An Updated Report on Photo Realism after 23 Years
by K. Randall Ball with photos by Markus Cuff
This is a strange one. I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of numerous businesses in the Chopper Kingdom in my 45 years of drinking Jack Daniels, riding choppers, and chasing redheads. I’ve seen the changes, felt the pain of losing brothers, and watched the Chopper world crumble again in 2008.
Now we look at a used, flashy, billet, Big Dogs with distain, as if they came from another planet. And those 330 rear tires are now replaced with 30-inch front tires. After the economic crash over 75 percent of all aftermarket motorcycle shops died. Okay, so no negative waves. We are still alive to ride another day.
For a glimmering example of the purely positive, a few motorcycle diehards flourished, and Scott Jacobs was one of them. Like a very select group in our niche of niches industry Scott and his family exploded their art business.
In motorcycle circles the mantra isn’t upscale, it’s lowdown and cool, while everyone is struggling to survive. Scott did the same in 2008 and came up smelling like a rose. I’ve blithered his story to many artistic friends, as if I was Tony Robbins giving an upbeat business seminar.
Some will pop open beers and say, “Yeah, so what.” But there is a concrete message here. Scott will admit he’s not the only or the best master motorcycle artist on the block. This story is rampant with several interesting artistic and business success scenarios. Young folks are searching for direction and inspiration. Middle-aged bros who make mistakes, or faced too many divorces, search to redirect their lives. And then there’s the terrible truth for older cats who find themselves in their ‘60s without a pot to piss in and maybe out of work.
Family plays a major part, there’s no denying it. Scott is still married to the beautiful VL queen, Sharon, who along with his entire family, including nephew, Todd work for Scott Jacobs Studio.
Scott became the first H-D licensed artist in 1993 and for 23 years, he is one of the longest running licensees for HDMC. He is now reaching customers in over 90 countries around the world and buys his originals back because he can’t paint them fast enough!
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