My Motorcycle Paintings Take Weeks To Complete

I’m a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast based in the UK, who loves to ride and restore my ‘bikes. I’ve owned and ridden everything from Japanese Fours to Guzzi Twins since the late 60s, and currently am down to four machines; three European and one Japanese, ranging from 250cc to 1000cc, as well as having two or so frame up projects.

I also love to paint. Nowadays I work mainly in acrylics. All of my art is brushwork only, no airbrushing or digital techniques.

I am fascinated by mechanicals of all types, shapes, ages and conditions, and painting same. Although my art is not just confined to machinery, as I paint anything that interests me.

I’ve always been interested in textures, and find mechanical rust and decay equally as absorbing as unblemished chrome and reflections. I enjoy painting a machine in context, rather than just as a clinical technical drawing. So, hopefully, the viewer can see a ‘story’ behind the artwork – hinted at by, for example, a pair of gloves left on a seat, a well used patinated saddlebag, or even the setting the ‘bike (or machine) sits in.

My brushwork style tends towards what is nowadays called 'hyper realistic', but I also paint fantasy images, and produce sketches, and inkwork, as well as full canvases of rusted or chrome reflecting surfaces.

Painting times. From commission to the 'tah dah' finish point depends upon the subject (obviously), but a rough guideline is around 3-6 weeks for a highly detailed image. So, if you wanted a special present for yourself or a friend, please bear that in mind.

More info: talanagamahartwork.com | Facebook