**** NOTE: My November 2012 posts have been lost due to system issues. They are: Good Guys Show, Nostalgia Drags and my Day of the Dead shoot...hoping to recover them. Sorry if you came here to specifically see those posts.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Keeping the Merry going...Mooneyes Xmas Show 2012


The lovely, Carly Deville

Another great time at Irwindale Speedway.







Bo Huff's "Rockabilly Hound" & "Rockabilly Playboy"









Pinstriping by the amazing, D.A. Garcia


Pinstriper extraordinaire, Junior Huff





The beautiful, Mae Janae

 


Mr. Rhythm laying 'em down.

Mr. Rhythm's work.




Supermodel, Sabina Kelly




Hey Cheech!




The stunning, Josee Leone
Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Pinup: Carly Deville

Carly

 Got a chance to meet up with my friend Carly Deville at the Mooneyes Xmas Show. We did a shoot and had some laughs.
More on the Mooneyes show to come.
Here's Carly's Facebook page:
Carly Deville on Facebook

Monday, December 3, 2012

Pinstriper: Jowee "Mr. Rhythm" Ramirez


The Rhythm of Pinstriping



      Jowee “Mr. Rhythm” Ramirez could have gone another “Rhythm” path and chosen a career in music. Most of his old band mates did just that, but to everyone’s surprise a different rhythm called to Jowee from his favorite guitar.  


Most reactions to the above photo have been the correct assumption that “Mr. Rhythm” is a guitar player, but it’s his brush-name, not a stage-name. Not many would think of pinstriping in terms of rhythm , but consider this:

 #1 definition of "rhythm"
RHYTHM
[rith-um]
Noun
1. Movement or procedure with uniform or patterned recurrence of a beat, accent, or the like.

A pretty stiff way to put it, but..."movement or procedure with uniform or patterned recurrence" is very much part of the flow in the art of pinstriping. While pinstriping is a highly improvisational art form, there is the bilateral mirroring of the image, the "patterned recurrence" that may be the most challenging aspect of a whole piece and like an improvised blues guitar solo, designs (riffs) are inspired, repeated, and built upon. 
Jowee Ramirez may have chosen "Mr. Rhythm" as his brush-name for the beat he hears in his head while dancing the hairs of his Mack along the hood of a car, panel, or stilleto; then again it could simply reflect that he's an accomplished guitarist. 
Either way, his brush-name, like his talents, are multidemensional.


The inspiration….

In the above photograph is Jowee's prized Ibanez which was striped by his friend, Manuel Cisneros. Manuel had previously done some amazing work on the Ramirez ’54 Bel Air and Jowee had to have some of that coolness grace his beloved guitar. Mr. Rhythm feels much gratitude for Mr. Cisneros.  At an artistic crossroads, Jowee followed the stripes Manuel had laid down for him. 

Jowee & Manuel

Mike, Jowee’s pops, a man of music himself, initially had misgivings about his son giving up a musical career, but encouraged him and bought Jowee his first striping kit.


Soon Jowee was striping everything! The walls and shelves in the garage/club/music room are adorned with some of his early work, as well as some recent projects.


Feel the "Rhythm" . . .







This Senorita to the left, leaning on the '54 is probably my favorite.

A team piece. The So Cal Line Lowcos, Mr Rhythm & the amazing, D.A. Garcia on tiki duty.

 


 READ MORE