Muscle Car Barn Finds

Every now and then, you hear stories of old barns either housing, or surrounded by vintage cars, including some pretty amazing muscle cars. Like a couple of years back at the Mopar Nationals in Ohio, I heard a young guy had come across and purchased (at a steal) a real, solid, original, all stock Plymouth Superbird. I know, right? Like lots of folks, you may be skeptical about the existence of these incredible finds. Well, think again. I came across this blog this weekend (Cars in Barns) and just HAD to share it. The cars that author, Ryan Brutt, has spotted and photographed range in pretty decent condition to ... is that one standing on end? There are Camaros, GTXs, Superbirds, Valiants and more. Definitely worth a look-see and read-through.

Hearing about finds like the one in the UK a few years ago, played a part in inspiring Michael to create his first Muscle Car Landscapes' painting (Big Blocks Behind the Barn, featuring a cool assortment of Mustangs) about 4 years ago. The series has since grown to five paintings, with a sixth one on the way, and has become very popular among collectors. For some, they find their car in the scene. For many it's just the thought of the possibility of coming across such a find. For others, it's a reflection of their own collection!

As with many of Michael's works, the paintings in this series are based on fantasy, rather than reality. In Michael's paintings the cars are solid and near road worthy. Like he says, he's done the restoration thing, he'd rather just own 'em and drive 'em! The settings, cars, everything, right down to the leaves on the ground, come from Michael's incredible imagination.

The Muscle Car Landscapes Series now consists of: Big Blocks Behind the Barn (Ford Mustangs, Shelbys, Mach 1s and Bosses), They Came With The Farm (Dodge Chargers, Challengers, Cudas, Plymouth GTXs and Daytonas), Always Room For One More (GM's Chevelles, Novas and Camaros), Bird Sanctuary (Pontiac's Firebirds, Trans Ams and Formulas) and The Goat Farmer (Pontiac's GTOs and Judges). The new one, due to be released any day, is the much anticipated and sought after, "They Came With The Farm, Too" - featuring over 25 classic Mopars including Chargers, Barracudas, Darts, Demons, Challengers, Superbees and more, it's already 25% pre-sold!

Whether there will be more paintings in the series is still undecided. But if there are more, I'm sure they'll be as well received as the first ones. And, as sought after as those elusive barn finds! - Linda

Author, Editor, Photographer & Friend - Brad Bowling

Being the wife of one of North America's premier automotive artists comes with a few 'perks.' Not the least of which is the opportunity to do a bit of traveling and meeting like-minded enthusiasts across the nation. Every now and again, however, we meet someone that is not only a motohead, but like Michael, has the opportunity to live and breath the stuff! Such was the case last fall, when we met Mr. Brad Bowling and his lovely wife, Heather.

If you're a car guy or gal, you've more than likely heard of Brad or at the very least, read something written by him. Not only has he penned several cool Mustang books (including The Saleen Book - 20 Years of Saleen Mustangs), but he is the Editor of Amos Automotive's "Cars & Parts" magazine. On top of that, he is a photographer, spending a great deal of his time photographing (you guessed it) classic cars! How cool is that?

It's funny, but we actually unknowingly met Brad back in 2004 at the launch of the Saleen book. It was in the evening, after the 40th Anniversary Ford Mustang Show in Nashville, Tennessee. We had attended the show as spectators ... even taking our 4 year old daughter and 6 year old son. We heard about the "Saleen after party" and just HAD to go. Wow. Am I every glad we did. Not only did we meet Mr. Saleen, but we saw his newest concept cars AND we were able to get our hands on one of the Limited Edition Signed Numbered books! After getting home from the AutoFair, I checked the book ... in between two pages I found the original receipt signed by Brad. Small world.

If you'd like to get your hands on the Saleen book or any of Brad's other titles, check out his website: www.bradbowling.com. You'll also find a listing of his most recent articles and photos.

Above is a photograph Brad shot of Michael in front of the Gallery Editon Canvas of his incredible Cuda painting, Feeding Frenzy, at the AutoFair in September 2009. Coincidentally, Michael is speaking with Steve Saleen!

Since first meeting Brad and Heather, we've become good friends. We had a chance to see them in Las Vegas during SEMA (thanks again Brad, for the whirlwind tour!) last October, and are hoping to get down to North Carolina for AutoFair this spring. As always, I'll keep you posted. — Linda

Michael's Favorite aka World's Greatest Cheesecake

We had a super busy December. With the release of "Service Fit For A King," the shipping of "Marauders of Woodward" (which were co-signed by the Father of the Marauder, Steve Babcock) and the pre-release of the much anticipated, "They Came With The Farm, Too" (which will be completed any day now), I literally planned our annual Christmas Eve dinner on the 23rd! Was I a bit panicky, you could say that!

