How To Pinstripe

( 1 )

Overview

Even before the heyday of Von Dutch and Big Daddy, the ultimate way to personalize your car or motorcycle was to lay some wicked lines on top of the paintwork. Done with a steady hand and an eye for style, pinstripes speak volumes. In How to Pinstripe, acclaimed veteran striper Alan Johnson teaches you everything you need to know to get started, to further your mastery of the form, or to simply understand how a good design comes together.

Following a primer on the history and ...

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More About This Book

Overview

Even before the heyday of Von Dutch and Big Daddy, the ultimate way to personalize your car or motorcycle was to lay some wicked lines on top of the paintwork. Done with a steady hand and an eye for style, pinstripes speak volumes. In How to Pinstripe, acclaimed veteran striper Alan Johnson teaches you everything you need to know to get started, to further your mastery of the form, or to simply understand how a good design comes together.

Following a primer on the history and evolution of pinstriping, this book launches into a step-by-step guide to the pinstriping process--from choosing paint and brushes that suit your style and abilities, to preparing surfaces, experimenting with symmetrical and asymmetrical designs, striping freehand, and using grids and patterns. While stressing the importance of finding your own style and having fun with the hobby, Johnson also explains the basics of color theory and unique considerations for antique and classic cars, hot rods and customs, and motorcycles.

For more advanced pinstripers, theres also tried-and-true advice on apprenticing and working car shows. Illustrated with color photography throughout, How to Pinstripe is the perfect source for beginners and veterans alike.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Auto Art Magazine, July 2007

“Two thumbs up. Great book, well done.”
          

IronWorks, December 2007

“Is packed with many color images and step-by-step instruction.”

    

TotalKitCar.com, Oct. 26, 2007

“Illustrated with color photography throughout, ‘How to Pinstripe’ is the perfect source for beginners and experts alike.”

Airbrush.com, September 2007

“It's the best piece of information that I've read. It's a soft cover, magazine-sized tome and it beats the heck out of the more expensive reading material I've perused.”

Cruzin’ Magazine, Sept.-Oct.  2007

“I had no how-to books to instruct me. I needed Alan Johnson’s new book, How to Pinstripe. Johnson is a veteran striper who will tell you what you need to know.”

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780760327494
  • Publisher: MBI Publishing Company
  • Publication date: 8/15/2007
  • Series: Motorbooks Workshop Series
  • Edition description: First
  • Pages: 160
  • Sales rank: 588,351
  • Product dimensions: 8.20 (w) x 10.50 (h) x 0.50 (d)

Meet the Author

Alan Johnson caught the pinstriping bug at age 11, when his father took him to see Ed “Big Daddy” Roth at the New York Coliseum. After graduating from Newark School of Fine Industrial Art in 1968, Alan landed a job as art director at a New York City ad agency. In 1974 he moved his family to the country and started his own business, which still thrives today.  Alan is also a consultant for automotive paint manufacturers and the author of several how-to articles. He recently launched his own line of signature brushes with The Mack Brush Company.        

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Table of Contents

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Roger Morrison

Introduction

Chapter 1               A Unique American Art Form

Chapter 2               Paint, Products, and Color Theory

Chapter 3               Tools

Chapter 4               Surface Preparation

Chapter 5               Layout and Design

Chapter 6               Brush Technique

Chapter 7               The Straight and Narrow

Chapter 8               Antique and Classic Cars

Chapter 9               Rods and Customs

Chapter 10             Motorcycles

Chapter 11             Flames and Special Effects

Chapter 12             Dry Spells

Web Links and Sources

Index

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Introduction

Question: How do you learn how to pinstripe?

Answer: Get one gallon of 1 and three or four pinstriping brushes. When you get to the bottom of the can, you'll know how to pinstripe.

Having been asked to write a book on the subject, I searched the back pages of my mind and found a memory of me as a 12-old kid at a car show at the New York Coliseum, where for the first time I saw a hot rod being pinstriped, and by the master himself: Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. I was mystified by his palette, the can of paint with the arrow and bulls-eye on it, and exotic brush he was using.

I thought to myself, so that's how it's done. Armed with little more than a desire to attempt this unusual type of painting, I set out in search of the materials I witnessed Ed Roth using to bring my dream of painting hot rods to life. Who knew that some 30 years later, Ed would be sending people to have their cars striped by me at a car show? He was a great guy.

I grew up outside of the small town of Red Bank, New Jersey, and saw very few cars with pinstriping on them, let alone anyone actually pinstriping a car in person. With many questions in my head, I sought out the only information available to me at the time, which came from a few small rod and custom magazines with even smaller pictures of dashboards covered in cool-looking lines.

After much searching, I bought a brush in a wallpaper and paint store and I started painting everything in sight. Little knowledge is not necessarily a bad thing, I tested the limits of everything that brush could and could not do. Trial and error is the best teacher. Since I didn't know I couldn't stripe, I just did it.

My goal with this book isto lift the veil of mystery that has surrounded pinstriping for the beginner and eliminate the fear of learning to pinstripe. Hopefully, car enthusiasts will find it entertaining. Veteran pinstripers might find a few new insights to make their jobs a little more enjoyable.

I hope to introduce you to all the materials and methods you may need to get to "the bottom of the can." There are as many ways to pinstripe as there are brushes and pinstripers who hold them. The brother- and sisterhood of fellow artists ("pinheads") have graciously shared their own knowledge and techniques with me, adding up to numerous years of experience that I now will share with you.

But remember: you will have to see what works for you. About halfway through the can you will know. So just get the brush and let's go!
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Foreword

In my opinion, a great pinstriper is like a sensitive piano accompanist for a solo vocalist. The pianist supports and enhances the soloist's performance without calling undue attention to him or herself. As a consummate pinstriper, Alan Johnson enhances and complements the design of the automobile without calling undue attention to the actual pinstriping. In both the musical and automotive examples, the sum of the two parts working together is greater than the whole.

Because of his quiet and unassuming nature, Alan's name may not be as widely known as other practitioners of the delicate art. No bizarre antics, tantrums, or tirades. Happily, his focus, energy, and talent flow from his brush rather than from his mouth. Also unlike some artists, Alan is a willing and proactive teacher. I have seen him personally encourage young pinstripers at auto shows.

Those of us fortunate enough to either see or own a car pinstripped by Alan enjoy the great benefit of witnessing the work of a genuine master.

It is my great good fortune to call Alan a friend. I have willingly and happily turned several cars over to him for the pinstriping, saying, "Use your own good judgment." In each case the result was more than I could have conceived and better than I could have imagined.

Now the reader of this seminal instruction book has the opportunity to embark on an exciting new time of self-discovery and skill-building. As you delve into this book, I know you will be challenged and inspired.

Go for it!

Sincerely,
Roger Morrison
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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Posted February 6, 2009

    Pinhead and proud of it!

    Alan Johnson is a Master of the trade. He takes the reader through easy step by step instructions with plenty of tips. Just keep the brush wet, and practice on everything and anything.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
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