NOT YET

TELLING A STORY WITH ART

- MIKE LEARN

It is truly an honor when someone entrusts you to create something with deep meaning. Recently I had a request to work with a client on a somewhat specific project. I had worked with this particular guy a few years back. He had dropped off his first bagger, given me a general direction, and then let me do whatever I wanted; my favorite type of job! This new project, however, was different. My customer had recently had a full, unexpected recovery from a near-death illness, and he wanted to celebrate his victory over death through a series of murals on his new bike.

As all career artists know, some of the biggest challenges in commissioned art come when a client has rather specific expectations. It is often very difficult (and frustrating) for non-artists to convey their vision – in fact, the whole reason they are in the shop is that they are looking for someone to turn their idea into reality, right? Since I had worked with this guy before, and I could tell that he was earnest, I accepted the mission.

This job contained 16 motorcycle pieces and we planned to have 7 detailed murals covering the bike. The project would be called “Not Yet” and each of the murals would depict a Reaper being “DENIED”.

In a project of this size, there is a considerable amount of thought that goes into the process before I even think about putting paint into an airbrush. I spend time using my iPad and Procreate to work up loose sketches. I utilize these loose drawings to work out my ideas, to make sure that my client and I are on the same page, to ensure flow, and to set up the composition.