In 1998, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City hosted a significant exhibit of 400 classic motorcycles, called “The Art of the Motorcycle.” The exhibition show-cased both the exceptional engineering and unique design of these specialized machines. At the time, the Museum broke all of its attendance records. As a long-time motorcycle rider and enthusiast, I am carrying on the tradition of the motorcycle as art. Enjoy these paintings.
Bavarian Classic, prints available
|
Bavarian Classic
prints available This was a fun painting to do! With my friend Susan Spears’ “Inside Line Drawing" class, I visited the Portland, Oregon Motorcycle Company. This classic vintage BMW bike was in the lobby and I just had to sketch it! Later, I did this full-sheet painting based on the sketch. The bike was black and white, but I thought that would be boring to paint. So, I had fun adding lots of color and this is how it turned out. The original painting is now part of the permanent art collection at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. |
Steve on his BMW with sidecar.
Motorcycle owners are challenging art clients. They know all of the details of their bikes. If I get a carburetor or engine cylinder slightly in the wrong place, they tell me about it! Here are some commissioned paintings I did for fellow riders.
American Classic, original pencil drawing, $180
|
Indian motorcycles go back to the 1920’s and today they are American classics. Their beautiful, sleek design and colors evoke the popular Art Nouveau styles of the 20s and 30’s.
|
Checkered Flag Ahead, prints available
The manager of BMW Motorcycles of Western Oregon invited me to set up my easel and paint at his motorcycle shows. Those were fun times, swapping tall stories with bike enthusiasts!
Motorcycle Art Show
|
A major motorcycle event in the US is the annual Chief Joseph BMW Motorcycle Rally in John Day, Oregon. This rally is in honor of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe. For many years I created the design for the rally T-shirts. For this, Jean and I received free T - shirts. Now we have lots of T - shirts!
|
Chief Joseph BMW Rally, 20 x 22, original acrylic, $200
|
Have Tent, Will Travel, 22 x 22, original watercolor, $200
|
Contact me about that special commission of your mean clean machine. Original paintings, prints and reproductions are available for purchase.
|
Bavarian Classic sketch
|