Air brushing by Paint Werx

April 15, 2015 · 0 Comments

In a very quite shop on Industrial Road in Shelburne you will find Paint Werx. This shop is not full of customers trying to order, however they are always busy.
Local artist Derek Young grew up in Dufferin County and attended Orangeville District Secondary School and had a love for motocross racing. It was as a result of his racing that he by chance started airbrushing. His first airbrush was given to him as a gift from his parents and his first work of art was when he painted his own dirt bike helmet. What started as a hobby has become what we know as Paint Werx today.
Air brushing is a tool used by specialty artisans that adds a fine stream of paint and mixes it with air before it hits the surface being sprayed. By being able to control the paint the airflow accurately and precisely the artist can achieve amazing photo realistic techniques that can amaze or fool the eye of the beholder.
The airbrush led to the development of the spray gun, a similar device, that typically delivers a higher volume of paint and is used for painting larger areas. The first paint spraying machine was developed in 1887 by DeVilbiss and Binks and is typical of modern spray guns.
Derek says his first studio was literally a wall in his parents basement that he spent hours and hours airbrushing and perfecting his art. When he was done, his dad would re-paint the wall so Derek could start all over again. He did this for five years until he decided to open Paint Werx in 2000. Which makes this year their 15th year in business, a huge accomplishment in itself.
Today Paint Werx specializes in airbrushing and custom paint on motorcycles, helmets, automotive, snowmobiles and industrial. They have won awards for paining such as Automotive Importfest 2013 Ultimate VW /Audi, Ultimate Golf- 04 VW Golf R32 Motorcycle 2013 Toronto International Motorcycle show Builders class 16th Best in show ‘07 Big Dog K9, 2012 Toronto International Motorcycle Show Builders class 12th Best in show ‘10 custom build, 2011 Toronto International Motorcycle show Builders Class 10th best in show ‘09 Custom build.
All designs are custom paint and are done in house with the best material from House of Kolor and automotive PPG products. Polishing is complete with Manzerna treatment topped with Worlds Best Wax. Derek credits his knowledge of paint to Davenport Automotive and Ken Smart.
Over the years Paint Werx has sponsored Rockstar Canada OTSFF Polaris showcross race team and Rockstar Canada OTSFF Yamaha motocross race team as well as had co-op students from both Orangeville District Secondary School and Centre District Dufferin High School. Always trying to give back to the community.
One of Paint Werx favourite jobs is custom painting of motorcycles and they have showcased their works of art for the last 6 years at the Bike Show. This year they had 8 of their custom paint jobs on bikes that were displayed, and won 1st in the cafe class for their artistry on a modified Yamaha Virago cafe.
In 2010, while displaying his custom paint jobs at the Bike Show, Derek met Pixie Shaw a Contemporary artist looking for someone to paint one of her commissioned pieces. Pixie is a Canadian Artist, and lives in Toronto. She graduated from the Ontario College Of Art and Design U in 1965. Apprenticed to Lyn Chadwick. Taught Fine Art at OCADU for 12 years and was president of the faculty for two years. She lived in England for 20 years where she had a studio. Pixie has a commissioned out door sculpture at The London School of Economics in the U.K. and exhibited at the Royal college of art, and Canada House. Pixie specializes in photography, mixed media, sculpture and kinetic sculpture. Presently, her main studio is in Toronto, and she primarily works on commissioned sculpture.
Kinetic sculptures are art from any medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or depends on motion for its effect. Kinetic art is a term that today most often refers to three-dimensional sculptures and figures such as mobiles that move naturally or are machine operated. The moving parts are generally powered by wind, a motor or the observer.
Since meeting Pixie Shaw, Paint Werx have painted two of her commissioned kinetic sculptures. The first one was “Big Michigan” which is made of cast aluminum and painted with automotive paint. Recently Paint Werx is painted “Teacup” which is a giant egg in a teacup that is also a giant size, cast aluminum kinetic sculpture. Derek says it can take up to 85 hours of preparation time before the 50-60 hours of actual painting before the item is complete.
Derek is a talented artist who says his journey of artistry has lead him to places he never dreamed he would be when he started airbrushing his basement walls. He decided that being a painter wasn’t enough, he wanted to become an artist and it is quite obvious that he has accomplished this. He also says that the participation and involvement of clients, friends (Ryan McClintock and his parents in particular) and his parents John and Heather have been his biggest inspiration and he is truly thankful for all they have done. Lastly Derek would like to thank Don Trepanier and Shane Pettipas for their efforts on “Teacup” under such tight deadlines.
For more information you can contact Paint Werx at 905 925-9703.

By Michelle Austen