Graveyard Pin-Up | Custom Art Feature
The Project:
Lucas wanted to have his gorgeous satin black 1947 Chevy and a pin-up girl featured in an illustrative painting inspired by Halloween. Being a fan of the scary movie IT, Lucas had Blue Rooster Customs hand paint the creepy clown, Pennywise, on the decklid of the car along with a cool pinstriping design. As part of the inspiration for my work, he sent me a few images of his car displayed at a local show in a graveyard inspired set up that included faux cobweb covered headstones by the grille!
The Process:
To combine all of the unique ideas Lucas had for a painting, I came up with the idea of a pin-up girl hitchhiking in a graveyard with the Pennywise clown in the driver’s seat of his Chevy.
While I was working to create the rough draft drawings of this idea, I had Travis with Overspray Customs paint a steel panel with a deep metallic shade of purple to act as the backdrop for this custom design.
The initial sketch for this painting included my pin-up version of the iconic Bride of Frankenstein. It was fun to create a dress for her that looked like mummy “unravelings” as she walked through the grave yard. When I sent this Lucas, although he liked it, he requested to see a version of the sketch where the zombie girl had red hair and more a traditional 1950’s pin-up look instead. We also thought it would be better to have the clown as more of a silhouette in the driver seat of the car, rather than a prominent highlight in the composition. I took his ideas and together we resketched the design which is what became the final artwork. I then transferred the line drawing to the purple steel panel and hand painted everything in Alpha 6 automotive enamels with Mack Brush Co. Tidwell brushes.
The Final:
This artwork is only 8”x10” in size but is packed with small details that personalize the illustration to Lucas’s car and his ideas. Using a Virus Brush from Mack Brush Company, I was even able to add in the pinstriping designs over the headlights of Lucas’s car. Details are everything when telling a story through art!
The coffin shape that encompasses the elements in the scene gives the artwork a “tattoo vibe” which Lucas and I both really liked. He gave me creative freedom on the colors (other than his Chevy, of course), so I chose vibrant colors that give a playful feeling to an otherwise spooky scene. The sparkles in the purple backdrop paired with the glossy enamel design shines beautifully in a different types of lighting.
I selected a handmade frame that mimicked the finish of the grave stones I had painted in the artwork. Paired with an additional custom made matte black frame, the double edged design highlights and protects the artwork for years to come.
Artists Comments:
Immortalizing restored and well loved cars through art is always an honor. With this particular custom art, it was a blast to not only paint Lucas’s ‘47, but to create an entire imaginary scene for it to “live in”. I also appreciated the chance to paint a zombie pin-up girl with white eyes! That was first for me and it was a fun break from the more “realistic” gals I usually paint. (You can see a collection of my V8Kate Pin-Up Girls on my Pinterest Board!)
Her ripped dress with all the fabric folds, gave me the opportunity to work in some really cool highlights and shadows that give movement to the overall painting. Her teal “zombie skin color” was probably my favorite portion to paint because it was so different than mixing flesh colored tones. I’m grateful for Lucas trusting me with his ideas. Together, we created a personalized and unique piece of hot rod art for his home office!
It’s really impressive. Your talent is off the charts!! This is making me think of where I could get this tattooed as well. HAHA!!
– Lucas
The Tools I Used to Make This Art :
Purchase Alpha 6 Corp. Paint Here
Purchase Mack Co. Tidwell Brushes Here
Purchase Saral Transfer Paper Here
WANT TO WORK WITH ME TO CREATE A CUSTOM PIECE OF ART INSPIRED BY YOUR OWN IDEAS OR STORY? CLICK HERE!
That came out amazing sis !,,,