Maybe if my ideas were more valuble I wouldn't have to do 2-for-1 specials. But here goes:
I've been interested in pinstriping for a long time, but had difficulty practicing. Last time I practiced was a year ago. I used to smoke, drink, do drugs, and I wasn't sure that I'd ever be steady enough to stripe.
Last time I practiced, I had what I thought was a breakthrough. My lines were jagged and awful looking. I kept trying to find the right grip and things like that, then I realized that I should concentrate less on what my hand was doing, and think more about what my ARM was doing. It really helped, kind of a cause and effect thing. If the movement of the arm is steady, the line will be steadier. But the quality was still miles away from pro.
This last week or so, I've been practicing. Tonight was so good I had to write about it. I've got John Hannukaine's book. In it, he says to use 1/8" masking tape as a guide, and run the line about 1/64" away from the tape. I was trying that, then realized that if I concentrate more on where I'm aiming the brush, and a little less on being parralel to the tape, I get MUCH better results. It's like an imaginary line coming off the handle of the brush, and I concentrate on making that imaginary line parralel to the tape. Kind of hard to explain, but the AIM is so important. Of course, I'm still thinking about being 1/64" away from the tape, and having a smooth arm movement.
I'm 43 and thought I might be 50 before I was ever able to stripe a car, 'till tonight.
Now about this "tasteless"... Ha Ha made ya look!
No really, here it is: Another wonderful idea for promoting a sign shop. See you make a sign, rectangle, square, whatever. The sign has lettering on it, above the sign is a cutout of a man sitting down. He's holding a fishing rod. hanginging from the end of the rod is some heavy line, say 25lb test or better. Attached to the end of the line is a basketball, soccerball, maybe even a football. The ball is painted to look like a giant human eyeball. Of course, the sign says: "EYE CATCHING SIGNS!"
Har Har Harg, someday I'll be more mature, it is hoped.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
James..How old are ya???
You HAVE to tell me after making me read thru the first part of the crap!!!!
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Nice way to describe how to pin strip.... im sure some have never heard this before...
My son has tape and brushes just now and he is pulling away laughing at his little brother who is also trying to pull some pins.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Dave, I'm not sure I understand the question. I know it may seem less, but I am 43.
Curtis, I've been meaning to tell you, we were in Slidell last November. Went on a swamp tour. Neat stuff, too late for aligators, though. Saw the tupelo trees and Cypress knees. Bought the little varnished aligator head, it sits right here next to my PC. Like George Thourogood (sp?) I'd have a house made out of rattlesnake hide, but my wife would leave and stay at a hotel. Oh well, can't have everything.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Next time ya come by this way, you should stop by, maybe you could borrow my condo on the lake ,,,
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
One thing to remember when striping James, always look where you are going and don't look back where you've been. It took me a long time to learn that and I'm still not real good at it because it is something you have to do all the time.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Yes, James, Dave said it right- look at where you have to go, and don't watch the tip where you've been: it's hard at first, but you'll have gone off course before you realise it otherwise. It's more 'feel' than 'see' too. Another good bit of advice I found in an old coachpainter's trade journal is "Don't stick your nose in it". It's easy to get in the habit of getting down too close to watch what you're doing. Something has always intrigued me: maybe I'll start a fresh post one day on it. Who came up with "Pinstriping" as a term for stripes PAINTED on surfaces. ALL old books I have pre 1945 refer to it as striping or lining, depending on the width of the stripe. Lines could be hair lines, fine lines, stout lines, and they go on and on like old quill sizes, but there's never a "pin" in the stripe sizes. It doesn't exist as a term pre 1950 (in paint terminology) as far as I've been able to research. Pinstripes in suits are another matter, but why/where did it creep into the painting language, especially at a time when there wasn't as much relatively, around?
[ July 30, 2003, 09:03 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I don't know Ian, but my dad and grand dad both called it pinstriping and lining. My dad learned it from his dad who was brought up in europe and I been pinstriping 50 years. I always thought it was because the lines were to be thin as a pin. Guess it all depends what size pin you're using.
BTW, my nose would have to be like Pinnochio's in order to touch the stripe.
Posted by Dwayne Hunter (Member # 133) on :
James, it's the coolest feelin' in the world when you catch on to what it takes to drag those lines...before long it's just second nature.
I outlined the flames I painted on a 32' highboy last night. Although my hands are orange and my back was killing me from leaning over, I couldn't stop!!!
As far as the sign idea, I DIG IT!!!
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
James, Like the others said it's not about where you've been, it's where you'e going. Another trick tought to me is to get your whole body into it, not just part of it. As for the eye catching signs idea, ya never know unless you try. These days, it's creativity that sells or how you promote it, not, so much, the actual product.
