mentioned above), or to create a regional style for your hometown, assuming no defined style ever really emerged (a Pittsburgh-style show rod? Why not?!). Let's keep the era HAMB-friendly, say, cars that may have been customized or hot-rodded between 1952 and 1962... Thus, any car, pre-'62, built in a style prior to 1963, with some regional styling choices is fair game. (Bonus points for Gilligan's Island-type builds from emerging nations? Probably not. "Coconut hubcaps were HUGE on the other side of the volcano.") Above all, HAVE FUN WITH IT.

Rules will be the same as always:
1. Keep the comments to a minimum.. we want more art than talk.. and this is not the place to debate what makes one style better than another, or anything like that.
Positive comments are encouraged.. but please don't quote the picture in your replies.

2. Only post art that is yours and you created for this challenge. This is the only way to keep it fair for all the art guys.

3. Have fun and push the concept as far as you can.

Let's give it some time, cutting off at midnight, April 22. Enjoy the hell out of it, and get creative!

Sure it's wide open... and that's the point here... we want everyone to join in. There were some great entries last time, and very creative solutions, to say the least... Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

 

Yea! Baby! We are in!

 

Can you post an example?

 

Certainly...

East Coast style:
(think accessories, maybe a bit closer to "over done" versus the West Coast style... usually tail-dragging, stance-wise... )


Valley Customs style:
(very clean, well-proportioned... can be radical, can be mild... almost coach-built in styling)


...have another. Just because it's so damn cool:


Wichita style:
(McPhail's '56 is killer in illustrating this... research the Titus Brothers for more eye soothing goodness... or Starbird, etc..)


...and following in, style-wise, anyway, at the tail end of our cut-off years, Cushenbery's Marquis... more show car than anything, but it just has that "something"...



Research builders, too.... DeRosa, Hines, and so many more... The Alexander Bros had a great style... their mildeer work had a certain mid-western flair (for obvious reasons)...

Hope some of that helped!

 

Who let this guy loose?

 

...I pretended to swallow my happy pills.

 

btt................

 

Long live the Pittsburgh style!
I grew up in that area... and there WAS a style.
Not show rods but kick-ass street machines.
As gritty and tough and full of heart as the people who live there.
I love it FlyingP! Count me in.

PS:
Me and my split-window
in the hills south of "the burgh."
circa. 1967

don't laugh!

 

btt

 

Don't forget Oakland CA they had a style Joe Bailon (inventer of Candy Apple Red), Satan's Angels, Tommy the Greek. And Sacramento CA (Were it might if all started) Harry Wesergaurd, early Barriss Bros. And Portland OR too…

 

MR. Norwell... I've always loved that piece... Have a copy pinned on the studio wall... Awesome.

Gary-- I was hoping you'd catch my Pittsburgh reference! Being from the NorthEast, I can agree... VERY big on street machines up that way... and BTW-- nice 'Vette!

eye bone-- you nailed it.... So many great styles... and so many variations even in just one area... South Bay, East Bay... subtle differences at times, and all killer stuff!

Lots of room to play on this challenge...

 

btt

 

ill try my hand it this one but in the meantime, could this be stickied like the last challenge?

 

i think this is a great idea!

 

Holly Molly...Im the first at the starting line!

Well here we go!

Heres how we customize stuff in the fly over states!

The concept started with the (pic #1) I posted on the "Friday Art Show"

Just messin round with a 57 Cheby pickup. Start with a bare bones cab, and build a roadster out of it! Shrink the nose to fit between the front pie cutters!

More to come, later!

 

WICHITA STYLE, down in front, nice rake, bullets, mild body mods, sometimes crazy paint but mainly a car with attitude and soul. scavenger pipes, and a few with spots and bitchin' pinstripes.

 

Killer! ....and nice job gettin' here first!

Thanks for illustrating the point! Cool examples, too!

...and thanks Nate!

 

btt

 

Hello...anyone in here?

Wheres all the Customs? Come on, people...I need my art fix!!!!!!!

 

Remember to check Rikster's album:
http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/

 

BUMP! Or should I say "Knock-Knock....is there anybody out there???"

 

I'm here just been busy with work. Crazy times plus workin' on the ride.

 

Don't I know how that goes. I'm hopeful to get something done in time.

 

Well what the Hell? Since no one is posting...I will!

This is my Dads 39 Ford! Sitting in a shop somewhere in Mitchell NE! He's been workin off and on, for 15 years! (He has a day job) He loves the Old Rod & Custom look...as you can see!

1st & 2nd pic is his work in progress...
3rd is my rendering of the car!

 

Pop wants to paint it Black...so here it is! Im not sure about tail lights yet...But I thought they fit the look.

 

Love you dads ride, it's gonna be killer. Oh ya like your artwork too.

 

Thats one fine '39. I like the look, unique. Looks good in Black and White or Red Oxide, or any decent color for that matter.

 

Sofar .............. 1948 Custom Caddy Series 61, with 1955 Buick Roadmaster Riviera Side Trim ( Doubled Up )

 

Anyone have any Color Options ? I'm not to good coloring.. so !