The plan was hatched in 2007 when the new Technical Director from England saw the Art Car Parade and posed the question “Has HGO every done an Art Car –well, why the hell not?”

 And so over 40 volunteers gave up several thousands hours of their skill and hard work and made sure that the HGO Art Car was as over the top as any storyline from any opera.

She got her Glow on in 2009 with lights on her helmet and her braids have been replaced with dangling lit CD strands.  Her helmet sports Vinyl records {all opera) representing 152 operas.

We’re Three!!

Goodbye to the Terrible Twos!!!

Happy Birthday to us!!

initial application rear bumper

The Clusterflock

Materials/Software used:
Adobe Photoshop
.003 acetone sheets (or thinnest available)
Xacto knife
Artists Tape
Spray Adhesive
3M medium sanding sponges
1000 grain wet/dry sandpaper
2000 grain wet/dry sandpaper
Sanding block (sandpaper attaches to block)
Red auto scouring pads
jeweler’s knife (small pocket knife of razor blade can be used as well.
Denatured Alcohol
Goo Gone
1Shot flat black paint
1Shot reducer
small filbert brush (natural hairs for oil based paints)
medium filbert brush (natural hairs for oil based paints)

Procedure:

Design:

A photograph of a swimming black swan was pulled off of the web and downloaded into Adobe Photoshop. The photograph was then manipulated to produce a solid black printout on a white background. The printout was then taped to a self-healing cutting mat. The acetone sheet was laid on top of the printout, and an Xacto knife was used to cut the pattern out of the acetone to produce a stencil.*

*A stencil was created for each swan. Multiple printouts were produced using photoshop based on the different sizes of the swans (the swans scale from smallest to largest from the front to the back of the car).

Prepping for Paint:

The surface of the car was prepped in order for the paint to adhere to the surface. First, the car was washed with a store bought car wash solution that did not contain a waxing agent. After the car dried, a de-waxing agent was applied to the areas where the  swans were to be painted. The areas were then taped off with blue painter’s tape and the areas were wet-sanded first with a medium grade 3M sanding sponge (equivalent to about 600 grit  sandpaper). It is important to note that once sanding begins, a white colored dust will appear on the area that was sanded. 1000 grain sandpaper was then used, then 2000 grain sandpaper. After sanding was complete a red scouring pad was used to rough up the surface.

*Note: when prepping the surface, it is important to remember not to sand too aggressively. Your goal is to apply the paint onto the clear coat, not the colored undercoat. If you go too far, the dust from the sanding will not be white, but will instead match the color of the undercoat.

Stencil Application:

After the preparation was complete, the areas were sprayed with rubbing alcohol and then wiped down with a clean cloth. The acetone stencils were then sprayed with an art adhesive and applied to the surfaces. The stencil was pushed down flat with the bowl of a metal spoon.* After the adhesive had dried, rubbing alcohol was applied with a Q-tip to the inside of the stencils. The red scouring pad was used to remove any excess adhesive that may have gotten inside the stencil area, and a dry cloth was used to clean the area.

Finally painter’s tape was applied around each of the stencils to protect against accidental paint spills.

*Originally, instead of applying the alcohol with a Q-tip, a spray bottle was used. This led to excessive bleeding once the paint was applied, making for a longer cleanup period.

Paint Application:

If using 1 Shot products, follow the directions found on the can or at http://www.1shot.com/home.html . After blending the pigment with the reducer, three coats were applied with the filbert natural brush. I waited the recommended three hours between coats before applying the next coat.  To apply texture, I waited for each coat to get tacky, and then dabbed the paint using the side of a dry filbert brush.

Cleanup

Cleanup around the swans was needed after the stencils were removed. This is best accomplished using a combination of 1000 grit sandpaper, a jewelers knife, and the red scouring buff.

Jump on the table and scream your head off!Here comes the biggest rat in the West! Fat Rat is made from a Honda recumbant scooter. The rat can travel up to 35 mph

The Fat Rat was the idea from Robert’s son, Chris Blue, as an artcar project for a homeschool class. The head wiggles and mouth opens and closes and out from  under the tail  pops out giant rat droppings that only LOOK like potatoes.

