Custom Painting Your Motorcycle: A Guide By Joann Bortles

how to custom paint your motorcycle by joann bortles

In her book, 'How to Custom Paint Your Motorcycle', JoAnn Bortles, a nationally recognized and award-winning custom painter, shares her techniques and tips for beginners and advanced custom painters alike. Bortles, who is the founder and proprietor of Crazy Horse Painting, provides detailed, step-by-step, full-colour instructions on how to execute a variety of custom projects, from standard to evil skull flames, pin-ups, and pinstriping, to a number of finish techniques.

Characteristics Values
Author JoAnn Bortles
Author's Background Founder and proprietor of Crazy Horse Painting; Nationally recognized and award-winning custom painter; Work featured in leading motorcycle magazines
Book's Purpose To teach readers how to custom paint their motorcycles
Target Audience Beginners or more advanced custom painters; Motorcycle enthusiasts
Content Step-by-step instructions with illustrations and photos; Various techniques and styles; Practical guidance on DIY motorcycle painting; Tips and tricks to avoid mistakes; Chapters on tools, paint types, and preparation
Other Details Positive customer reviews praising the book's helpfulness, practicality, and inspiration

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Painting techniques for beginners

Nationally-recognized and award-winning custom painter JoAnn Bortles has authored several books on custom painting techniques, including "How to Custom Paint Your Motorcycle" and "How to Paint Your Motorcycle". The books are a great resource for beginners, offering practical advice and step-by-step instructions on various painting techniques.

Bortles' books cover a range of topics, from basic prep work to advanced finishing techniques. She provides detailed guidance on bodywork preparation, paint selection and preparation, and post-application follow-up techniques. The techniques and processes described in the books can be applied to any type of motorcycle, from production road bikes to custom choppers.

In addition to the technical aspects of painting, Bortles also offers encouragement and perspective, sharing anecdotes about her own learning journey. She emphasizes that painting a custom motorcycle does not require any special talent beyond patience, persistence, practice, and knowledge of the materials.

Bortles' books include illustrations and graphics to accompany the teachings, making them accessible and easy to follow for beginners. She also provides tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes and ensure a smooth painting process.

One of the key advantages of Bortles' books is the variety of custom projects they cover. Readers can learn how to create standard designs, evil skull flames, pin-ups, pinstriping, and more. The books are a great source of ideas and inspiration for those looking to customize their motorcycles, helmets, or cars.

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Advanced finishing techniques

JoAnn Bortles is a nationally recognised and award-winning custom painter. She has written several books on custom painting techniques, including "How to Custom Paint Your Motorcycle", which covers advanced finishing techniques.

The book provides detailed, step-by-step, full-colour instructions on how to create custom finishes, such as candy, pearl, and granite effects. It also covers standard to advanced designs, including evil skull flames, pin-ups, and pinstriping.

Bortles offers practical advice on advanced finishing techniques, such as the use of specific brand names, model names/numbers, and types of paint. She also includes illustrations and graphics to accompany her teachings, making it easier for readers to follow along.

In addition to the step-by-step instructions, Bortles shares her experiences and anecdotes, offering encouragement and a realistic perspective on the process. She emphasises that custom painting requires patience, persistence, practice, and knowledge of the materials involved.

The book also includes post-application follow-up techniques to ensure the best finish and help readers avoid common mistakes. These techniques can be applied to any type of motorcycle, from production road bikes to custom choppers with extravagant bodywork.

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Custom painting ideas

Nationally recognised and award-winning custom painter JoAnn Bortles has shared her expertise on custom painting motorcycles in her book, How to Custom Paint Your Motorcycle. Bortles is the founder and proprietor of Crazy Horse Painting and has had her custom bike paint jobs featured on the covers of leading motorcycle magazines worldwide. In her book, she offers practical advice and step-by-step instructions on a variety of custom projects, from standard to evil skull flames, pin-ups, and pinstriping, as well as various finish techniques.

Custom Paint Ideas

  • Evil skull flames: Create a bold statement with evil skull flames, a classic choice for custom motorcycle paint jobs.
  • Pin-ups: Add a touch of vintage glamour with pin-up art, a popular choice for custom bikes.
  • Pinstriping: Opt for a classic and elegant look with pinstripes, which can be paired with other designs or stand out on their own.
  • Airbrushing: Airbrushing techniques can be used to create intricate designs, such as realistic portraits or complex graphics.
  • Custom graphics: Add unique graphics or artwork to your motorcycle to make it stand out.
  • Simple touch-ups: Sometimes, a simple touch-up can be enough to refresh the look of your bike without a complete repaint.
  • Candy, pearl, or granite finishes: Choose from a range of custom finishes, such as candy, pearl, or granite, to give your bike a unique texture and shine.

