hardart-kustoms

The local NBC affiliate found out that I airbrushed the helmet for 2014 women's skeleton sled Silver Medal Olympian Noelle Pikus-Pace and stopped by to interview me today. Check it out!

Watch Noelle take GOLD at Lake Placid...and if you look close, you just might notice her really cool helmet!  Great job Noelle!!!

So, It's been awhile.

I got hired back on part-time at the architectural firm I got laid off from 3 years ago. I was the first, and so far the only, architect they've brought back. That meant a lot to me.

I've been making a regular paycheck again so my wife's happy. I'm somewhat ambivalent. I enjoy the work but there is a lot of pressure to perform and I can feel my anxiety level slowly creeping up on me again. Even though it was a financial nightmare trying to reinvent myself and develop my skills as an airbrush artist for hire, it was the most relaxed and happy I had been in a long time. I think a lot of that had to do with taking things at a much slower pace than I had before. I learned I didn't want to work that hard anymore. The 60 hour work weeks and 4 hours a night sleep got really old. I learned I didn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore, especially myself. I'm pretty damn good as an architect and as an airbrush artist. Are there architects and airbrush artists out there better than me? Absolutely! But that doesn't mean I should think less of myself because I'm not the best. If anything, it gives me something to strive toward.

Anyway, I hope to breakout the old airbrush again soon. Heck, I need to! I have a couple of very cool commissions to finish. One in particular is going to be very cool! But that's it for now. If you've read this far, thanks for letting me ramble on a bit.

One last thing. An extremely talented and humble airbrush artist by the name of Jaime Rodriguez suddenly died this week. I've watched many of his YouTube videos over the past few years hoping to gain some insight into his amazing abilities with an airbrush. His work, not matter what the surface, was always truly inspiring. He set the bar very high for all artists, let alone airbrush artists. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He left this world much to soon and much too young. RIP Jamie.

If you get a chance, check him out:
www.youtube.com/user/purejaime

Iwata is an amazing company. I called them up, explained the problem I was experiencing with my HP-C Plus. They gave me a reference number, asked that I ship it to them, and they would take a look at it. Well a little over a week later I get a package from them, it's a brand new airbrush!!! Freaking awesome.

Now all I have to do is find the time to use it! I'm finishing a complete repaint of a 68 Camaro that doesn't have any airbrush work. If that isn't enough to get done, I find out my landlord is behind on their payments to the bank and I have to move out now. My family and I have been in this house for 11 years! This is not going to be easy!

I can't believe it, I broke my airbrush! The center shaft separated from the main body some how. I noticed it was leaking air right below the trigger as I was finishing the helicopter canopy. It made finishing a real bitch!

Cool thing is, I called Iwata and they said to just ship them the airbrush and they would see if they could fix it. Then the guy said if they couldn't fix it, they'd send me a new one! How awesome is that?!

I've always heard good things about Iwata-Medea and now I'm experiencing it personally! Maybe some day I'll be famous enough that they'll send me free airbrushes to promote!