Art & Inspiration Saturday Art Show, Prints,various Artwork, Automotive Related

Parnelli Jones, Jim Hurtibise, Roger McCluskey

 

Jonas Never Hermosa Beach Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA

Hello,
Jonas Never was an artist that was commissioned to draw and paint many murals in So Cal. The closest one located in Orange County was in Costa Mesa at a barber shop. That one took on the characteristics of local lore. The striking images and techniques were well done and the locals remember each drawing in the composite artwork. When spotting a Jonas Never Artwork, the word NEVER is found on the design. In the above photo, some people might think that it is a thing against old cars, surfing, and history. But it is a reminder of who the artist was that painted the mural.

Those murals are well documented all over So Cal. This 1952 Buick sedan was an unusual form of surf transportation. But, on the wall, it looked like an everyday happening in Hermosa Beach, in the Los Angeles South Bay community. The surfing history and scene was/is well documented there and the drawing of the big Buick sedan looked like it could have been parked beachside to check out the waves.

Jnaki

Some old history buffs will recognize certain famous figures from back in the early days (our teenage times) of So Cal history.

Since So Cal seems to be in the center of plenty of different forms of activities, they are depicted in many ways, one being artwork as murals all over the different communities.

(See previous Saturday Art Show posts by Jonas Never)

 

Art Mortimer artwork on the Balboa Peninsula in So Cal.

Hello,

One of our favorite places in So Cal was the Newport Beach/Balboa Peninsula. The roadway to get there has always been cool, with nice restaurants, a classic movie theater, The Rendezvous Ballroom, and the two piers prior to getting to the end at the Wedge jetty. But, in the middle of the whole peninsula, is the center of Balboa and its wares. The Ferry Landing/Balboa Pavillion shops have much to offer anyone just strolling around back then.

These days, it is less crowded due to the pandemic, but the ferry crossing is still going strong. Upon arrival from the ferry or the longer roadway from PCH, the center attraction stands out. On a side street leading to the Balboa Pavillion, is a nice old painting done by So Cal artist, Art Mortimer. ( his artwork has been showcased on the Saturday Art Thread showing the art throughout So Cal locations.)

Balboa Pavilion on the Balboa Peninsula and Newport Harbor bay.

The location is across the major street, Balboa Blvd, leading to the pier and Corona Del Mar Jetty entrance to the harbor.

Jnaki

For us, the Balboa Ferry has been used plenty of times crossing the Newport Harbor Bay. Our granddaughter’s favorite beach is the left side of the Balboa Pier and afterwards, we used to come across the street to see the boardwalk shops and arcade center. Back in high school, the Pavilion was a destination for formal dances and special events.

The Ferry ride and location is fun and exciting. But, for lowered cars or hot rods on a rake, the entrance to the Ferry and the exits off of the Ferry can cause some anxious moments. A lowered car is not the most efficient car to board the Ferry. YRMV

On Main St.

 

artist Hoon Auto Gear

 

One I did for FUN.

 

Biggest valve stems ever!

 

Jonas Never Art Mural near the entrance to Venice Beach below the “V”


A view from Windward Avenue to the beach.

Hello,

The last road trip prior to the pandemic in November 2019 was a vacation in Santa Barbara. The drive down Coast Highway back through the Malibu Coastline and the Santa Monica Region had been done plenty of times. This time after Santa Monica Pier, we decided to go back down Pacific Avenue through Venice to Marina Del Rey.

Venice Beach has been noted for being eclectic to say the least. Plenty of times it has been shown in tv productions and movies as a background of craziness and the beach lifestyles. Although through the eyes of TV shows and random movies showing Venice Beach scenes, it should not be looked at as a means of describing So Cal beach/ocean lifestyle. It is one part of it, as shown by the tv/movie producers, but not the whole picture.

Remember, as part the So Cal beach lifestyle, Venice is overblown and just another L.A. city attraction. Since it has been portrayed as how a beach town is supposed to showcase the So Cal lifestyle, most people think that is all there is to the laid back way to live. It is just one way to look at how different L.A. is from the rest of So Cal beach towns.

If you can get over how crowded Venice Beach and its surrounding streets are on any day of the week, then it becomes a tourist attraction. Sure, there are some cool small houses along the canal and outlying areas, but the beach and boardwalk are the main attractions. So beware.

We drove down Pacific Avenue like we had plenty of times during the 60s surf adventures along the coast. But, for us, the surf was not like the Orange County surf beaches and points. It was a different time line to make an adventure of driving and checking the surf in the whole Santa Monica/Venice area.

Jnaki

This time, we decide to take the main drag to the most popular area, Windward Avenue. On the way to the beachfront, we saw a giant mural on the side of an old building. Parking spaces were at a premium and the cost for close to the beach was horrendous. The small parking lot below the giant mural was almost packed, but the whole area looked shady as were the attendants.

