Before the Kustom Kulture movement, hot rodders spent their time at gas stations, racing, and modifying. Cool cars, high art: the rise of Kustom Kulture states, “They were mechanics and bodymen, not teen rebels with or without causes.” Art was never on their radar. Kustom Kulture was a hot rod and custom car scene that originated in Southern California during the 1950s. Many artistic characteristics were developed from the Kustom Kulture movement, one of the most influential being pinstriping, a decorative art form created by American pinstriper and artist Von Dutch. Pinstriping was an integral part of Kustom Kulture that transformed the automobile from a mass-produced machine to a work of art, with artists such as Von Dutch able to combine technical skill, personal expression, and visual design.
Credited as the father of modern pinstriping, Von Dutch, real name Kenneth Robert Howard, was born on September 7th, 1929, in Compton, California. Von Dutch grew up watching his father, Wally Howard, work as a sign painter in Los Angeles. This influenced Kenneth to start painting as early as 10 years old (Pintriper.com). Pinstriping didn’t gain much popularity until the 20th century, when cars were now easily accessible. Von Dutch first started using his pinstriping skills on motorcycles and eventually cars. Von Dutch developed a distinctive freehand style that allowed pinstriping to become an important part of Kustom Kulture. One of his most notable designs in hot rod culture is his “flying eyeball” design, which still remains as one of the most popular and recognizable icons (Pinstriper.com). Von Dutch's designs became individualized works of art, and his influence transformed pinstriping from a painting technique to a form of artistic expression within the car customization community.
Pinstriping in the 19th century consisted of customization on horse-drawn carriages and early cars. These decorations consisted of thin symmetrical lines of paint made from brushes and striping quills (Pinstriper.com). There were many tools associated with pinstriping as well. One of those tools used is pinstriping brushes. These were used to help create their freehand designs. Pinstriping brushes come in several different shapes such as swords, daggers, and flats (Pinstriper.com). These customizations required an experienced and steady hand as well as a good understanding of its techniques and movements. Pinstriper.com states, “The ‘pull’ represents the fundamental movement that separates a novice from a master craftsman. It is the continuous, fluid motion required to create a single, unbroken line that follows the contours of a vehicle’s body.”
With the rise of computers and technology, hand-painted pinstriping has faced some competition (Pinstriper.com). Despite its ups and downs, pinstriper enthusiasts continue to honor the uniqueness and dedication of the art form. This shift also demonstrated how traditional hand-painted techniques could communicate individuality and identity, making each customized vehicle visually unique. Pinstriping continues to serve as a prominent characteristic of Kustom Kulture that revamped mass produced vehicles into works of art and canvases for self-expression.
