A new painting

I haven't painted in about a year.  Sad, yes.  So I have started a new one and I figured that I would photo the process.  I have no idea if this painting will be any good or not, but that will lend a little excitement to the whole thing.  

I have had the idea for this, "Three Bikes" painting for a few months now.  I'd been wanting to do some bicycle art for a while.  When I realized the color combo of my main three bikes, I started to hatch the concept you see photo'd above.  I took about 100 pics over two days to chose this one single photo as the basis for the painting.  

I have taken to painting solely on plywood.  I put three coats of gesso on a panel then sand it.  Except this time... I tried something new by using a roller to apply the gesso instead of a brush.  The surface is more uniform, smooth, and has a lot of tooth.  I like it a lot, so far.  I do the drawing using a Stabilo pencil, as it is the only pencil that won't smear under the first coat of Liquin and Yellow Ochre:
The yellow ochre creates a warm base-tone for the painting and the liquin seals it all to start.  

This technique is my version of, "fat over lean" with some of the Old Masters techniques.  It works for me.  Oil paint, liquin, and cold-pressed linseed is all I use.  Well, with brushes of course.  

A Curve

In the 2004 spring/summer issue of Men's Health's, "Best Life", writer Jim Gorant wrote an article about Pre-war Chris Craft boats.  The opening paragraph of his article has been committed to my memory since the first time I read it:

"In modern design, the sublime often manifests itself in the exaggeration of a curve.  Dig, if you will, the bend of an Eames chair, the fins of a '59 Cadillac, and J. Lo's best asset."

I love rules, or, at a minimum, default starting points.  The above comment is a great starting point.  I recently came across this video of the also above mentioned Eames chair, from the Draplin Design Co. weblog.  Spend some time there.

Fresh Paint!

It's not much, but a coat of paint does wonders for the appearance of the KBC.  

Check out the main site, www.kbcstudios.com,  for the latest addition, "The Executive".  It's also a standard design where I can mix up the type of wood, inlay, hinges/no hinges, or any thing other than its dimensions.  

With the Executivce complete, I am going to work on a custom box and painting for the new few weeks... hopefully not months.  But,  you never know.

Nostalgia

Pimp Z auto

My good friend Pete Zorich took care of the Jetta in grand style while I was laid up with the ankle business.  Not only did he clean the crap out of it, he surprized me with this super sticker replacing the dealer's logo.  

Much better.

A Simple Thing Done Well

I had chosen the line, "What's Inside?" as the catch phrase for the KBC.  People seemed to like it.  I had read that a big part of the lure people have to boxes is the mystery of, "what's inside".   

I have to admit though, that I am not totally sold with this phrase.  I just doesn't sum it ALL up.  

A few weeks ago, maybe months, I came across a description in a magazine of, "A simple thing done well".  It hit me hard, that that is exactly the summation of what motivates me in just about everything, not just the KBC.  

Simple is by no means meant to imply easy.  Quite the contrary.  Simple comes from the philosophy of imposing limits on what you do, and then doing it better than anything else.  Physical mastery comes from repetition.  "A simple thing done well" is the culmination of a singular focus done with physical mastery.   This is a strong principal to me.  

Here are a few examples of what I aspire to.  First up, Kramer Knives.

His work speaks for itself.  I'm in awe.  Not much else to say.  Check it out, www.kramerknives.com.

Next, Richard Sachs.  Richard is an icon in the bicycle frame building arena.
His work is highly sought after and has a five year waiting list.  This man has been a big influence on me and how craft as a business should be.

Lots to read about Mr. Sachs here: www.richardsachs.com.  

Enjoy.

-Steve

Today, part 2

Then there is the 2D art side of the KBC.  I will have my original oil paintings and limited edition prints linked to the main website.  The first painting completed under the KBC header is a 4' painting of my logo, the winged wheel.  

On the easel right now is the super cool and secret project of poster art specific to the Iceman Cometh Bicycle Challenge that takes place here in Michigan every November.  Stay tuned...

Two weeks ago I started a late morning commute to work on my new H-D Nightster.

To spare you all the details, this awesome beauty was totaled that day with only 800+ miles on it and I got a broken ankle out of it all.  I'm in great spirits and am very grateful that I only have an ankle on the mend.  I had to also put my newest pride and joy on hold, a Soulcraft Dirtbomb.
Sean www.soulcraftbikes.com has been great and patient.  I can't wait for this bike!  Not sure what I am going to do about another motorcycle yet.  I have plenty of time to think about it all.

So that brings us up to date.  The KBC is going to be slow for the next two months as my ankle heals.  But, man, the future is bright!

-Steve