So, for lack of security, we kept going down Pacific Ave. and Speedway streets to the outskirts of the beach to the entrance to Marina Del Rey Harbor. The view and atmosphere from the beach to the marina canal and main marina was completely different from viewing the whole area from a sailboat.

Artist, Jonas Never, is popular for his murals all over So Cal. This whole building wall is pretty detailed and showcases the lifestyle of the area.

 

artist own Auto Gear

 

garden art

 

Dean R Dubios pencil art.

 

Rochelle Thomas. acrylic

 

Bill Copeland, art.

 

artist Hoon Auto Gear

 

seen in Williams AZ

 

2019 Oceanside mural Paul Knebels, San Diego artist

Hello,

We live in the southern part of the OC. It is on the border of our favorite surf spot from the teenage years. But, our surf trips included many short hops from the Northern border of Camp Pendleton to the Southern border and the city limits of Oceanside, CA. It is a beach community that has spread inland and has grown since our surf days. The city has history with waves at the Northern city jetties/the giant harbor entrance waves and the mid city famous pier waves.

There are quite a number of beach breaks all along the coastlines that don’t necessarily show up on anyone’s radar, since most are hidden from the highway. But the surf breaks join the Southern city limits and beaches of Carlsbad, CA in a blink of an eye.

For most, Oceanside was made famous in the Tom Cruise movie, Top Gun, that took place in the City Of Oceanside and the Miramar Air Base. Needless to say, the background scenes are a stone’s throw away from the famous pier and beach.

Jnaki

But, in the whole town of Oceanside, there are many art murals painted by some talented artists. The most famous is the hot rod mural on the PCH highway in the downtown area. 1000s of daily drivers see that hot rod scene every day while cruising up or down the coastal highway through town.

This mural is/was located back in the city streets and changed over time.

2020 December Gone, but not forgotten...

 

Artist unknown. Troy Ruttman #35

 

John A Samosky pencil art.

 

I know nothing about car art but ran across this web site yesterday. These guys will draw your hotrod as a cartoon, even put it on a shirt but not cheap. Some good art work on the web site anyway.

https://www.pronkgraphics.com/draw_my_vehicle/

 

Hello,

I guess, old age, familiarity of the location, concentrating on traffic at a dangerous intersection, and planning ahead for our destination, all lead up to missing something important. During the countless number of times my wife and I have crossed this intersection, the countless times we took our granddaughter to a restaurant just around the corner, familiarity just makes things as if nothing changes. Our favorite key maker’s company is just across the street from the woody mural on the silver box. Location, location, location…

Well, the intersection is busier than last time I wrote about the street art. A new gas station was created out of an old gas station and it looks gigantic. So, that draws more to this location. But, the street itself goes in three different directions for traffic lanes. When coming off of the freeway, one must immediately choose which lane for which direction or a traffic jam ensues.

On the corner of this intersection, a silver traffic control computer box is now painted with a mural of an old woody. It was one of the first boxes to show up in the city, painted with some cool colors and design we all like.

“In plenty of cities across the nation, are giant traffic corner silver/gray boxes that control the lights, timing, pedestrian signals and other emergency things for that particular intersection. They cost at least $100,000 dollars each. When the door is open, inside is a myriad of wires, blinking red lights and a complete computer board with plenty of external connections. It is an odd place to put the boxes, right on a corner or steps away from the traffic lights, but that is the design. They are needed to control the 1000+ intersection lights of any city.”

“Insurance companies hate them, as they pay out after an intersection crash that happens due to the fact that they are so close to the fast moving and turning, daily traffic. It is like a silver/grey target sitting on a corner, waiting for an accident to happen.”

“One of the nicest paintings greets travelers and locals when exiting one of the main offramps from the Southbound I-5 freeway in South Orange County. The offramp entrance to the downtown portion of the city needs a drastic update. But for now, the funky off ramp will lead you to this jewel of artwork on the computer box. It is located just past the Pico off ramp and the Outlets roadway.”

“There is a new gas station on the corner. If you make a right turn off of the Palizada freeway off ramp, immediately turn left at the stop light, you might drive right by without seeing it.”

Jnaki



One day my wife and I were stopped in the intersection heading back to the freeway onramp and she looks over to the right, sees the mural and says there is a Corvette painted on a silver box. What? in looking at my files, I have photos of the front of the box in the intersection. But, as things would be, I had nothing for the rest of the silver traffic computer box. 50 percent of our cruising was in front of the box one way. Returning back, there were/are several other ways to reach our destination or perhaps go to another local place to continue our errand days.


So, this was a surprise.

The total image that is wrapped around the silver traffic computer box.

But, knowing that was the main attraction, we just drove by on other times and the box was there but nothing was different for us or a million other drivers. When the traffic is coming from another direction and one gets stuck at the traffic light, the box and the rest of the great artwork shows up. A bright red Corvette. How cool, but for a “coastal beach town” a woody seems to catch more eyes.


Sometimes,, the backside is just as nice as the front. We all like a nice rear end... or so the HAMB topic says...

 

artist Hoon Auto Gear