An Exhibition of Speed - Sam Ames' BFA final art show

It's been a busy year for us here at Ames Flames and Customs, and it's a good feeling to be in the home stretch.  We have had a full summer of cars shows, clients, school, and now our first baby on the way!  Here's a look at the Bachelors of Fine Arts show Sam has spent many sleepless nights working on recently.  The show will be viewable until December 15th at the BYU Idaho Spori building, 3rd floor, Rexburg Idaho.  

1961 Cadillac "The Mar"

'61 Caddy

Started this car while at SEMA week before last, and I finally finished it up!  I could not be happier with how it turned out, we'll see what the client thinks!  I met the owner, Mario, at a swap meet/car show this summer, this was one of my favorite cars at the show.

Chopper Designs

Gas Tank Ideas

Ames Flames Seat

As many of you may know, I've been working on a custom built motorized chopper bicycle, I'm getting closer to the finish line, and I'm working on a few designs for the finish pieces.   This seat is off of an old exercise bike, and I found it in the trash....Anyways, the seat was very one dimensional, so I went at it with my hammer, and pounded it into a nice butt hugging shape! It will be covered in leather, and the logo will be embossed.

1956 Belair

'56 Bel Air

I have been trying to step it up a bit on my rendering... I think I went a bit too far on this one though.  Next step is delivering this type of quality but not taking so long to complete! One of the higher end cars I've had the opportunity to draw. This car won some awards at the Cache Valley Cruise In in Logan, Utah a few weeks ago.  I rushed this piece because the owners agreed to display my artwork with that car as well as have a stack of my business cards with the poster at Hot August Nights in Reno, NV.  Wish Ames Flames and Customs could go!

1965 Shelby Cobra

'65 Shelby Cobra

Finished this up for a huge car show in Logan, Utah.  I have to say I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  I don't like the cobra emblem in the background as much as the car... oh well, the client liked it as we sold a few posters of this one!

2006 Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged

'06 Cobalt SS

Cool new painting, not the classic or muscle cars I'm used to but it's just as cool!  I haven't done a night scene in a while so it was fun to think about lighting a bit more.  This was for a friend I met at Chrome in the Dome a few months ago, the car is dedicated to his son. Robert also serves in the US Army, thank you for your service Robert.

Car Show! Tautphaus Park, Idaho Falls, ID.

WYOTECH OR BUST!

At the car show/swap meet tomorrow Ames Flames and Customs is starting a fundraiser for the next step toward our future! We'll be raffling off artwork, an Armor All Gift set, Turtle Wax Gift Sets, a drive in Movie snack pack, Custom pinstriped purse, and lots more! Come show your love at Tautphaus Park, Idaho Falls, ID. June 16th and 17th from 8:00am-5:30pm!

1949 Ford Woody Wagon

'49 Ford Woody

I had a bit too much fun on this piece!  I am trying some new techniques and so far so good. This is client piece I pretty much started and finished today, total of 16 hours on it.  Ames Flames and Customs will be at a huge swap meet this weekend, so if you're near Idaho Falls, come one over and check out our booth!  I need feedback, so whoever see's this, please let me know what you think, thank you!

My New Business Card! 1950 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe

Stock 1950 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe

Chopped Taildragger Fleetline

My newest business card design shows what I do best.  The front shows a nice rendering of a stock and restored '50 Fleetline, and the back side shows the custom car it may become!  This is actually my plan with my '50 Fleetline "Flo." 

I like the card design because I can hand the card to a nice old car enthusiast who appreciates the classics the way they were with the blue car face up.  Or I can hand the card Orange side up to an enthusiast who loves custom chopped cars.

1997 Kenworth Semi truck - Hansen Trucking

Custom 1997 Kenworth

I met this client at Chrome in the Dome, and finally got it finished.  I had a blast working on it, and the Hanson Trucking Company will enjoy it for years. Look out for my future modifications of this rendering: Optimus Prime!

1937 Nash and 1967 Chevelle - Red Hills Rods and Choppers edition

1937 Custom Nash

1967 Twin Turbo Chevelle

I met Steve Anastos in St. George Ut. a couple of weeks ago.  He os the owner, and CEO of Red Hills Rods and Choppers.  He deals custom cars, and bikes, as well as sells killer merchandise out of his store.  He had me to do a rendering of his '37 Nash, and I liked the '67 Chevelle he has sitting in his store so much I drew it too.  The Nash is sold already to a very lucky buyer, but the Chevelle is still available.  If you're interested, check out the site www.RodsandChoppers.com tell Steve Sam Ames send ya!

Each whole rendering is painstakingly painted, not a photo.

1972 Chevy C10 Stepside - "Ol Smooth"

1972 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside

I painted this Truck for my Uncle who inspired me to buy a 1967 Chevy Stepside.  He wouldn't sell me his   years ago back when I was a teenager, and he actually still has it!  So I figured if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em! Uncle Jayson's plans are to put a LS1 V8 motor, Rally Wheels, and keep it a mild custom.  Keep going on 'Ol Smooth!

New Old Stuff!

