The Thinman's Ride '55 Sedan Delivery

Richard Crawford
ThinMan Specialty Art

Dick Crawford is a self taught, nationally published, award winning artist who now resides in California. He has applied his artistic talents  to just about everything imaginable. His work has adorned thousands of cars, trucks, motorcycles, airplanes, signs and antique furnishings. Born in Chicago in 1942, Dick started striping cars in junior high school in Los Angeles and soon developed his own style and a steady clientele. Today he is located on the Central Coast of California and works as a mobile artist out of one of his many classic Chevys. Using airbrush techniques and hand brush detail Dick has been busy creating a series of original paintings and fine art prints of famous Kustom Kars, Low Riders, Lead Sleds and others. These exciting, photo realistic illustrations arrive in conjunction with the current nostalgia trend and are sure to bring back memories from the past

 
Thinman's Rides

Richard Crawford
aka ThinMan

Highlights of Qualifications

  Multi skilled artist with over 30 years experience in pinstriping and lettering including signs, automotive and boat graphics.
Designed original artwork for thousands of cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles,
planes, signs and antiques.
Specializes in Low Rider and Custom Car Artwork and high quality prints.  
Reliable, honest and friendly. Works well in a team environment.                    
Fast, efficient, with a pride in workmanship unmatched in the industry.          

Hand painted signs, lettering, custom auto/boat graphics.                              
Pinstriping, Airbrush Illustration, Automotive Art.                                              
Knowledge of different finishes, types of paint, including clear finishes and applications of these products.
Experience with gold leaf, silver leaf, faux finishes and Trompe L'oeil with projects including Hearst Castle gold leaf restoration, gold leaf ceilings in the Las Vegas Desert Inn and antique safe and bank vault restoration.
Designed and coordinated production of own line of T-shirts, automotive  
art prints and original commissioned artwork.
Strong ability to identify and service customer needs and expectations.    

    Nationally published artist- Landmark Calendars "Cruisin' into the Past"  '90-'91
Produced the world's first and only illustrated custom car calendar.   Featured Artist in Auto Art Magazine www.AutoArtMagazine.com July-Aug. 2005. Featured Artist in Low Rider Magazine.  Featured Artist in Street Low and Speed & Chrome Magazines. Award winning art contest winner 02/98. Auto Art Magazine (Gold Leaf Issue) Sept 07, May June '08 (Profile) Former business partner Art's Custom Colors. Owner Dick's Lines and Letters. Notable clients include Michael Jackson, James Brolin, Madonna Inn, Mike Gordon Racing, Drake Farms Trucking, Glacier Ice Co. San Luis Obispo, Bassetti Farms Trucking King City, Fresh Farms- King City, Aldo Molteni King City, Gary Abatti Paso Robles, Ron Montgomery Atascadero. STM Transportation Tremonton, Ut. Kevin Dye Trucking, Paso Robles, Los Robles Cafe, Paso Robles, Rod's Concrete Pumping, San Luis Obispo. Spinaca Farms LLC-Paso Robles, Stoney Oaks Ranch Trucking-Templeton, Ike Bijleveld Trucking-Oakland, S.S. Skikos Dist. Co. Santa Rosa.


Completely self taught, influenced by automotive artists and customizers of the '50s
25 Year Member West Coast Kustoms
 

Artist for Hire. Willing to Travel. Contact Info 

Honorable Mention to Mr. Nat Quick
As one of the greatest artists I have ever known, I would like to salute my mentor, good friend and the king of race car lettering. Nat Quick began painting cars himself in Oklahoma in the 1960s, where he was known to hang out in drive-in parking lots with his paint kit, offering to do speedy pinstripe dash jobs for a quart of beer or a few bucks. Years later, he was painting hot rods for some of the best-known racers on the streets and tracks. In Los Angeles, where he established his own shop, Quick became known for his inventive airbrush style and his pin-striping accuracy. Any car that carried the recognizable Nat Quick signature was considered more than just a car with a cool paint job—it was a work of art. Also a accomplished military and airplane painter his work is, without question, one of a kind.