A Study in Chrome and Reflected Surfaces 2001 Flashback

This time, about this time of year, 20 years ago, I was excited about the forthcoming Airbrush Action magazine, featuring my latest motorcycle artwork at the time, INDIAN SUMMER.

“It started in October on a beautiful Indian Summer day in 2000. In Oregon, those kinds of days are rare, especially in autumn. So, I called my buddies at Indian Motorcycle of Portland and asked them if they had a bike I could borrow for the afternoon. They were kind enough to offer me anything on the floor, and a hot red Indian Chief caught my eye. I’ve wanted to take one of those out for a spin for quite a while, and the day and the opportunity were perfect.”

— from 2001, Airbrush Action article

Since that day, my most-recognized motorcycle painting ever has had quite the journey. Since appearing on the cover of Airbrush Action, my big red chief has been showcased throughout the United States, starting with the Gallery in the Square in Beacon, NY, in 2001.

Since 2018, as part of the LUSTER: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile and Motorcycle Paintings Exhibition, the original Indian Summer painting has been showcased in nearly twenty major museums throughout the United States, including the Museum of Art and Science (MOAS), the Dane G. Hansom Memorial Museum, and the Maria V. Howard Arts Center, The Evelyn Burrow Museum, Saginaw Art Museum, Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center, Haggin Museum, The Morris Museum of Art, The Michelle and Donald D’Amour Museum Of Fine Arts, The Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Art Museum of South Texas, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, the Museum Of The Rockies, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, and the National Corvette Museum.

In early 2025, Indian Summer was returned to its collector in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Click here for the full article and step-by-step process, Airbushed Action Magazine, April 2001.