Q & A With Airbrush Artist Dennis Mathewson
What drives you to be an artist? first generation custom painters at that time did not wish to
I have an uncontrollable drive to create. I think, eat and
share their so called” tricks”. They turned their backs to me
breathe creating artwork. It sometimes seems like an uncon-
when I asked them questions. Seems all didn’t wish to share,
trollable curse. Artists see the world in a different light and
all but one, Bob Spina he has been a great inspiration in my
being an artist, inspiration constantly surrounds me. Living in
life and even till this day, I call him “Uncle Bob” with respect.
Hawaii draws much of my creativity from the beauty of the sur-
Spina, years ago was Ed Roth’s right hand man and he is a
rounding nature, easygoing lifestyle and rich history. Each time
true 1st generation custom painter who still paints and stripes
I travel to other locations they inspire me differently. I have
everyday to this day. Since then, so much has happened and
chosen Hawaii to live because of its inspiration, people, lifestyle
changed for this industry and myself.
and beauty. Plus the fact that I can airbrush and paint with the
windows open year round giving me a healthy environment to
paint in.
How was it you first picked up an airbrush to use in your
How do you go about using color in your artwork?
artwork?
Color is a wonderful thing and I hope that all beginning artists
I grew up in Las Vegas and one weekend in 1971 at age 12, my
use color from day one in their work. It can set the mood, give
parents took me to southern California (Laguna beach) where I
power or depth to artwork. I use different types of colors in
saw a man and his wife painting clothing with wizards, castles,
my work, depending on the piece. In custom painting, some-
clouds, flying winged horses and rainbows. WOW! This was a
times we use just what is necessary to achieve a design like
fateful and incredible discovery to me seeing how an airbrush
red flames on a blue car, with that said we are just applying
could spray color and be controlled. I received my first Paasche
what a customer has chosen and have no say in the matter.
VL airbrush that next birthday and the rest is history. It was dif-
Maybe we can help choose the pinstripe color or accents to
ficult to learn back then, before Airbrush magazines with how-
the standard design and that is where some color knowledge
to articles, books and instructional videos, everything I tried to
can come in handy.
learn was pretty much self taught. I got my first job working
In other paintings where I create, I use what some call “Dream-
for Big Daddy Rat at the Rats Hole shop in Vegas at the age of
scape colors” where I knock down the colors hues using softer
16. I was coloring in cartoon hot rod t-shirts and rarely did any
colors, giving them less vividness or brightness. In other paint-
custom designs. We only had three colors and used day glow
ings, I tip the scale the other way with lots of hot and cool
enamels Rocket Red, Horizon Blue and Lightning Yellow along
contrasts in the painting with cool back lighting and warm fore-
with One Shot black and white. There was no water base t-shirt
grounds. This type of painting has gotten me recognition in the
paints at that time. Any colors mixed on the shirts had to be
industry and has led to my developing a solvent based color
over lays of colors and everything was cartoon style. Man, so
line called Hawaiian Hues for ALSA, where I punched up the
much has changed since then. My automotive custom paint-
pigments into bright strong airbrush colors that I use in my
ing began at the same time. With practicing on my own car, I
own work daily.
painted and airbrushed is about 9 different times, hehe. Many
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