Pinstriping Gifts

[fresnojohns]

I do alot of panels for gifts. Some are airbrushed and some are hand pinstriped. This is one I did for a friend that works at Startbucks.
These are masonite 11 by 14 inch. Hope you like it.
Fresnojohns

[quickchange]

Very nice!

I want to learn to do this so bad.. In my spare time.. HA!

What do you charge for a small panel.

I would love to have one.

[quickchange]

I just got finished watching a DVD on Scroll striping..

DUH! Now I can't wait to get on it..

I realized after watching the DVD that I have been doing this type of work for a LONG time and never knew that it would carry over to the pinstriping.. Ok, I feel dumb..

Pinstriping I still can't quite get the left and right c curves, but I am working on it.. CIRCLES are yet another story.. UGH

I got the straight vertical and horizontal pretty good for a newbie. Still need tons of practice, but at least I can hold the brush now.. LOL YEP, cut the finger nails off the right hand. OH and while I am thinking of it.. How come nobody mentioned the blisters.. LOL
Having a blast learning this.. Even if I only have a bit of time here and there.

One question I have for you pros. How do you stripe over an edge? When pulling a line you are using the fingers to steady and guide, what do you do when you have to go over a corner/edge and there is no place to steady your hand? Do you build a ledge, use another tool?

Hi Quickchange, I'm not sure what you mean by edge??--but say you have a bump in the road or even a split in your surface (like a car door) & you want to continue the line over or thru this problem--sometimes you can disregard it & if the heal of your brush is full enough it will handle the problem itself, but if not, ease up on the brush stroke & you may have to return to finish it up..It's always nice to be able to finish the stroke in one pass because it gives the prettiest flow, but many times in nasty spots like you're speaking of you will have to return to do a little touch up--sometimes headed in the other direction..In hard to reach areas or tight spots it's helpful to use your left hand & elbow as a bridge, (you use your pinky finger to rest on any spot that's available without hitting your artwork) or it's very professional to learn how to use a mauhl stick (you can make one yourself) Using a mauhl stick always has been a sign that someone really knows their business & it's not a sign of weakness at all..Just takes more practice but it's very helpful.. On curves & circles it's very important to have a light hold on your brush & the secret is to slightly twist the handle of your brush between your fingers as you make these moves..You never, never hold the brush tightly (holding your brush tightly = big mistake made by most beginners!!). The handle must be able to swivel between your thumb & 3rd. finger..so much so that the my 3rd. finger builds up a large callous that over the years has never gone away..I now have a callous on the 3rd. finger, a huge bump built up on my trigger finger from so much excercise, paint built up under & around my nails--good lord--they're going to have to bury me with gloves on!! lol..--all part of the business..misery loves company so I'm real glad you're hopping aboard..

[fresnojohns]

Quickchange,

Darla answered your question perfect. I really don't have to add anything.
When you talk about over an edge, like the space between a set of doors,
as long as they are totally lined up with each other and not higher than the other one may not have to touch up some time as the heel of the brush will
keep the paint flowing right to the tip of the brush. Another thing to think about is the brand of brush you are using. Mack brushes for me are great for
designs. Some people use them for line work. For my long lines I use
Scharff 2190. They are about 12 dollars each. I like the longer handles too. Handles are about 4 inches long.

As for doing line work, its great to do it 100% no guides but you can't do that all the time. Say you are in the middle of ??????? a corvette door.
Use quarter or one eighth tape as a guide for your finger to pull a line.
Hope this helps. Its only a guide don't touch tape with the brush.
Hope it helps talk soon.
Fresnojohns

[quickchange]

Thank you both for such great tips.. I have not had any time at all to practice this week so far.. but will be doing so first chance I get..

Understand the doors etc.. but I mean a corner.. Ok, like this..

have a box, box is covered with flames (old school) flames from the front to the back of the box encompassing the edge/corner of the box on the top.. If I wanted to stripe the flames I would have to go on the side and then up and over to the top. That is what I meant.

Understand light touch, and turning the brush.. I am just at the akward stage of knowing I want my fingers to twists the brush for the turns.. (I do get confused on which way to twist to go in what direction) but getting my brain and my fingers to work together. PLUS to many years of using a different type of brush. So have to break some old habits and relearn them.
Thank you again.
lol Darla, had blisters before.. gonna get some more..LOL But thanks for the heads up on the gloves.. will have to leave those instructions also!

[Ultra Al]

Nice work Fresno, your consistancy in your line thickness and the way you end your lines shows that you have put some considerable time into practicing. Im sure your gift was appreciated, heck Id appreciate one, maybe we could swap a panel sometime.
QC, Darla said it all. Myself, at times I find my hands off the panel, especially when doing scrols. Other times I just lift the tip of the brush off the design, reposition and back up an inch or so from where I left off and continue the line. Ah Practice. AL

[fresnojohns]

Al,
I have been doing striping off and on since 1973. Have done it for a living.
Moved to Arizona in 1999. I will help you anyway I can. I am pretty much
what you would call a serious hobbiest. Last year I did about 45 of these panels for gifts. I also do them on foam board too. I spray alittle rattle can
clear first so if I make a mistake I can wipe it off. Yes we can swap a panel too. Very cool. Your work is nice too. All of this is just practice. And its fun.

Thanks again,
Fresnojohns