Chris started riding early on. He’s been painting as a pro for three decades and we’ve worked with Chris for the last three years. His art added spark to several magazines including Easyriders and Hot Bike, but we wanted to know what inspired him, since his lasted assignment involved women and motorcycles.
Chris was assigned to draw logos for our Bonneville Bikes and the team and he stepped up right up to bat with our 45 flathead logo going both directions.
”We didn’t ask him to draw a girl on that one,” Renegade said during an editorial meeting. I noted the hint of jealousy in his constantly irritated tone. We discussed assigning Snake to enroll in a Chris Kallas Art Seminar and spy on him. Then he turned in the Chop N Grind Art and we were convinced to research his inspirations for the shapely broads in his illustrations.
”The subject for my next seminar is going to be your Salt Shaker art,” Chris told me over the phone.
Snake attempted to enroll, but Chris told him it was sold out. Snake snuck over the night before, crawled up on his garage roof and set up to spy into the artist’s studio the next morning. We anxiously awaited his report. Snake hooked up his laptop and digital camera and immediately sent us shots of the seminar attendees.
We were blown away by the shots slipping into the headquarters. I couldn’t imagine what Chris had in mind for the Salt Shaker Art. Then the first image popped outta an e-mail.
We couldn’t run a topless girl on the tank, but my mind whirled. She could show up in Bandit’s Cantina anytime.
Snake about fell off the shake garage roof when these three girls arrived and the action heated up. What the hell kinda seminar was this? Chris was getting’ all the motivation and drew like a madman.
Phew! We were relieved to receive this one at the headquarters. That’s more like it, but the inspiration banged off the walls at the Kallas Art Studio.
”This ain’t a seminar,” Snake shouted into his cell phone. “This is a goddamn model fest.” We couldn’t wait to see what happened next as the staff huddled around the computer.
The crew started critiquing every version. “I don’t like her hair,” Black Market John said.
”What about that dinky 5-Ball,” Wilburn Roach pointed out. I wanted to see the next model arrive.
Something about her lips were inspiring to the entire staff. They all stopped in their tracks and drooled.
”What the hell?” Snake said, and we saw where Chris picked up his nipple details.
”Somethin’s up,” Snake shouted into the cell phone. “Maybe I’m busted. The girls split and now he’s drawing a motorcycle.”
”It’s his wife,” Snake said panting, “she’s home.” Fuck, we thought the gig was up. “Wait,” Snake said. “She just picked up some shit and left.”
No sooner did Mrs. Kallas depart but more models arrived and the inspired fires burned bright. The colors of his drawing took on new depth and spark.
Snake shut up as Chris got up from his desk and came outside. He looked around and wandered dangerously close to his garage. Snake shit bricks as he entered the beneath him.
A minute later another model arrived and followed Chris to the garage and the action started up all over again.
He returned to his drawing table and continued to manipulate the art. He changed their hair, their waists, their lips, nipples, earrings and of course the 5-Balls.
Every time more models arrived his illustrations improved. Yeah, wonder why?
We haven’t seen Snake since his report ended with the final illustration and a celebratory drink from the last model.
Rumor has it Snake cleans paint brushes for Chris, polishes his early Shovelhead and answers the phone. I don’t blame him. You’ll see more Kallas art in the near future.
