Introduction
In January 2024 I wrote an article about Daneen outlining how she created a {custom} tribute helmet to honor my uncle, Harvey Kitaoka the very first Japanese American Naval Jet Aviator.
That lid could be very private to me and I used to be thrilled on the effort and inventive talents she demonstrated. What struck me is how observant she was in researching the weather of a USN pilot together with all the particulars of their tools.
My shut using associates all stated, “Hey Mark, that helmet she painted is such a murals, I might not put on it. However since you’re so cussed and can put on it anyway, simply cease and take it off earlier than you crash.” Ah, nothing like good associates looking for me huh?
I’ve a modular helmet that I simply like to put on on some days. An AGV TourModular suits me nicely and I put in their Insyde comm system since I exploit Cardo merchandise. So I figured I’d have her paint the helmet in a means “That may replicate how she sees me.” Since I make my dwelling as a inventive, I usually create imagery for others. It felt just a bit unusual handing that energy over to another person.
By means of expertise, I do know that when a shopper permits me to be the inventive director, given just some parameters, the work comes out significantly better. So I left my AGV together with her and knew she would provide you with one thing I’d love.
How She Did It
Daneen is on Instagram as @airbrushdemons and when she posted this image feed, I received nervous!!!! So I wrote to her and stated if she deliberate to color one thing like that on my lid I insist that she use her face. I figured that will dissuade her. She wrote again “Ha, that’s what you assume!” Gulp. It’s not that I don’t like bare girls in nasty poses. Because it stands, I get soiled seems from girls after I put on my Nicky Haden 69 baseball cap! Some girls do give me a shy smile although….
Guys simply smile, even when they don’t know who Nicky is. So I imagined indignant girls making an attempt to run me down with their SUVs, taking a hand off the wheel to protect their child’s eyes after I’m on the highway if she painted what she created on that guitar!
She let me understand how she decided a number of the methods to replicate on who I’m. Since I’m on Instagram, she appeared over a few of my picture posts.
“These had been a few of your photographs that impressed/influenced me after I was engaged on it. I attempted to maintain a Japanese affect within the art work since I can inform your heritage means quite a bit to you”
This tree I photographed in infrared.
A couple of years in the past I used to be touring in Oregon and went out “fishing” My time period for images is after I can use a tripod since my day job at all times includes quick motion. Right here I captured the Milky Means behind a tree.
I purchase little lapel pins and that is one I purchased for myself. My household are descendants of Samurai.
And here’s a shot I took after I was tenting down in Pismo Seashore.
What She Created
Listed here are the photographs of my helmet which I’ve named “MarkO”
My final title is written in Kanji and you’ll see the affect of the samurai’s helmet protect.
The again of the lid the place she painted waves within the fashion of Japanese Woodblock work.
The moon and stars replicate her notion of my Yin and Yang character. She has referred to as me an Enigma…hum….
The highest of the helmet is the Yang which holds the Earth. She created the traditional curve of Yin and Yang, however I couldn’t seize it correctly on movie. The bushes and birds replicate my love of tenting and nature, particularly birds. I’m removed from a birder since I name all birds Chickadee birds. Hahahaha.
The left facet of the helmet is influenced by my Oregon evening shot of the Milky Means by way of the tree branches. And OMG after I noticed she had painted an I Love Costco button on the chin facet I believed I used to be gonna lose it! Who does shit like that? Nicely, Daneen. And yup I like Costco and I assume I should have talked about going there quite a bit…OBVIOUSLY. It might be considered one of my favourite components of the lid. My niece liked it as a result of she works for them!
On the proper facet is her model of my infrared shot of the tree. Right here you’ll be able to see one of many samurai helmet horns and the Milky Means stars with the Moon. How effing cool.
Her Consideration to Element
Since this helmet is a private reflection of how she sees me it received’t have any that means for you. I get that. I needed as an instance her unimaginable consideration to element. She let me know that as a child, she was inspired to ‘coloration contained in the strains’ and feels fairly anal about consideration to element. It will display what to anticipate when you’ve got a {custom} lid created. I’ve requested her how she does this NOT to attempt to replicate it as a result of I don’t wish to and couldn’t even when I did. Nope, it’s to indicate you the way unimaginable her work is. So when you resolve to have a {custom} lid achieved by Daneen, …
The moon and stars really feel as if I’m wanting by way of my telescope. There’s a simultaneous feeling of the actual and the ethereal after I view that part.
The birds in flight and the bushes take me again to tenting scenes in my reminiscences. Once more these are all Chickadee birds as a result of I’m a birding knowledgeable!
Underneath the Earth, you’ll be able to see the opposite portion of the Samurai helmet wing.
The element and texture she put into the helmet wings are unimaginable. The small flowers and the virtually foil-looking parts. The nearer I look, the extra amazed I turn into.
My final title in Kanji. She used black gentle paint to put a ‘secret’ that may solely be seen beneath black gentle. When she reached into her pouch to carry out her black gentle flashlight, I believed she was bizarre. Who carries a black gentle flashlight besides some cop checking bedsheets to see ‘what proof’ may be discovered!!!??? She informed me it was her father’s….uh huh Daneen, no matter!
The ‘secret’ is she used glow-in-the-dark paint on my Kanji title.
Right here she has painted a texture as an instance leather-based, to represent that I’ve a leather-based exterior. I assume I ought to use some skincare merchandise. She stated it shields my ‘teddy bear’ inside. Nobody has ever stated that…..hum.
And all artists signal their work.
Conclusion
Whether or not or not you ever select to have a custom-painted helmet is as much as you. In my authentic piece, I said my causes for having one created. That is my second from Daneen and it’s as a result of I not solely belief her talents, however much more importantly her inventive creativity and integrity. Artsy Fartsy varieties may be flakey, I ought to know since I’m one. Shelling out a not-insignificant chunk of money for a pure luxurious factor isn’t one thing I do day-after-day. Taking the time to get to know me, what I like, and tips on how to painting that ain’t simple, regardless of who the individual is.
In keeping with her, most of her shoppers have an thought of what they need or have a normal thought or theme after they have her begin a undertaking. She figures out the structure and particulars. And my goodness, permitting her free reign was the proper factor for me to do. I now name her an Natural Free Vary Artist. (I made up that she’s natural and free vary, however NOT the artist half. That’s her in spades)
Contact Data
