2009 Rat Fink Party Vol. 3

Here we are at the showgrounds! Another perfect Manti day, full of hot rod goodness.



The first thing we did on arriving was to drop off our awards and pick up the artist award stickers to place on the windshields. This would let the owners know they have an artist choice award waiting.



And, man, was it hard to pick one this year. My first choice was this sweet little pick up.



What a great shifter, gang. Only problem was, it was already tagged by one of the artists already.



From there, I just got lost, looking at the show.



From pick ups...



...to roadsters...



...to show cars.


The inventory was amazing. Now, over in Gasser-land...



Jeffy had picked himself a winner.



This sweet ride was built from scratch, using photos and not plans.



And the bomber art on the cowl just set it off.



Only problem was, the guy had to register it for the show before Jeffy could award him. So off he went, and in no time he had himself a winner right off the trailer.
As for me, I checked on the Bubble Ray, and it was tagged.



So I just kept looking.



As always, the rusty eye candy was just great.



Just a tetanus shot waiting to happen....



I just love how these rat rods look.



I had more fun just looking around than I did doing anything else. And speaking of fun, It seems pin-up girls were popping out of trunks everywhere!



This little redhead almost got my artist choice award!



And then I found my show pick, off the beaten path on the other side of the showgrounds.



This hot little number had aero vibe in the build. And the thing that got me was the use of vintage airplane gauges in the dash and a real "STICK" for the stick shift. What a great idea! And she was a beauty to boot.



After I had placed my winner sticker on the windshield, I wanted to check out some of the smaller vehicles - the ones at the model car table. There was some nice rides there, too.



At this time, Frank was giving out the first "Scotty Award." Sad to say, we lost one of our show regulars when Frank's dog, Scotty, passed this year. Frank made a special award of excellence in his honor, and gave a very touching presentation.



Well, with awards given and the auction finished, we all headed to the other side of town to set up for the parade.



All the show cars lined up, and we proceeded to rumble in one long line down the Manti main drag.




I hopped on the back platform of Coop's van, snapped pictures and waved. What a great time.



After the parade and a chocolate shake, we all got back to work. Jeffy was dragging stripes on the neat little bike.



Cooper was flailing away on a tool box.




And I was painting helmets,



and hard hats,



and everything else.



The last thing we had to do was go visit Ed. We all piled into out cars and headed out for our usual visit to the man who made this all possible. And man! What a beautiful Manti night it was.



We found him, using our patterned Funk, Funk and Fink approach. Two head stones for the Funk family, and the next one is Ed. Thus, Funk Funk and well, you get the idea.



What followed was a fitting memorial, full of stories and a lot of laughter out there in the dark.




Well, there you have it, gang. Another great time at the Rat Fink Party.There was plenty more great things that went on, but you will have to make it out there next year, just to see it for yourselves. My thanks go out to Ilene Roth for having us again this year, and for putting on another great show. Oh and before I forget... Jeffy! Look where you sit next time!

The 2009 Rat Fink Party Vol. 2

Saturday was the big work and show day, so we all met up at the shop and hit the ground running. I started work on this Harley's rear fender right away.



First, a little Stabilo pencil.



And just a little One Shot later...



It was shaping up in Finky fashion.
And everyone else was painting away as well.



Over in the corner, Jeffy was busy knocking out his Artist's Choice award.



And irony of ironies: Frank was striping the exact gurney that hauled him out of the show last year.



And no matter where you looked, paint was flowing.



And some nice work, too,



all done right there on request.



Someone asked Frank if he could make their computer faster. Well, it LOOKS faster.



I wrapped up the bike fender, and out the door it went. Another happy customer!



It was then I noticed the table of awards for the car show filling up. It was time for me to find something to whale on ASAP. And I found it.



It was a car I had brought years ago that never got painted. Whew! Lucky me.



And she came out just great.



Jeffy finished up his about that same time, and he looked very happy about it.



During all this, Coop and his flock of new students were knocking out T shirts by the dozen.



It almost turned into a new reality show. Or is it lack of reality?



After this, I checked in with Flash at the airbrush booth.
Last year at auction, we sold the airbrush shirt I had done right off the back of Chuck, our auctioneer. So I had to make a replacement and a new one for auction. The clock was ticking, and we had to get it over to the showgrounds right away. No pressure, gang!



Inside, the coolness was stacking up.



More and more beautiful pieces.



And you just can't beat pinstriped fruit. Heck, you should have see the worm!



The work was unbelievable as always. That's one nice folding chair!



