Some skills can be learned, while others must be inherited.
Let me introduce myself: I’m Chris Wood, founder and creative director of Airtrix.
I may have learned how to apply paint, to pinstripe, and to develop my business, but I inherited my sense of color, drawing, and structural harmony from my grandmother. Kicked out of high school art class, I spent much of my free time doodling in the back of my textbooks and filling folios with drawings.
Combat soon focused mine attention on the future.
Following graduation, I served in Desert Storm as a Marine infantryman and came back to civilian life with two points uppermost in my mind:
- A superior work ethic is crucial, and
- We must create our own luck.
This was the genesis of Airtrix.
Helmet painting, Helmet graphics, Motorcycle painting, Custom painting, Logo design, Custom airbrushing, Pin striping.
LOGO DESIGN: BEYOND SKILL TO INSPIRATION
An individual or corporate logo is a highly personal product. To understand your interests and to share some of your passion for your message, it is important that I meet with you-in person, by e-mail or by telephone.
Look through the Airtrix gallery of popular logos from the past five years. Each logo projects the owner's personality or corporate message, and each logo is instantly recognizable to the viewer.
Small in size yet big in creative content, the successful logo-personal or corporate-is a remarkable vehicle for mass advertising.
Call me with your thoughts, or e-mail me your rough sketches. Tell me who you are, who you want to reach, and what your message should be. I'll send you preliminary rough sketches before we begin. But remember: the sooner we start, the sooner your logo will go to work for you!
Contact us at 805-962-8672, by FAX at (805) 845-4411, or eMail us at 411@airtrix.com.
Please note: We require a 50% deposit when your job begins. Major credit cards are accepted.
FOR COLOR DESIGN/PAINT/BRANDING -- LOOK TO AIRTRIX AND FIND:
• OFFICAL bike painter for Dreamworks Productions, TRANSFORMER 2, Revenge of the Fallen.
• Matching helmets for the Red Bull USA/KTM Dakar World Rally team- 2005
• Vespa scooters painted to match purses from internationally famous Coach Leather
• Award-winning custom motorcycles for Performance Machine and Roland Sands Design.
• Series-winning Formula Atlantic and CHAMPrace car finishes for Pacific Coast Motorsports
• Jet-skis & snowmobiles painted in Red Bull colors
• Numerous design/paint contracts for Shoei, Suomy, Bell, Vemar, etc.
• Enthusiasts' motorcycles nationwide!
When considering a paint/color change or unique design, several factors come to mind, especially for the owner not able to visit us personally here in Santa Barbara. Among these considerations:
Owner design input and communications: Digital photography and email has closed this gap and provides Airtrix customers with the ability to work closely with me to develop the design of your dreams. The more involved you become, the closer we get to your ideal. We welcome your input and creative ideas, or turn us loose, your choice!
Turn-around time and delivery of parts for paint: Your parts should arrive at Airtrix devoid of any fasteners, supporting brackets, trim, etc., just the parts to be painted. With eBay active in the used motorcycle body parts business, you may find it cheaper to send us good second-hand parts rather than to ask us to repair any damaged parts on your motorcycle, this if we are working with damaged machine parts. As for turn-around, the complexity of the final design and the number of parts to be painted will determine your downtime. We'll give you an estimate of both price and downtime before you ship us the first part.
Auto body paint vs. Airtrix: At best, an auto body painter can provide a workmanlike single or two-color paint job. Pinstriping, blends, logos, graphics and corporate recognition patterns are well beyond most collision/insurance company-driven auto body paint shops.
And finally, RESALE VALUE: Most repainted motorcycles scream collision repair! Look at a repainted motorcycle with its peel-off graphics package and you immediately think "quickie crash repair." Try to resell a repainted motorcycle and you'll understand all the downsides of refinishing any newer machine - unless the work is done by a recognized design/paint/finish house such as Airtrix. An Airtrix machine broadcasts a different message: owner pride, creativity, style. Instead of a resale "hit" the newly finished motorcycle can bring added value to the original owner, both now and in the future.
Looking for outstanding color design/paint work for your motorcycle or motorcycle/helmet matches, or looking for creative branding solutions? Look no further than Airtrix.
Returning to my hometown of Santa Barbara after Desert Storm, I started Airtrix in 1994.
My primary business focused on airbrushing signs and motorcycle helmets. My breakout came in 1996 when friends, familiar with my ‘remarkable’ talent, introduced me to the Bostrom brothers.
The Bostroms were soon wearing Airtrix lids. Other racers, both national and international, soon followed the Bostroms' leads.
Jamie Hacking, Troy Corser, John Hopkins, Broc Helper, Shaun Hamblin, Jason Pridmore--all were soon sporting exciting new Airtrix helmet designs. Enthusiasts and corporate clients were quick to follow. Red Bull, Coach Leather, MGM, Shoei, Suomy and Performance Machine have all come knocking for logo design, helmet design, and award-winning motorcycle paintwork.
Bolstered by its success, Airtrix now employs a host of talented artisans. Its projects range from orders for single helmets and motorcycle paint jobs to major corporate undertakings, both national and international.
And matter what the project is, I keeps the keys to the design locker firmly in my hand.”
Future projects include clothing designs, vehicle branding, and corporate logo development--all, hopefully, in a modern expanded facility in Santa Barbara.
