This is where they all start - the initial rough sketch. Sometimes the finished piece ends up being nothing like my initial sketch because of all the changes I'll make but I've had this one in my head for awhile so I pretty much knew what I wanted to do with this one.

The next step is to go through my files and my magazine collection to select just the right photos to work from...then I sharpen my pencil and get busy. Hours go by and eventually I have a very detailed pencil sketch of the painting.

I tape the tracing paper sketch to the back of a good piece of paper and ink it all in as carefully as I can, correcting things I now see are a little off in the sketch.

AHHH YESSS...The chrome...I love to start with working out the basics of the chrome. I'll play with it more later, but for now I just try to get my color senses started.

A little blue wash to put the flag in the background is applied with some basic modeling. Then I've just gotta' start the flame job on the deuce coupe. As I work on each car I add additional touches to the chrome and add some greys to the tires.

More work ot the flag then the first few coats of grey to the street.

The Merc gets scallops and purple paint with some body shadowing from the headlights starting to happen. Chevy gets color too.

More cars get color...chrome adjusted accordingly...Details Details Details. I play with it for days adjusting this, darkening that until the painting finally tells me it's done. The image I once had in my head is a reality. COOL

The finished print made form the original painting arrives and all the effort and hours seem worth it.