Additional Considerations

When considering custom paint ideas, it's important to keep in mind the potential impact on the resale value of your motorcycle. Highly personalised paint jobs may make it harder to sell your bike in the future. Think about the level of customisation you want and whether you plan to keep the bike long-term or sell it eventually.

It's also crucial to have a realistic budget for your custom paint job. The cost can vary depending on the complexity of the design and the quality of paint products used. Be wary of budget painters or quotes, as they may not provide the same level of quality and expertise as more experienced painters.

Lastly, take the time to research and gather inspiration. Look for paint jobs that you like and save them for reference. This will help you communicate your ideas clearly to your painter and ensure you're happy with the final result.

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Basic prep work

In her book, JoAnn Bortles, a nationally recognized and award-winning custom painter, offers a comprehensive guide to custom painting your motorcycle. She covers the entire process, from basic prep work to advanced finishing techniques, ensuring that even beginners can achieve excellent results.

The basic prep work is crucial for a successful paint job. Here is a detailed breakdown of the steps involved:

Firstly, decide on the paint job you want for your bike. There are various options to choose from, such as total repaints, fresh paint with custom graphics or artwork, or simple touch-ups. It is helpful to collect examples and photos of paint jobs you like to use as inspiration and guidance.

Next, consider your budget for the project. Custom painting can vary in cost, depending on the complexity of the design and the surface area to be painted. Quality paint products can be expensive, so it is important to be wary of budget painters or quotes that seem too good to be true.

Before beginning the painting process, ensure you have the right tools and equipment. This includes items such as sandpaper, primer, paint guns, and safety gear such as respirators and goggles. It is also essential to work in a well-ventilated area to protect yourself from paint fumes.

Once you have gathered the necessary tools and equipment, it's time to start preparing the motorcycle's surface. This involves thoroughly cleaning the bike to remove any dirt, grease, or old paint that may interfere with the new paint job. Sanding is often necessary to create a smooth and even surface for the paint to adhere to. It is crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific type of paint you are using.

After the surface preparation, it is essential to prime the surface correctly. Primer provides a base for the paint to adhere to and helps to create a uniform finish. Again, following the manufacturer's instructions for the chosen primer is vital to ensure proper application.

By following these basic prep work steps, you will be well on your way to successfully custom painting your motorcycle. JoAnn Bortles' book provides a wealth of information and guidance to ensure that anyone can achieve professional-looking results.

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Airbrushing

In her books, Bortles presents a wealth of knowledge and photography, showing readers how to tackle all types of paint and graphics. She includes both traditional and modern techniques and tools, from low-tech to high-tech, making it easier than ever to obtain professional results.

Bortles' book, 'How to Design and Apply Automotive and Motorcycle Paint and Graphics', covers a range of topics, including two-tone paint, rally stripes, flames, graphics, retro styles, lowrider and flake paint, pinstriping, gold and metal leaf, lettering, patina paint, clearcoating, and troubleshooting. The book is written for both hobbyists and professionals, with step-by-step examples accompanied by tips, tricks, and photo galleries for inspiration.

Another of Bortles' books, 'Airbrush Painting: Advanced Techniques', is aimed at artists who have been painting for a while and want to take their skills to the next level. This book covers the fine details of painting realistic faces, hands, feet, and other intricate mechanical details. It also includes information on creating murals and using templates and stencils.

Reviews of Bortles' books suggest that they are well-illustrated, easy to follow, and provide practical advice for those looking to custom paint their motorcycles. One reviewer mentions that the book covers everything from basic prep work to advanced finishing techniques, making it a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to paint their motorcycle.

Frequently asked questions

The book is a practical guide for beginners and advanced custom painters. It covers a variety of custom projects, from standard to evil skull flames, pin-ups, and pinstriping, to a number of finish techniques. It also includes step-by-step instructions on how to do several different custom paint methods and graphic designs.

The book covers everything from basic prep work to advanced finishing techniques. It also includes chapters on the tools needed and the various kinds of paint that are used, with detailed explanations. There are also chapters on creating custom finishes from candy to pearl to granite.

JoAnn Bortles is a nationally recognized and award-winning custom painter. She is the founder and proprietor of Crazy Horse Painting and has had her custom bike paint jobs featured on the covers of leading motorcycle magazines worldwide. She has also written several books on custom painting techniques.

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