Lee agrees with all greats in the automotive airbrush field that from body man and wet sand guy, to organizing and managing
it takes a good base and a good clear coat to produce qual- the shop, all led to Lee’s understanding of the business. It was
ity airbrush artwork, “Now I was understanding what went on Lee’s second chance in the automotive custom paint field and
before and beyond the fancy exotic colors and the labor inten- he was bound and determined to do what ever it took to get
sive airbrush work, what to look for as far as contamination there, so for a few more years that was what he did. Even his
and defects in the bodywork, sanding and the final clear. Very experience in the factory back in Ohio paid off when it came
important stuff if you want to turn out quality work, not just qual- time for him to help with the production scheduling of painting
ity artwork.” the motorcycles.
“Well, I never got my hands on an airbrush except to clean Hal’s “Mike eventually needed help with airbrushing the logo’s on all
and the occasional doodle on a piece of cardboard. After about the tanks and fenders for the bikes, aside from his fantastic
a year and a half of that I became restless and I decided to artwork on all these beautiful bikes. When he asked me, with a
move on. quick inhale I said, ‘you mean with an airbrush?’
”From there I went to help a lady at a southwestern gift shop From there Mike taught Lee as much as possible amidst the
where she made crafty type flagstone clocks, faceplates for elec- chaos of the very popular and growing company. Lee says “I
trical outlets, light switch covers for decorative use in homes practiced, practiced and practiced until I had some descent
and yes, I got to use an airbrush, but just to create a faux effect control over the airbrush and some understanding of the mate-
on the faux flag stone. It was fun for about six months but still I rial. Until one day Mike asked the company owner if he could
didn’t have the creative outlet and became bored.” take me under his wing and relieve me of my other shop duties
The call finally came. It was from Mike Learn, a friend of Hal’s, to concentrate on doing artwork. Well, dreams were answered
it was an invitation to come join him at Titan Motorcycle in the and the experience poured in by the buckets. I was finally getting
onsite custom paint shop. “I pretty much tripped over the sofa to do artwork after three long years and finally let go of some
to say yes...hell yes!” It meant starting at the beginning again, this creative energy! WOOHOO!!!
Just three short weeks later Mike left the company to join an- up and my chest out, I barreled through. I know, I know, a bit
other custom shop, Lee was left as the sole airbrush artist, the dramatic but if it inspires just one person then the eye rolling
art director, “the most terrifying position I’ve been put in since is worth it.”
the first day at kindergarten!” Lee was able to “work with some of the most talented people in
”The day Mike left, the president and the vise president came the custom paint and custom motorcycle industry. I also got to
up to me, after the shop had gone home for the night, I was meet and work with pro sports figures like Shaqille Oniel, Ron
working late to make sure we were going to stay caught up, they Hornaday, Jeremy Mayfield and Emerson Fittipaldi, also some
asked me if I could handle this position with the little experience big corporations. The type of clientele that Titan attracted at
that I had. I looked them straight in the eye and said, don’t worry, that time was really cool, Nike, Fender guitar, Playboy, NASCAR
I’ve got this under control, I’m not scared! They smiled, patted and Prolong to name a few. My favorite moment was when I got
me on the back and walked out of the shop. I began to shake to meet KISS and actually discuss artwork for a promotional
like a leaf, almost began to ball like a baby, and wondered what Titan bike they wanted painted with their images on it. The same
I got my self into. faces I used to draw when I was a kid and used to get in trouble
”Then all the things that my parents taught me came rushing over because I wasn’t paying attention in school! Go figure!”
in. All the support that my wife Raedel and my true friends had Things slowed down for Lee at Titan ”I decided to make it easy
given me and all the ‘go get’em’ attitudes I got from my new on my self and try my hand somewhere else, I was going to have
Arizona friends took hold. I proceeded to do my job with my chin to start all over again.”
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