Von Dutch, born Kenneth Howard the originator of modern pinstriping. No, this is not just a name on a t-shirt or a hat and he is not related to the marketing people only using this greatly underrated artists name and signature. Simply dedicated to the man's art both on normal canvas and automotive canvas.
Kenneth Howard was born in 1929, son of a sign painter. After being drafted in the US army in 1946 being honorably discharged in 1949, he quickly followed in his fathers footsteps as a sign painter, painting store fronts in Southern California. During the 50s he was hired to paint cars, and discovered a technique to mask damaged paint by adding decorative designs.
Those designs we now know as pinstriping. During the sixties Dutch worked on movie cars and also several vehicles for his friend Steve McQueen. Dutch got to know McQueen through his stunt double and motorcycle dealer Bud Eakins. In his early years Von Dutch spend some time working for Eakins.
This was also the time he first painted his trademark the flying eyeball. The creative sculptures coming from this man's mind are unbelievable. The cars and motorcycles he touched with his chipmunk hair brushes became pieces of art. And don't forget his superb capabilities as a gun-smith.
Living most of his life in trailers just because he wanted to. To some he was crazy, others say just bad tempered. He could love you but never show. At least the man is far from the fake hollywood style clothes everybody now associates with his name. The man is a legend, which he already was in his own time.
A bigger artist than Dali, Ed Roth and so many others of his time. At the time of his death on September 19 1992 he left a big hole in the art world, but his work is here for the long run.....
Von Dutch is still alive!!!
Kati (PinkKatillac)
☠ www.pinkkatillac.com
Kustom Kulture Products
2 fuckyou:
I used to hang out at Bud Ekins motorcycle shop as a youngster; not yet old enough to drive. My friend and I got to know him pretty good. We thought the world of him. He came in one day with half of his mustache shaved off. We laughed, but not at him. We never saw him angry. I remember when he painted a motorized surfboard in the form of an alligator, it was magnificent. I think about him from time to time. I feel blessed to have met him.
Don
Thanks for the comment Don. You're truly blessed!!!
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take care,
Kati
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