With a “Coming Soon” sign on the front window, people were
beginning to become curious. The shop contained nothing
but a painted floor. However, word was spreading around
that we were taking on projects even though we weren’t
completely opened yet. Next thing I knew, I was airbrushing
Christmas presents for everyone. I painted everything from
t-shirts to truck tailgates. But the real money came from the
very first bikes I painted.
The first bikes were definitely the toughest to complete. One
day, it was seven degrees outside and thirty degrees inside
my shop. In the dead of winter, in a new business, I couldn’t
afford to heat the building, so I set up space heaters around
me and used a hairdryer to dry the paint. Even though the
shop temperatures were below freezing, I still managed to One day, a customer came into my shop explaining how he
pay close attention to each bike I painted. I painted the bikes had seen my work at the Louisville Bike Show. He happened to
in two stages. First, I painted the entire bike to make sure the be the owner of the Western Kentucky Punishers, a semi-pro
artwork “flowed” together. Then I painted the minute details football team, and he asked me to paint a football-themed mo-
on each, separate bike part in the easiest room to heat in my torcycle for his team. Once the bike was completed, he invited
shop-the bathroom, the same room where I slept all winter. me to Towne Mall in Elizabethtown, KY to unveil the motorcycle
where Nappy Roots, the rap group made famous by their song,
“My Old Kentucky Home” were signing autographs as part of
a promotion for the upcoming football game in Louisville later
that day. After we visited Towne Mall, we all drove to Louisville
to watch the football game from the VIP section in the Cardinal
Stadium. When the game ended, everyone in the crowd was
treated to a concert performance. It was one of the most mem-
orable days of my career.
Those bikes I airbrushed that winter received overwhelm-
ingly positive responses when the sun finally came around.
Awards from local and national bike shows were given to
those bikes and local newspapers wrote articles and took
photos as well.
Now, I currently live with my fiancé, who stood by me through
all the hard times, and have two beautiful children. We live in
a home with a garage so I can now take on bigger and better
projects. I am where I am today because of my family and be-
cause I put my heart into everything I do, whether it’s a vanity
After a short break from painting motorcycles, bikes started plate, t-shirt, motorcycle, etc. Sure, there were the struggles
to come into my shop once again, one after another. I want- and hardships that every artist faces when starting their ca-
ed word to spread to neighboring cities about my work, and, reer, yet the positive experiences far outweigh the negative. I
luckily, all the recent bikes I had painted all went to the same started out with nothing, and with hard work, dedication, and
car and bike shows. As I was setting up my airbrushing booth determination the shop has steadily grown, as have my skills. I
at the bike shows, I would see all the bikes I had painted lined once had a dream of being an artist, and now it is a reality. In
up right next to each other. They looked like an army of air- closing to all those who have the same dream, love what you do,
brushed bikes. The expressions on the owners’ faces as their do what you love, and most importantly, follow your heart and
bikes received awards were priceless and rewarding for me. that dream will become a reality.
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