back street motorcycle art from 70's/80's
71love 70's 80's bikes
New bikes are dog ugly, pastbikes are poetry.
I have painted since 09 for one reason to create pics of bikes i wish i still owned. I have had plenty of new fast road bikes and dirt bikes, everyone i have owned i have taken through the redline and beyond A.S.A.P. because i have had a fear of the next owner getting a bargain. But i reckon they don't compare character & looks wise with bikes gone by. Some of the new bikes look like those dogs that seemed to have run flat out into a wall and been rebuilt, they might be quick and handle better than earlier bikes but they are dog ugly. I had a Ninja which i could commute from North Wales to Ireland each weekend it would use less fuel than any of these bikes easily do 170 (usually across Anglesey or the Kildare N7 road but there were no challenges, it did everything asked of it and it was a pre packed plastic and metal product like the frozen pizza's you pick up at the supermarket.
These 70's and eighties bikes fascinate me, they had chrome to polish, they vibrated, had a certain smell, you felt great if you got a cornering profile which didn't resemble a 50p piece (seven sided) and (most) of us abused them on a daily basis in the quest for speed. In 1980 i could only afford to ride and own one. It did everything-commute, weekend rides and meet your mates in the village pub car park where the local residents had to put up with modified(or home made) pipes and suchlike in the usually unsuccessful effort to geta few more MPH, then the next year i could do a deal and up grade to one that would overtake the school bus! Every year you got a bike quicker than the last and then be subject to your peers inquest as to 'how fast,how much..' etc, where like fishermen after an unsuccessful trip- the stories would grow longer and more unbelievable. Brilliant!
I seemed to have had a set of road riding mates and a separate set of dirt bike riding mates who rarely mixed. i had over seventy bikes over the years but the dirt bikes were the most fun plus i won a few trophies on them around Wales and Northwest England. Bikes seemed a common sort of glue in biking culture across the pond,and i would buy U.S. Dirt Bike and Motorcycle magazines to see what sort of bikes you had in the U.S. the dirt bikes seemed virtually identical(except for YZ's which seemed to be yellow) but the road bikes in the U.S always had cast wheels and lashings of chrome.
Were the bikes above common and similar looking in the US?
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yes, ive left my trade which ive been in since 16 and written a book, but in spare time i painted about 50 this last year. Bikes, trucks and these sort of scenes are the ones i love to do, theres not a limit when you paint and you can do your own thing i guess. Not had any training as it shows. Same with the book, if something gives you inspiration enough you just do it.
As I have already said your works are really good. You have recognizable at ones style of painting.
Was it difficult to write a book?
Dioch (thanks) Im still on a learning curve.It wasnt dificult to recall the memories that were fresh from recent experience. It was another steep learning curve transfering the scribbled notes off paper on to a pc and not lose the scene and the emotion your trying to describe,at the same time learning to write a a reasonable pace on a keyboard. All new stuff to me, its a very exiting new world once you have finnished a book (if slower).the publishers say it should be out by yr end.You say 'a recognizable style'that comment is much appreciated.
Excellent paintings! love your style. My grandad had an original Harley and my granny was the first woman in Wales to ride a Harley. I wrote about him in my Hub "Pop Newport, the Harley Guy".
Some of the work is a little primitive, however, you capture the bikes beautifully. I love the use of bolder colors, against the stark frame work of the bikes. Only a true artist, can capture such color choices, and make it right. Well done sport, very well done. You need to enter yourself in the St. David Hall art show. I believe it is open to all local artisans.
That shows you have a depth of knowleage i still have to learn. Great. The back ground colours purely came from the memory of the sunsets and sunrises i witnessed when riding up the East coast of Spain on in 07 as went to sleep roadside literally. Those colours stuck in my head, and inspired me to paint.Never done any painting until last year,its a great pleasure now.
You really think they would merit a show? I was still repairing lorries just over a month ago.
Pretty nice Sir. I have enjoyed two wheels with motors and without. I had a Yamaha 650, made after the look of the BSA and Triumph. The engine was rubber mountain but both pistons came up almost at the same time giving the rider some vibration! This is all beautiful. Very impressing Sir!
Those vertical twins had some thing which most new bikes dont have -a character. Since i saw many of your Hub Pages MD, i reckon i must have had a premonition of what you looked like when i did the Chopper! I know you love usin' your legs to power bikes nowadays but the guy could be you pal.
Motor leathers 2 years ago
Hi! These are really nice paintings. I am impressed. As I have understood they are yours.