Johnson's Filler Station

Gas 'n Go -  1957 Chevy Bel air, 1954 Chevy Pickup

This was for a friend I met at the local cruise night.  If I can't drive my '50 Fleetline, I at least try to bring some artwork to show.  I met Jared there and he happened to like this painting I originally did with gauche paint, back in 2010. I had originally painted a '57 Bel Air where Jared's silver and Black '50 Suburban now sits.  Jared drives his pickup, and the Suburban is still in progress. I really wanted to have this baby finished for Chrome in the Dome this weekend!

Chrome in the Dome - Featuring Ames Flames & Customs!

We'll be here: 558 Memorial Dr, Building 60, Pocatello, ID 83209

My 1950 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe in the future

To all who follow, and my have stumbled upon my site: I have worked tirelessly for the past few months to prepare for this event!  Chrome in the Dome is a fund raiser car show event in Pocatello, Idaho at Idaho State University's Holt Arena. The street address is approximately 558 Memorial Dr, Building 60, Pocatello, ID 83209.

The show times are:

Friday 2pm - 9pm 

Saturday 9am - 7pm

Admission is $5 per person, and the tickets are goo for both days! So if you're in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, or Wyoming, I expect to see you there.  I, along with my father, and our booth babe wives will be showing and selling my artwork in poster, print, T-shirt, mug, and metal form.  I'll also be pinstriping on location to raise money for fund my next phase of education: Wyotech!  Come support the cause, as well as Ames Flames and Customs next weekend!

Transformers New Bumblebee Camaro - One for the Boys

Camaro Concept - Bumblebee

I finished watching the first of the new Transformers movies this past week and felt inspired to do a newer version of a piece that I did last year.  At the car shows we go to, it's always the Transformers posters that sell out first.  My heart still skips a beat during the part of the movie when Bumblebee "scans" the new Camaro driving by, and then pulls up triumphantly as a the new and improved Bumblebee!  This is one of top my dream cars.

P-40 Warhawk Meets the Chevy S10

P-10 Warhawk 

This is obviously a conceptual design I thought up.  I tried to build a retro-modern version of a hot rod roadster that could be built like they did in the old days using various parts of other cars, and anything that could be found.  For example the nose piece on the P-10 comes from a 1950 Studebaker, which actually was designed after the WWII bomber planes.  Who knows, maybe someday I'll build an S10 conversion kit so that this concept can become a reality!

Candy Apple Green Chevy S-10

Satin Black and Red Steelies with Wide Whites- Classic

Fresh Green Apple S10 Dipped in Pinstripes

All in a day's work! I've actually had the line drawing of this truck done for a while, so decided to finish the whole piece today.  This is not how I planned to finish it, but I like the outcome.  I will be doing a fighter jet themed S10 soon, as well as a retro '67 S10 (or design it as if they built them in 1967).  I love this color green, it's intense and screams look at me!  The Satin Black S10 is more likely one that I would build.  

Rosie the Riveter, We Can Do It!

Rosie the Riveter Shirt Design - Contact us for your order!

Fighter Plane Pin up Rosie

Rosie is an American Icon.  She was an inspirational spokesperson to women during WWII.  We owe a great deal to the hard working women who labored overtime in the factories to produce the military equipment which won us the war!  Today she is still an inspiration to women and men alike, and I hope this tribute to her does her justice.  Any prints or shirts I can sell of this will go toward furthering my education.  I hope to attend Wyotech after I have graduated with my bachelors (BFA) in Illustration in July. "We Can Do It!"

Dirty Shorts Revised 1965 Ford F100

'65 Ford F100 

I felt that the previous version of Dirt Shorts needed a few more tweaks, I mad the truck more the focus of the piece. I resized a few things, and practiced some old school gun engraving designs in the corners.  I'm not much a Ford person, but this is one Ford I would be proud to cruise in! Thanks to my family members who have sent me their awesome stories of their memories they've had in Dirty Shorts, truly awesome.

"Dirty Shorts" 1965 Ford F100

1965 Ford F100

     I started this piece before Christmas for my Dad.  This is my dear Grandpa Arch's old truck, he is one of the top persons I would want to go back in time and spend a day with, if I had a time machine.  He was a genius, and a master craftsman, and a family man.  He served our country in the Army in WWII, and the Korean Conflict, and received a Purple Heart for his service.   My Dad is just as amazing, so the pressure was on to really nail this truck.  There is really no "Archie Ames AAA Gunsmith Co." but it would be cool to start one up!  My Grandpa's initials are AAA, not only that but there are FIVE generations of Archie's in my family so this truck can work for either one of them.  Hope you like it Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Dad, Eldest Bro, and Nephew! What an honor it is to be a part of the Ames family.

Wings - Ames Flames & Customs Logo

Ames Flames & Customs - Sam Ames Design

      I've had this design roughly sketched out, and in my head for months now, so it's time I do a somewhat finished graphic designed logo of it.  I tried to make it look like a tattoo, but it is for shirts only!  Comments and suggestions welcome.  Image is Copyright protected.

Pilot Skull and Pin Striping

Vintage Skull & Pin Stripe

This is a messy rendering, but I think it adds the the Vintage effect I like. Ever since SEMA in November I've been even more intrigued with the art of pin striping.  I've been doodling pin stripes in some of my classes and figured I should give it some more practice.  I attempted to do a plane shaped pin stripe at the bottom, it doesn't look anything like a P-51 Mustang, but oh well. I'm happy with the result.