Newb alert

[Scott Gregory]

Hey guys. About two weeks ago, my brother showed me his striped harley davidson bagger. I thought "that looks cool. I think I could do that."

Here's my first design, after about 4 days of straight line drills.
Followed by my 6th and most recent.

Let me know what you guys think. I want some criticism.

[timbo]

really like the last one, you been practising alot?? im about a month into it now and i need to start trying the symetrical stuff

[Scott Gregory]

Yeah, I probably average 4 hours of practice a day. I start off each session with straight line drills to get in the mood, then I just work on one design until I'm happy with it, i.e. a lot of experimentation and wipe cleans.

timbo said:

really like the last one, you been practising alot?? im about a month into it now and i need to start trying the symetrical stuff

[Scott Gregory]

Hey everybody. I'm proud of my latest design, start to finish in one hour.

[Amos]

thats real impressive. I wish I had the time to stripe 4 hours a day.

[Joey Madden]

I was once excommunicated here for giving an honest critique of someone's work who asked for critique. It is very hard for me not to be honest and although someone who is just learning this craft believes their work is good and yet leaves alot to be desired when critique is asked for. When lines are left unfinished, not uniform, have no meaning of true design or is just plain childish at this moment its hard for most to take them seriously. I find this trade similar to tattooing, would you have someone tattoo you only to find their lines crooked and designs done amateurish where as they have only just started this work without hands on help from a bonified professional or haven't even held that particular tool in their hand in their entire life. Where one finds colors in cans but knows little to nothing of how to mix their own for coverage not available in most any can. I find it very difficult for one to become proficient in little time as I've seen sign painters, illustrators and tattooists who have worked with a brush or tool for years and yet cannot totally understand a sword brush. What puzzles me is from those who show their work and they seem not to have a clue to either how good or how bad it is but then want to start some kind of panel swap when they haven't held the brush for any length of time or given themselves the time to accomplish what they want to become. Sure everyone wants to swap panels with people they look up to, but hey most aren't ready for this type of scenario at this time of their lives when they still have a long way to go just to be able to hold the brush and make a uniform line.

I am personally at the end of my line, having done this pinstriping thing for a little over fifty five years. I have rarely if any done a panel on a slab of metal that I could remember but I have done just about everything that has wheels.

I know there are persons here who don't like my truthfulness but then again there are a hundred times that many who love me because I'm not here for a personality contest with someone who cannot hold a conversation with me, no less a paintbrush.

What I'm saying here is, don't get ahead of yourselves because there hasn't ever been an overnight successful anyone which was nothing more than a one hit wonder. Give it time and hear what I say along with those you yourselves look up too and what they have to say. Theres always next Christmas

[Dan "DANNO" Drouin]

Here Here Joey!!! Unfortunately the saying "truth hurts" is felt by far too many of the younger generation or the hard of "listening", and are simply unable to distinguish between criticism and constructive feedback, which I feel you Joey are generally attempting to do. If a word or perhaps more than a word has any hint of negative feel to it, well then the recipient archs their back up and is ready for a fight. This is not directed at you Scott in any way, and hopefully you read this far into this paragraph to be aware of that fact. People tend to simply not listen to what is being said as a whole and only hear words that they might consider negative, and therefore take the whole as a personal attack. Its a shame, when all you try to do is help and in the end, you get excommunicated.

[Roderick]

I think everybody should be able to give an honest critique-even harsh ones- without being excommunicated or being frown upon by the one who's work is being critiqued. As long as it's a fair critique and giving some pointers about what's wrong and not kicking someone in the dirt.When given a good crit about your work you can only learn from it, right? If you cannot stand crits don't post your work.

Oh and i think every noob is proud with their first design wich hasn't got paint smeared all over the place hahaha, just hope it doesn't stop 'em from further progress because they are content. ( i also speak for myself here)

[Scott Gregory]

Thank you! Yes, I am lucky to have the free time that I do.

Amos said:

thats real impressive. I wish I had the time to stripe 4 hours a day.

Also; Joey, Dan, and Roderick. I appreciate your diatribe about skills, dedication, and humility. You guy had a nice conversation about the "younger generation" that asks for criticism, then ultimately disregards it or takes it too harshly.
Were you talking about my design specifically when you said "lines are left unfinished, not uniform, have no meaning of true design or is just plain childish at this moment its hard for most to take them seriously?"

