RILEY’S STORY
My art enthusiasm began when I was 10 years old. I wish I could say it was in formal art class, but it was in the back of class drawing caricatures of my teachers as they lectured. Many of the other kids were taking notes…not me…I was drawing big noses and big cartoon ears of my teachers who already had big enough noses and hair. But the fun about it was adding a little extra caboose on their caricatures that could land me in quite a bit of trouble were they ever to see it. And fortunately, they never did! Needless to say, history and geography classes seemed to go by much quicker with my special way of taking notes! I seemed to get solid “C”’s so all was good in my mind.
When I was a senior, I had the brilliant idea of becoming an accountant to make something of myself! In my generation, “art” was not a real career, but rather a good way to insure no one including your own parents would pay for college! Needless to say, that choice led me into a successful career as a business person…yes…sitting in the back of the conference room drawing big noses on my college professors and eventually bosses and co-workers!
I was blessed with a beautiful wife who has supported me for over 30 years and we raised two amazing children who are some of my best friends!
Over the years I spent many hours drawing, painting, pinstriping and exercising my gifts as an artist. For several years I painted motorcycles, specialized in airbrushing and flame drawing. I have definitely “spent” more than I have “made” in customizing and painting everything from bowling pins and tennis shoes to motorcycles, cars and just about anything that has space enough to accept artwork! Most of my art has been donated to non-profit causes, given as gifts, or sold for a price that my heart was ok with, but my bottom line was not!
All that to say, I am thankful to Jesus Christ who saved me and has been with me the whole way! He has provided for us, and has taught me that God loves a thankful, joyful, loving artist who serves others with their creative gifts, and someday that’s all that will matter!
Whether you are a starving artist or wealthy artist, keep designing, creating and loving others with the gifts you have. Do all for His glory…He is a good God who in good time gives all His glory back to us!
HOTROD RILEY style:
HOTROD ART:
In “old school” hotrod times, there were no stickers, or auto wraps. No “sticker packs” from Amazon…just a guy in the shop who was skilled with actual brushes and paint to create the design you wanted. Typically it was fancy lettering or line designs advertising the company business or adding lines along the car for decoration. Most of my designs incorporate deep, bright colors, and pinstripe designs as were used by old-timers of the hotrod era. Thanks for visiting. I hope you find something you like!
-Hotrod Riley
ART FUSION:
Fusion is the merging of different elements into a union. My artwork incorporates photography, pin striping and line art onto the same canvas, frequently using hotrod designs colors and often skulls or flames. My wall art is pictures I have taken, inserted line art or digital embellishments and printed on fine art paper. You can order them in many different sizes, and customize your framing options. The originals are again embellished at the studio to incorporate actual pin stripe paint with a squirrel-tail brush, and are autographed in person. Originals are on sale, but please call for pricing.