Art & Inspiration FRIDAY ART SHOW

Still couped up !

 

Happy FAS to all of you.
I thought I would try something different for this weeks offering. Its just colored pencil, and sharpie pen, with a card stock cut out of the hot rod from the recent greenwood car show poster, here in Seattle.
There is no deep hidden meaning or message in this piece, I just like the colors and the shapes and the composition. I think it would make a great shirt design, or a sticker as well, so feel free to use it as you all see fit.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

Hello,

We have been hot rod/drag race guys since the early 50s. As we became teens, we got involved heavily in drag racing. Then the surf scene came into play and it has been a long road at the beach/coastal areas for the past 60 years. So, what is more surf scene than cool looking 1939 Ford Woody Wagon?

This was the inspiring photo from the way back time machine. A couple of guys from a So Cal coastal town/city building hot rods and drag race vehicles since the very early days…A kind of history that stands out in the field of hot rods and drag racing.

Dode Martin and Jim Nelson started the Dragmaster Company in Carlsbad, CA. It is a short drive south from the OC, but back in those early days, it was a long drive from Long Beach down to Carlsbad. Like all coastal towns that are now cities, the sleepy small town stopped at the newish freeway or coastal road that ran from the border to well past Los Angeles. One side was farmers fields or open pastures. The homes were small coastal/beach style and the beaches were fairly empty of the masses of people.

Currently, little sleepy Carlsbad has now expanded inland many miles and homes, school, businesses have all gone a little crazy. But, for empty land, it is hard not to develop so more people can enjoy So Cal lifestyle despite being 10-15 miles inland from the ocean.

This scenario sounds a lot like most coastal cities, today. Heck, even Laguna Beach, one of the most intense coastal cities all along the Westcoast was a small village and had lots of empty spaces, with a few residents enjoying pristine beaches. It is too bad that our mom was not forceful enough to follow through with her early 1950s investments. She had always wanted to live in a coastal beach community and wanted to buy ocean front land in Laguna Beach. Our dad nixed it as he had to work in Los Angeles and Laguna Beach is/was several hours away down the sleepy coastline.

When we used to drive down the Coast Highway through Carlsbad, it was a small town with some great waves. We drove right by the early Dragmaster Company Complex without knowing it. The local waves were calling our names. But, later on, my wife and I walked the whole area of the Carlsbad Village with their small shops and curios.

These days, the shops are pretty much the same goods and wares. But, during the pandemic, like all small towns/cities, the restaurants have expanded their dining choices to outside dining on specialty cordoned off dining areas. The old Dragmaster Shop is now a restaurant.

Jnaki

The Dragmaster Team was well known and when they were not racing at the San Diego County dragstrips, we saw them at Lion’s Dragstrip almost every weekend.


We made many surf trips down the coast to catch some different, but quality waves from Oceanside, through Carlsbad and down into San Diego County with great results. So, those memories are abound in our history. The Carlsbad connection to the Dragmaster Company is also a great part of drag racing history in So Cal.


“With Martn in the driver seat, Nelson (on the right with the flattop) is helping another crewmember add the Dragliner’s canopy. This had to be done just prior to a race to prevent Martin from being parboiled. The push car is pure class Southern California: A “39 Ford Woodie. It also features a competition stripe similar to the Dragliner.”

 

I've always thought that the 1955 Chevy Nomad was a great looking car and by the looks of all the ones I've seen over the years at various car shows a lot of others agree. I've seen both stock and customs and if I owned one I could like it either way. It seems like most of the custom versions that I've seen were mild with a change of wheels and paint with some changes in stance. Here's a rendering I did of one that is chopped and sectioned with a custom paint job and a few other subtle mods. I think it would take a lot of work to bring it to life but I think the result would be a pretty cool ride.

 

Nice one Moose! Are '55s about to become a theme this week?

'55 Aussie, mild custom.


This one, with a ‘56 Chevy, is based on a photo from last week's post by @jnaki I just lowered the ‘camera’ and circled a little bit more behind the cars…

 

I can't drive 55!

 

I hope 55's are the theme, they are my favorite!

 

Not a '55 but I just finished this one to give away at the show tomorrow.

 

I feel like I haven't seen a Friday Art Show thread in forever! Maybe I'm just not logging in on Friday's much anymore.

 

'55s, not Chevys


Tri-fives some loosey-goosey stuff



... and one more beach bound bonus

 

Here is a version of one I posted a while ago.

 

TY

 

Patina art by Mother Nature

Try faking this one....

 

...a new one from me...

 

Did these commissioned shirt designs for Station 2 of the Santa Fe Springs Fire and Rescue. These guys mostly work graveyard, hence the zombie motif. The iron cross is the front chest logo and the 1954 Seagrave engine is the back piece.

 

My '39 out and around town. Some of the neater old buildings in Visalia.

 

My 31 “ A”

 

A '55 theme you say? All I have is some of my old high school stuff.

9th grade

11th grade. My mom driving her '55 Ford Convert.

12th grade. Mom's '55 again (a little water damaged).

 

Thanks Jigger...I didn't know I was setting the theme of the week but I'll be happy to look an all of the great Nomad art that's being posted !!!!

 

Rustyl, do you know this guy?!

 

I'm jumpin on the 55 band wagon.

 

I AM that guy...