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MEDFORD ROD & CUSTOM SHOW Pinstripe artists use cars as canvas at Medford auto show Painting skills on display at The Expo Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 14, 2016 at 6:49 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 14, 2016 at 6:49 PM » Social News Tony Chavez was building his first motorcycle when he had to decide whether to attempt a custom paint job on his bike himself. "You come to a T in the road. You either get into it, or figure out 'this is not for me' and pay someone to do it," he said. Chavez decided to take the riskier but more creative route and learn the art of pinstriping. Fifteen years after that first project, he has a thriving custom paint job business in Phoenix called King Hat Pinstriping. "It's a fun job. You get paid to do this. It's a blast," said Chavez, who sometimes spends his work days listening to music and painting everything from shoes, tool boxes and helmets to motorcycles and classic restored cars. On other days, he hits the road to visit car shows or work on a client's pet project. Along with other pinstripe artists, Chavez was showing off his skills and helping local kids at the weekend Medford Rod & Custom Show at The Expo in Central Point. Chavez and artist Rick Evens did free pinstriping on customized lowrider bicycles assembled by students at several Rogue Valley schools. The bicycle program at the schools helps kids learn about teamwork and communication while they gain mechanical skills. "We'll take each bike back to the school and have an assembly so the whole school will see the bike," said Rico Gutierrez, a mentor for the kids in the bicycle program and a member of the Familia Unida lowrider car and bicycle club in Southern Oregon. Chavez, Evens and artist Paul Stafford also custom painted panels fabricated by Eagle Point High School students. The panels were auctioned off Sunday afternoon to benefit the high school's Skills USA program, which has won state competitions. Eagle Point students have also competed in a Skills USA National Career Competition in categories that included diesel technology, automotive service and refinishing, collision repair technology, job skills interviewing, video product development, electronics, computer applications and technical math. Stafford, who lives in Ashland and operates Pauly's Custom Pinstripe and Airbrush Design, said the art of pinstriping is an ancient one. "It's an art form that's been around for thousands of years. Old chariots used to have pinstripes," he said. Pinstripes exploded in popularity in American in the 1950s, Stafford said. As with Chavez, a motorcycle led Stafford to the art form. "I got a motorcycle and wanted flames on it. I had to decide whether to pay someone to do it or buy the gear and learn to do it. I've always loved cars and art. I didn't necessarily want to crawl under them and get greasy," he said. Pinstripe artists use specialized paintbrushes with long hairs to create pinstripe lines. "It's an interesting abstract art form," Stafford said. "It's a more subtle graphic than some styles of painting on cars and it's affordable. You don't have to necessarily re-paint the whole car. You can add a little garnishment. It's a cool embellishment that can be added." In addition to pinstriping, Stafford has learned to do airbrush painting. He airbrushed a skeleton holding a hand of poker cards on one of the metal panels made by the Eagle Point students. As with any art form, custom painting cars and motorcycles can have its pitfalls. Contaminants like dust, water and fingerprints can mar a painting, and layering on the wrong kind of paint can trigger a chemical reaction that destroys a whole painting, he said. "You try to keep it clean and grease and dust free — and keep your fingers crossed," Stafford said. "When you get it right, you can walk away proud." —Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 14, 2016 at 6:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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