Thread: Pro Custom Painters? New Trends?

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Are there any other full time custom painters on here, who have done street rods recently?

I've noticed some changes in paint styles, and was wondering if it's just certain kinds of rods, a local trend, or bigger.

it has some to do with type of rods, but more to do with what others are doing, like foose, and boyd . we see a rod in a magazine or on tv, and we may like. I have incorperated some designs from them into a custom paint job myself.

I think it's more to do with the fact that people want something new. "thinking outside the box" but cant come up with a totaly new design on there own.

Im always trying to come up with something new. but I have never came up with something thats both new and looks good, Its a trial and error for me.

if I were better at drawing and airbrushing, my hands are not as steady as they once were. I would like to get into the true fire custom painting, and do custom art work.

I have a few good Ideas. but that would requir me to learn how to describe it to someone with the skills to airbrush it on a car for me.

I wished there was a computer program that I could upload any picture of a car I like and do realistic looking airbrushing and custom painting. who knows someone may have a program already out. that can do this.

(quote) I tink it's more to do with the fact that people want something new. "thinking outside the box" custom painting.



From my experience, that is always the reason for change. The problem is that people don't always want it, or aren't ready for it.

In the '80s I couldn't get street rodders to consider anything except bright colors, and very simple graphics. At that time I was trying to sell tribal graphics, and photo realistic flames, but nobody seemed to want to risk being different.

I think we are going to see more change over the next couple years.

My customers seem to want it now! I've gotten several requests for pirate ship themes, storm scenes, a steam locomotive theme, a state flag, and others. I'm getting fewer requests for "true fire/real fire/etc" and skulls. I'm just wondering if it's a local phenomenon?

no I dont think its a local thing. because it's poping up everywhere now.

like I said if I were better at airbrushing things like true fire. I would then try something like an old steam locomotive in a winter background,passing a grave yard "with the tombstones representing the cars I have beat on the track" under a fool moon.

the train would be more of a gost train that seems to fade away into the thin cold night air, with true fire and smoke rolling from its smoke stack.

I would like to do this on my 55 chevy street rod.

and I would like to do a western theme on my truck, something like john wayne, would be cool.

also I think that its getting more attention recently is because of TV.

in my small town where I live there's about 14 paint and body shops. out of them there are about 3 that will do custom painting. but that depends on the market for custom work at a given time.

the rest of them seem to only cater to insurance jobs, no custom work at all.

and because of this , people think that it's just way to expensive for a custom paint job. I still get some customers that think just because maaco advertise a paint job starting at $199. that I should match that. I cant! and I dont know many shops that can.

but what I can offer them is quality work, I keep many magazines laying around for a customer to look through, maybe they would like a custom paint job. some I can do, but for the ones I cant , I have to refer them to someone else. as new designes and new custom rods roll down the streets . my shop must learn how to do them , and offer that same custom work to everyone.

what you see on tv has a lot to do with what a customer is willing to buy. tv has exposed things like overhauling and pimp my ride to the public. thats great for anyone thats into custom painting.
and I think it's going to get even better in year or so.


my big problem is that I have actually had a customer that asked if I could do custom work on there car like they do on overhaulin in a WEEK!. I tell them that those tv show dont allways tell how much cash it cost to build a custom car. both labor and parts.

Yeah i think television is a big influence on the street rod and custom scene.. my hopes is that it get's more people into buiding rods from scratch, which many tv shows are doing and people are starting to see the benefits of doing such builds, it's just that only a small percentage can afford. and even the rods that are done are only going to go up due to this, but that's another topic..
but i do think that the trends are going to have alot to do with what the masses can readily see.. and the tv is one of the strongest forms out.. and is repeated on a weekly basis..

I think the true fire is fading.
I think some people are putting other hobbies in the paint.
Here are a few things I had done on my Vette and will have some on the street rod.
Can you tell I am a Penguin fan

Originally Posted by iceburgh

I think the true fire is fading.
I think some people are putting other hobbies in the paint.
Here are a few things I had done on my Vette and will have some on the street rod.
Can you tell I am a Penguin fan

Even after all of the years I've been painting, I find the evolution of paint styles very interesting. It surges, changes direction, and still suprises me, with an unpredictable trend, every now and then.

I don't think true fire is starting to fade yet, but it will soon. Did you know that it's been done on vehicles for over 20 years, but just became popular lately? Too many people are using it now, for it to remain at the current level. The same thing happened with checkers, Kameleon paints, and right now, the maltese cross is showing a downward trend, at least for me. Skulls will remain popular for a while, but they are being done too much for people to stay this interested in them.

As far as personal interests in the graphics, I usually discourage it, since it is so personal that it will not appeal to the majority of viewers. Having said that, I respect that it is the owners choice to make. I tried to discourage a PT Cruiser owner from having me do a sailing ship theme about a specific ship. A week after it was done, he won "Best Graphics" at a large gathering in Phoenix, beating out some absolutely stunning paintwork, that was much broader in appeal. Go figure!

"Cutty Sark" windjammer on a PT Cruiser.

Very nicely done.... not what I would want but at the same time you look at the workmanship in something like that and you have to

It's all because of TV crap. I have been seeing things change a TON lately as well with the looks. Such as murals, huge wheels, flush LED's, etc. Not my taste but oh well. I am still stuck on the same boring solid colors like black, metallic blue, ghost flames and things that DON'T stand out. I like silver and metallic blue two tones as well.

I'm not complaining about change. I've seen times when the same trends were around for 5-10 years.

At least when people are open to new ideas, we don't buy a magazine, or go to a show, and wonder why we did, since it's the same stuff we saw the last 10 times!

(I don't like to watch reruns on TV, either!) :-)~

Nice work HRP, I have a custom paint shop where I will only do custom paint work, and I am swamped- where as all the other shops here are very slow.
I'm getting a lot of demand for Candy again, murals and flames seem to be slowing as well as most graphic's, now it seems to be turning to special effects paints. Heat sensitive flip flops, and glow in the dark graphic's that change before your eyes without the car moving, and they don't mind paying the 1600.00 a qt. for it.
I think people are trying to find anything different that they can from the same old same old and they are going to the extremes. Sad part is that if this trend continues the prices will climb out of the reach of the majority of most Hot Rodders.
If I didn't know how to do it myself, I'd have a hard time justifying that kind of money to my family to alot to a hobby.

Jim that is the reason I started to experiment with some of the less popular brands of paint and started to get the customer involved in things like prep, wet sanding, buffing. I have enjoyed painting so much over the years that I feel like it has and still is my obligation to educate anyone I can about painting. As far as trends in painting I've seen them all come and go like you all have, but the two tone will always remain the most poular followed by the basic flame.

(QUOTE) If I didn't know how to do it myself, I'd have a hard time justifying that kind of money to my family to alot to a hobby.


I know what you mean. That's how I got into this biz, was to save myself money.

When I have a customer apologize, that an estimate is more than they can afford, I often tell them that I understand. I am more affordable than some painters, and I still can't afford me! Biggest problem is that it is so labor intensive to do it right.

As far as special paints, I don't mention them unless customers request one. I feel that most of them have a negative side, and if the customer spends $4,000 on materials, I don't usually get to do much with artwork or graphics, and that is what keeps me interested in putting 100-200 hours into a job. I'd rather get a real job......it would certainly be a lot easier!!!