And Coop brought one of his 30 gallon masterpieces.



Mr. Harmon also was knocking out one of his classic toilet seats.



Even Ed had some art on display!




This is some boss art he did on his trailer.



No one's better than the Roth-man himself!



Well, before you knew it, it was brushes down. And we all piled out of the shop and headed for the showgrounds.
It was award time! Time to check out the cool rods, listen to the music, and give out our awards for best of show.



So come along with us to our next installment. And I promise it won't take long!

The 2009 Rat Fink Party Vol. 1

This year's Rat Fink Party started at In-and-Out Burger in Southern California. Since I didn't drive this year, and if I wanted to get a ride from the Salt Lake City airport to the party, I had to come with a offering to my ride...Coop.



The burger had to travel, so the folks at In-and-Out made me a little model kit that Cooper could put together once I got there, and as you can see, he tore into it.



He dug it because everything was wrapped and separated for final assembly. I was given instructions on how to put it all together to company specs. It was neatly put in a box, then bagged. Man, could Revell make a fortune off Coop selling kits like that.



Eat up, buddy, It's only 9 hours old!
So....a few hours, some missed exits, and a tank of gas later, I was deposited at the Temple View Lodge in Manti at 0-dark-thirty in the morning.



Since I have been working hours like that all month, getting up a few hours later was no problem. I got my fink together and walked the block or so to Ileen's.
The convention center was just getting warmed up.



More Roth goodness, no matter where you looked.



There had been more redecorating going on since last year's party.



And there was just coolness everywhere you looked.



And lots of Ed as well.



Coop had done a crazy Finky bean bag game.



And it looked cool. All with enough clear coat to make everyone a winner.



I stopped by the display of Ed's shop. It's one of the first things I do. I had a few nice visits there with Ed, back in the day.



And, of course, my favorite part is the crap-covered phone on the wall. It's just so..soooo ED.



and Trixie and Rat Fink greeted me as I walked into the store.



The inventory was ready for the weekend -



- shirts and goodies everywhere. A Roth collectors dream come true!



Outside, the usual gang of chuckleheads where setting up.



Next to the house, lunch was being prepared.



Well, I found Frank Magoo, so I guess the show can start now. Hi, Frank!



Coop was getting ready for his "How to Print Tee Shirts the Cooper Way" demo.



I found Flash at the airbrush easel,



and Wes was doing a great portrait of the Roths



Mr. Harmon was watching Frank #2 hit the pins.



And oh yeah, Wendall show up, too. well, some of him, anyway.



But something was missing. Well, not missing....in the house with Ilene. It was Jeffy!



Making a nice addition to Ilene's collection in the house gallery.



With most of the gang found, I set up my station in the painting pit and got busy.



From here as always, it was a crazy blur. More of that crazy blur next posting. Hang on to your Finks, folks.

Happy Birthday To My Redhead.

Once again we are apart on your special day, so here is wishing you all the love and happiness i could give if i was home. So from all our friends, family and all your many students, we wish you a very Happy Birthday. Oh yeah, And a scooter too.

Jammin' with Jimmy

Stuck away from home on Memorial Day? Denied baseball, the usual backyard movie party with the gang, and noooo Redhead? Then it's time to go to Jimmy C's and finish up some side jobs.



First on the program was to get a TMNT jam piece done for the guys at gogreenmachine.org.

Chris Allen, who took over the Archie Series TMNT books after me, will be doing the other side. For my side, the request was for MAN-RAY. The last time I drew that guy was the first issue he appeared in. So I did a quick thumbnail, and crossed checked it with an image I found on the good old internet




With that done, I sketched it out on some nice cold press board. Chris is doing the coloring, and this board will take the colors just fine. It's amazing how FAST it all came back to me. During most of my time on the TMNT comics, I was working full time at Warners Animation, pencling the books on the weekends and doing the covers on my lunch breaks at work. A crazy schedule for sure, and that's why the books had that sort of loose, thumbnail storyboard feel.



Next, I grabbed my trusty Windsor & Newton Series 7 brush, and did a quick ink job. "Captain Marvel" artist C.C Beck taught me how to ink using this tool, and it has served me well over the years. I learned a ton about inking from one of the masters of comic book art when I was a kid. I was damn lucky, if you ask me.



And before you knew it, he was done. Big chunky lines for a really big chunky dude. I'm sure the pose is total Jack Kirby. During my early years in comics, I had the chance to talk to Jack at shows. He took me to lunch once, and he gave me some tips about bulk and dynamics. It never failed me. Thanks, Jack, and the grilled cheese sandwich was swell, too.



