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A CUSTOM PAINT JOB: : |
THAT YOU MIGHT ENVY |
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Whether you're an automotive enthusiast or not, you'll probably like to see something unique or unusual about your car. It could be a little decal on the windshield or probably a small toy on the dashboard - God forbid, you're one of those people with pillows and teddy bears on your back dashboard (in which case you should be severely punished). But we all want to express some sort of individuality and with this custom paint enhancing the physical appearance of the Integra, individuality is by far its most obvious attribute.
Along with all the compliments, gazes of amazement and disbelief this ride has received, it has also been honoured with a trophy, prize money and a basket of goodies by winning best paint job at the March 2006 Hot Wheels car show in Ocho Rios. This has left no doubt that if beauty is only skin deep, then one should get the best skin. Definitely one of, if not the first car to be custom painted on this level in Jamaica, this Integra dubbed "The Envy", by owner Damian Shaw aka "X", could unquestionably be described as having good skin. In this article I'll show you what it took to bring this head turner to life.
The basic concept was to combine two elements-a beautiful woman and the sensation of speed even when the car is stationary. This was achieved by creating the illusion of the woman's hair blowing in the wind. Women and speed, what more could a man possibly ask for in his car? |
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The first step of the process was to print out the design at actual size on paper. This was to be used for points of references and to facilitate the exact positioning of the mural on both sides of the car. In addition, the design was also traced onto plain white paper to be used as secondary masks. These secondary masks work like the primary masks, covering areas in which paint is not wanted, but in this case the masks are temporary as the entire graphic will be painted onto the car in layers of colours starting with a basic white.
 Next came the cleaning and wet sanding of the surface on which the graphic was to be applied, which were basically both doors. When a car is painted, the colour is flat and has a non-gloss finish. It is then painted with a transparent coat referred to as the clear coat that gives the glossy polished finish. Wet sanding was done to remove the clear coat exposing the underlying colour or at the very least, to disturb the surface until it no longer had a glossy, polished finish but a matte non-reflective surface. It was done manually with 1000 grain sand paper and water. This allowed the paint used in the automotive mural to bond with the original paint of the car.
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 With the wet sanding complete, a clean, dry, matte surface is pretty much ready for paint, but before the application of paint can commence the car has to be "primarily masked". This is simply the use of masking tape and paper to cover the parts of the car that paint should not make contact with, for example, the running boards, door glasses, rubber trimmings, windshield etc.
With the basic shape of the face masked out, white paint is airbrushed onto the surface creating highlights, facial structure and features such as forehead, nose, cheekbones etc. The mask is then partially removed and re-masked to create the flowing hair again with white that will serve as highlights. Bear in mind that both doors were worked on almost in sync so the process of masking, airbrushing, mask removing, re-masking, and airbrushing is repeated. Tedious but that is the process.
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 The next step is to work in a little bit more details. Using the factory green of the car to create shadows, facial structures are more defined and features such as eyebrows, detailed eyes and eyelashes, nostrils, lips and ears are pronounced. Additionally where white was used for highlights, the green is used to create a sort of mid-tone. The hair is also worked to tone down the white. And once more the process is repeated on the other side of the car.
Much like the application of the green, black is also used for definition of the facial features but more so to add depth, shadows and higher contrast to the artwork, not to mention create a smooth transition from the black front bumper, hood, and fenders to the green of the rest of the car. And the process is once more repeated.
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Finally, to seal the deal the graphic is clear coated to give it the show worthy shine. After drying the primary masks are removed, we buff, we polish and we're ready to roll.
Now, you've taken a few minutes to read this article but the actual process of these automotive murals took three and a half days. Yup, patience is a virtue but if you see this Integra drive by, you'll see that it's truly a paint job that you just might "ENVY" and that's just one of the reasons that makes it all worth it.
View Gallery of completed car.
Words: Team
Pics: Team |
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