Pinstriping Legend

A friend of mine called to let me know that he had a pinstriper coming in one day last week, saying that he thought I might enjoy watching the guy work. I jumped at the chance and took a few picture while I was there. The 'striper was Bob Bond, and he said that he had moved from SOCAL to Independence, MO several years ago, when he was doing a lot of traveling - said he got tired of flying from the coast, looked at a map and picked KC as about the most central point in the lower 48, and that was that! Asked who he had worked with in California he started telling stories about several movie stars and entertainment celebrities, but then dropped the bombshell, "...yeah, my place was just down the street from the Barris shop, and I did all of their striping work..." The guy's not Von Dutch, but he's done a ton of striping on high dollar rides, and the stories just rolled on and on as he talked while he striped. Amazing to watch a true pro at his craft!

Bob Bond, 'Striper
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Working on a freshly painted '28 A Pickup
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Tailgate Logo
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A little "bling" for a golf cart!
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Another one of those soon to be lost arts!!!! Had a friend around here that did some beautiful pinstripe and air brush work, Ron died a few years back... Haven't seen anyone (locally) able to step up and take his place, not sure anyone will. Hope Mr. Bond is going to be posting a schedule on the events he'll be doing this year!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Another one of those soon to be lost arts!!!! Had a friend around here that did some beautiful pinstripe and air brush work, Ron died a few years back... Haven't seen anyone (locally) able to step up and take his place, not sure anyone will. Hope Mr. Bond is going to be posting a schedule on the events he'll be doing this year!!!!!

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Dave,
Not sure how much he goes to events any longer, but here's a link to his website - Bob Bond Art-Graphic Artist,Pinstriping,Airbrushing,Logo Designing,Gold Leaf Craftsman,AutoArt Magazine, The Art of Bob Bond. A friend was telling me about a guy in the same area that was an expert at wood grain, having the ability to do any species you wanted, burls, exotics, etc. I asked Bob if he did that work too, and he shared that the Mayor of Independence had been the guy! Then he shared that about two years ago he had approached the Mayor about participating in a "how-to" session, where interested parties pay a fee to attend a "workshop". The Mayor refused, saying "Why would I do that?? I'd be giving away secrets and techniques that have taken me years to develop, and then they'd just go out and undercut me and I'd lose business!" Within the year he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and he died shortly after. Bob said the guy's wife is probably wondering what she's supposed to do with all of the special rollers, brushes and unique tools that he used in his work now that he's gone.... Sadly some of the true masters don't see any need for an apprentice or two to carry on the craft.

Too many of those secrets have "gone to the grave" with some of these old artists, what a shame! Ron (Sutherland) was never that way, always had a protege under his wing and was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise.....A few of the guys he trained caught on quite well, unfortunately they've all moved away to bigger market areas. Always had Ron due my stuff, sprint cars, drag cars, hot rods, even the lettering and striping on a semi or two. My pal Lyle had Ron due an air brushed eagle on the tank of his bike--it was absolutely drop dead gorgeous!!!! When Lyle got the tank back from Ron, he put it in his trophy case and bought a new tank for his scoot!!! Still there now! Wish I would have kept some of the stuff Ron did of mine, or even taken pictures of it. Guess I just figured he'd always be around and always be doing it.......

Most auto artists do not become nationally known. You have to live in key areas to achieve that. Others who aren't well known outside their turf, are sometimes just as good.

In the seventies I experimented with striping, but never got really interested. I wanted to spray everything!

Tucson has a couple well-established stripers, like my buddy Thom McDonald. While I am a full-time custom painter, and do airbrush, I am NOT a brush artist. In 1978 I hired this local Tucson striper, who came highly recommended, to help with a project. Thom has been doing this craft for over fifty years, and has an endless stream of customers. He still finds time to fit my striping and gold leaf needs into his schedule. :-)

Still, I will confess... I am fascinated when I meet those nationally known names from the hobby!!! :-)

I have always been and will forever be in awe of those painters, stripers, letters that I have met over the years and about the only thing I even put on the same page with are the welders/metal workers from back then---if you do art with a brush,a spray gun, hammer or welder----hold your hand up high------I want to see your work boots/gloves, as I believe that paint, burns, scars are better menoriy devices than the socalled best high GIG thumb drives available----------