"What puzzles me is from those who show their work and they seem not to have a clue to either how good or how bad it is but then want to start some kind of panel swap when they haven't held the brush for any length of time or given themselves the time to accomplish what they want to become." This statement suggests that you have possibly not been talking about me at all ever in this post. That's alright, it's not all about me. However, I honestly seek a specific critique. You have talked about critique at length, without providing anything but general advice to "not get ahead of yourselves because there hasn't ever been an overnight successful anyone which was nothing more than a one hit wonder." This is advice I will take to heart. I need a lot of practice before I am a pinstriper.

I say again, critique. Unless it's so generally bad that it deserves only the general critique of all new pinstripers that has been provided.

[Joey Madden]

When I was a young kid and did something wrong, my father put me over his knee and spanked me. Today this is considered abuse, I consider it a good upbringing. When I was a young kid, we drank soda pop and shared it with our friends, same bottle and never thought it would bring diseases, which it hadn't.

I cannot hold everyone's hand and at times cannot even feel my own hands. I do what I do and do it to the best of my knowledge, ability and have helped many within this trade and those getting into this trade. This is not an easy craft by a long shot as it takes perseverance, determination, a steady hand with eye and wrist coordination as well as being able to continue hours on end. Designs are only a small part and should be taken lightly as it will take you years just to master the straight line, the uniform line, the consistent line and the ability to add one or two more lines next to the first line.

Years ago before many of you were aware of this trade there were those who never gave up their secrets or even give you the time a' day yet there were ways to get into this trade through one or two schools or to work as an apprentice from someone like me for little to no money, are any of you willing to work for that kind of scenario? If the answer is no, than in reality you are not willing to learn. Why do persons pay for schooling whether in private schools, collages or even an art school? Is it because they get professional help and knowledge but yet due to the Internet they feel they can get all this knowledge for free and good critique as well. Wonderful! That's why there are boot camps. pinstriping and airbrush seminars available if only you were to take the chance and pay for those classes as its all up to you to further your existence in this world. These schools and seminars are really where its at to learn just about any trade and if one is totally committed on learning any trade, this will separate the wannabees from the gonnabees. Everyone pays for something but why one believes they can learn this for free is something I cannot understand. Who is going to teach you the art of mixing colors which in itself is an art, the mix will make you understand the need to match what you previously done lets say 6 months ago but does not exactly match today because of oxidation etc. There is so much to learn..........

[Dan "DANNO" Drouin]

Geez Joey, do the scenario justice and paint it like it really was. At least for myself anyway, after finishing art school, and almost finished art college and bastardizing about every single sign I did I finally was aloud into a sign shop. and it sure as hell wasn't to paint signs. Sweep, sweep some more, get coffee, keep your mouth shut, you'll be directly taught nothing, stand over there outa the way and just bloody well watch. I was so lucky to have this experience. I soon started to really "see" for the first time what signpainting was all about. and even more lucky to be shown by someone who was as talented as my mentor Butch Robinson. Finally the day came where I was asked to coat out a sheet of plywood. No raw crezon or pre-painted crezon, but G1S ½" plywood. It would be months later that I actually was permited to use a quill in the shop. but at home....every night on my own, I would practice, practice, practice. and all fro absolutely ZERO DOLLARS. I never got any money. Well maybe a few times a few bucks slaped in my hands on an early Friday, and then later that day it was "hey....your turn to buy beer". My days prior to entering the shop I don't disregard as valueable though, because I knew what I was doing was wrong or wasn't able to get the results I was seeing the pro's get. I just couldn't quite figure it out. From the first old guy in high school that got me started (he too showed me nothing, but made me sit there and watch silently or get the hell out) to Butch to the old bugger that hired me at the billboard company many years later and a few crusty swell men in between I owe so much. and to guys like you too Joey. You guys are the ones I relate to most. And now in the shop I work for, I sometimes regarded as the crusty bugger. My only rule though...don't make me repeat myself.

[Joey Madden]

I was lucky Danno, I went directly home after the bell rang at 3pm from getting out of the 4th or 5th grade in grammar school at PS 139 to start practicing my pinstriping. I hadn't any mentors except for my parents and brother who had all these car magazines like Hop-Up. I never really got into lettering yet did monograms for many years after I mastered the brush. I came in contact with a french artist who owned an art supply store and it was he who turned me on the the Grumbacher 1010 which sold back then for around a buck. Throughout high school I striped just about everyone's vehicle including the shop teachers pickup truck and bicycled to cruise nights at the local White Castle to grab what work I could.

And the rest is history

[Darren "Deuce" Menzies]

looks pretty good too me, looks like your brush might have skated out on you in a couple spots.
cool design your already way ahead of me in skill. keep practing!!!