10/5-7/2012 – Art Outside:  Art Cars will decorate the grounds and parade about during this artilicious festival!  www.artoutside.org

5/26-28/2012 – Burning Flipside: Art Cars will be glowin’ and flamin’ at Flipside.  Perhaps a glowin’ party-goin’ parade is in order… 

5/4/2012 – Leadership Houston Arts Day:  Art Cars will be the mode of transportation as Leadership Houston students tour local galleries and museums for their Arts Day.  www.leadershiphouston.org 

4/14/2012  - Art in the Park:    Art Cars will be struttin’ their stuff amongst the other art work.  Come out and say hello!   http://www.midtownartinthepark.com/

2/11/2012 – Mardi Gleaux :  The Art Cars will be returning to Galveston for double the fun!!  An Afternoon parade at 4pm and they’ll get lit for the 8pm Illuminated Art Car parade!  Keepin’ a-GLOWin’!  www.mardigrasgalveston.com

12/31/2011 -  GloCoMotion:  Art Cars are in Motion, causing a COmotion on New Year’s Eve!  The illuminated Art Cars are on Parade around Discovery Green @ 8pm then GLOWin’ to a neighborhood near YOU!!  Don’t miss their zany action!  

12/18/2011 – Costume Workshop:  THe Costume GloQueens will be sharing their tips and tricks to get you Glowing this New Year’s Eve!  3-5pm @ Art League Houston, 1953 Montrose Blvd.  FREE

10/22/2011 – Annual Bike Ramble:  Join the Art Cars at the party at the GRB @ 10pm.  Get ready to ramble @ 12.  You are welcome to display your car at the start and any of the rest stops or follow along with the bikes.  We also encourage you to light up a bike and test it out for entry into Gloworama.  For more information and to sign up  Ramble@ArtCarsofHouston.org

 10/15/2011 – Glow on the Go:   We are partnering with  Downtown District and Market Square to process throughout the Historic District in Downtown, led by motorcycle cops.  We will process for 45 minutes to an hour, returning to reserved parking surrounding the park to enjoy Austin’s Jitterbug Vipers and beverage specials throughout the District.  There will be drink and food specials from some of our favorite watering holes.  To participate contact GloNGo@acoh.org .  For more information on the celebration http://anams.downtownhouston.org/

9/25/11 Kickoff for  Gloworama, 5-7 Hicory Hollow Restaurant, 101 Heights Blvd.  Hear the options, help make the choices

6/4-5 – 24 Hours of Lemons - Art Cars Pace!! www.24hoursoflemons.com
Contact fun@artcarsof houston.org for more information

4/16/2011     ACOH Birthday FunRaiser www.artcar.eventbrite.com

3/4/2010 – Krewe of Southdowns, Baton Rougen – www.southdowns.org.   Illuminaughty rolls.
Contact Terry for more info terry@artcarsofhouston.org

3/8/2011 – Krewe of Aquarius, Galveston - www.mardigrasgalveston.org.  The Beach rolls.

2/26/2011 – Mardi Gras Galveston Art Car Parade & Party
8:30pm - Parade on the Strand http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com
9:30pm - Voodoo Lounge www.voodooloungegalveston.com

Parade rolls on the Strand Saturday, Feb 26 @ 8:30 pm following the Gambrinus parade on the Seawall.   The band “Neon Trees” follows us at the reviewing stand.

W3 Mobile and the PEDI-CAB PRANKSTERS features an illuminated pedi-cab with a sound system and DJ set-up, transmitting its tunes to other pedi-cabs, creating an unique traveling dance party.  Kelly McCann aka Kelly Hertz of SDC Productions has created dance events in Houston for 13 years and is amped to find another way to share his love for music.  His experiences at Burning Man inspired him to create the Weeble Wobble Whomp Mobile.  Representing the best whomp tunes are resident DJs SuperDave, Treblehook, Mad Turtle, and Sunonwater of SDC Productions.

prototype interior lighting

Introduction:

After being introduced to the art car community in 2009 by Kim Ritter, I began to reflect on what it would take to develop a subject that I had been exploring during my career as a silversmith and incorporate it into an art car. The object is the second in the Cassandra series, a tryptic about grand-scale control mechanisms. I am contributing to the Art Cars of Houston blog in an attempt to demonstrate the technical processes involved as the art car evolves. I hope that what I document is helpful to future art car artists as a starting reference. Updates will occur as I make significant progress on the object.

clusterflock: initial application rear bumper

Christopher Gorman

Still bummed out you missed Woodstock?

Got a overwhelming urge to wear paisley?

Then hop on board the Peace Expedition with Colonel Cool. This blue bombshell will light the path to by-gone days and get your Freak Flag flying!!

A Ford Expedition repurposed as a traveling message of peace, this art car is covered in maps from around the world and glowing globes. The Peace Expedition also sports mini art cars all traveling to give the message.