California Car Shows & Automobilia Art & Posters

It all started with the 1963 Beryl Green Volkswagen my dad bought for me in 1972 for just $75. At the time, it was far from perfect—worn around the edges, a little tired, and in need of more than a tune-up—but it had character, and more importantly, it had potential. With another $50 in parts and a few weekends spent under the hood together, we managed to bring it back to life. When that engine finally turned over, it felt like a rite of passage. That little VW became more than just transportation; it became my first real taste of freedom.

I drove that car all over California and beyond. One of my favorite memories is the long trip to Indiana and back during the summer of 1973, a journey that felt enormous at the time and taught me what it meant to rely on your vehicle—and on yourself. From the streets of my hometown in Alameda, to my college years at UC Santa Barbara, and later during my time at the College of the Arts in Oakland, the bug was always there. It carried surfboards, art supplies, college friends, and the usual assortment of youthful adventures. No matter where I went or what stage of life I was in, that VW felt like a loyal companion.

Even though the car is long gone now, the impression it made has never faded. That first Volkswagen sparked a passion in me that has stayed strong throughout the years—a love for cars, motorcycles, and the stories they hold. I still feel that same excitement whenever I see a classic vehicle on the road or hear the growl of a restored engine. Today, whenever an opportunity comes along to create car-related artwork for festivals, events, or collectors, I jump at it. In many ways, each piece I create is a tribute to that original spark, to the little green VW that started it all and to the lifelong love of automotive art that followed.