While I was catching up on projects, Jimmy was, too. The king of Kustom Art was busy working on a sign for Dena's shop.



Jimmy's work is the best I have ever seen, and hanging out at his place is like going to school again.



His work is always amazing, as you have seen on "Blog Fink" before.



Every time I looked up, he was at something new.



Here he's painting up some awesome shift knobs he cast for the gang at Mooneyes Japan. LIKE, WOW, MAN!!



The next thing on my agenda was to knock out a tin sign for a friend of mine. My old trench buddy from Pixar, Dave Fulp, wanted a one of a kind tin sign for his dad's shop back in Texas. So I got on it after the TMNT jam was done.



Once I got Finky done, I started on the lettering.





Not being a dope, I asked Jimmy for a refresher in lettering. Jimmy said, "Heck yeah, buddy! Stand back!!"



We blocked out the info and balanced the sign out. Then I got down to the nuts and bolts of lettering. With help from Jimmy, that is.



I'm never too proud to relearn something, and it always pays off.
The sign came out great, and I got some new tips on how to make my lettering better.




If i'm going to be away from The Redhead, I might as well make it worth while, right? Regardless, it was a productive weekend, and it's always fun when you get to hang with Jimmy at the shop of mirth. As for Dena's sign?



Like, wow, man.

Top of the world, Ma!

Hey, Woody, Paul's here. Do you want to go up the hill for lunch?



The hill being the one behind Omation.




My old pal Paul Claerhout from DNA, now at "O," is part mountain goat, and he came across a little lunch spot on top of one of the ridges here in San Clemente. It looks easy enough..



...and then there's this grade thing...



...and once you get here, there is more of that grade thing. Jeez!



While making the final ascent, even the most chatty of groups stops talking and starts working up the trail...



...everybody but Woody. He could not resist the amazing cell phone reception up here. It must have sounded like an obscene phone call, what with all that heavy breathing going on.



Once you crest the hill, it's a nice, tree-lined walk to the table at the top of the world.



At this point, you regain your composure and can start talking again.



The views are wonderful, and the studio looks really small from up there.



After you claw your way up the hill, the picnic table looks really wonderful.



Lunch is always good outside if you live indoors and work at the computer for a living.



Here's the map if you ever get up this way. It's really a nice trail...on the way down, that is.



I will keep hauling myself up here with my bag lunch till the In and Out truck shows up at the studio again.




Happy nose bleed, everybody!

Where the hell have you been?

A fair question that. I am down in San Clemente at Omation Studios. Not sure if you folks out there have noticed, but there hasn't been many animation jobs around. This one came up, and I took it.



The schedule is crazy, so I haven't had a moment to tend to "Blog Fink." And since I'm not home and I don't have a computer where I can use it when I do have a second to post....well, you get the idea.

Here is a quick overview of what's been happening for the past month away from the Wacom.




I got the chance to head to L.A. for another visit with my buddy-pal Steve. I took the Surfliner and had a wonderful ride. It's the only way to travel.


My objective was a night at the Doll Factory to see Tara Armov and the girls of the "Fight Crew,



and to hit the after-party.




Chris Sherrod joined us for drinks and a "Sharpie-off with Tara Armov."



She did her awesome roller-girl tats.



And I whaled out some classic Finks.



Busta and Chris also got Finked.




It was duel to the death, with the winner being Jack Daniels.



Just another fun night with my Fave-O-rite roller girl.

On my return to work, I found something that would make my day - and ruin Coop's.

Is that the In-and-Out truck in my little parking lot?


It is, Coop. It is!



The burgers were free, and the phone call to Coop went okay...



...till I told him they were free. That did it. "@#$%^&&*!!" said Mr Coop.

Well, before you knew it, I was on my way home for the A's home opener.




The Redhead was starting her eye surgery treatments and could not meet me for the game, so Roger Colton filled in.



I sure missed baseball, and it was great to be back in the Coliseum once again.



Maybe one day I can work in the Bay Area, live in the house with my wife, and enjoy a full season of A's baseball again.

Well, before you knew it, I was on the plane Sunday and back at Omation Monday morning to receive my new toy, "Story Machine" Woody Woodman!



Woody and I had been a team at Laika before the layoff last year, and now we set our sights on our new production here at O. Are they in for a surprise!

Anyway, I will try to get this blog kick-started again. Life very interesting and crazy right now, so hang in there and keep checking back.