I usually make an old standby, like a fruit trifle or my famous Tiramisu (don't worry, I'll post that recipe too!), but Michael requested a cheesecake. With two diabetic parents - one with a heavy sweet tooth, it had to be fabulous AND sugar free. According to Michael, I nailed it. He says it was the best cheesecake I've ever made and, quite possibly, the best he's ever had. Now, I don't know about that ... but my dad wasn't complaining, that's for sure! It only takes about 2 hours plus cooling time, so you can make it the same day you serve it. If you do try it, I hope you enjoy it as much as we all did. — Linda

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 (8 ounce) packages reduced-fat cream cheese
1 cup Splenda Granulated
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
⅓ cup reduced fat milk
½ cup dulce de leche

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix crust ingredients together, and press into a 9-inch springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. (I put mine on the porch to cool quickly.)

Reset oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

Beat cream cheese, Splenda and flour together until smooth. Add vanilla, mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix for about 2 minutes. Add milk, blend well.

Measure ½ cup of the cheesecake batter and pour into a small bowl. Add dulce de leche and stir until well combined.

Pour plain batter over crust. Top with dulce de leche batter by placing rounded spoonfuls over the cheesecake batter and gently swirl into plain batter with the tip of knife or spatula.

Bake 45-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from oven and gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cheesecake (this helps prevent cracking). Let cool 20-25 minutes, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hrs before serving.

Serve on it's own or with whipped cream sweetened with Splenda.

Thanking Everyone Automotive!

It's hard to believe that it's 2010 already. December was a blur and January is flying by. 2009 was good to us and 2010 looks to be even better. I would like to thank those groups and individuals that helped make it happen.

First, let me thank the many magazines that have featured Michael's new automotive art releases. Having press releases included in such publications as the Mopar Collectors Guide, Muscle Car Enthusiast, Mopar Enthusiast, Hemmings Muscle Machines, High-Performance Pontiac, Mopar Muscle and Muscle Car Review, really helps to feature Michael's paintings. It gives readers and collectors a first glimpse and the unique story behind one of Michael's incredible automotive creations.

I would also like to thank our dealers throughout Canada and the United States. It's through them that many new clients have an opportunity to see Michael's work, up close and personal for the first time. Some have been on board for many years, some have just joined us recently ... it's really a pleasure working with them all and I look forward to continued success. If there is a car event in your area, drop me an e-mail and I'll find out if the dealer is going to be there showing Michael's Limited Edition Prints and/or Gallery Editon Canvases.

Finally, I'd like to thank the most important people of all— our clients. You are truly the ones that keep Michael painting. It's through your support and incredible feedback, that Michael finds the inspiration to continue doing what he loves — capturing beautiful automobiles in water color. So, whether you've been collecting Michael's work for a number of years, or just purchased your first Limited Edition Print, Artist Proof, Gallery Edition Canvas or original painting, from our family to yours, many, many thanks.

To everyone, here's to a prosperous 2010.
May the year ahead be full of joy and find you and your loved ones both healthy and happy. — Linda & Michael Irvine

World's Best Banana Bread - Or So My Dad Says!

I now this is crazy timing, what with the phone ringing every 5 minutes and the emails pouring in due to the release of "Service Fit For A King," but my dad has been bugging me since we returned from the 'car event circuit', to bake up a batch of Banana Bread. Now, being a diabetic with a sweet tooth, good baked goods that meet the criteria are hard to find, so when he discovers something he likes, he just can't get enough. He claims my Banana Bread is hands down the best he's ever tasted. And if you knew my dad, you'd know he's not big in the empty praise department!

So, in between phone calls, I figured I'd whip up a couple of loaves, and while I'm at it, I may as well post the recipe.

Grandpa's Favorite Banana Bread 

• 1 cup Granular Splenda
• 2 mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and sides of 9x5" loaf pan with margarine. In a large bowl combine all ingredients except flour, soda and salt. Mix on medium for about 3 minutes. Stir in flour — should be the consistency of thick cake batter, if too "doughy" add a bit of milk. Pour in to greased pan, bake for 50-60 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean (only insert the skewer once, or the bread will collapse, trust me, I know this!). Let cool 5 minutes. We like it hot out of the oven with a bit of butter.

I make my Banana Bread without nuts of any kind (schools aren't too nut friendly these days) but you are welcome to add a 1/2 cup of chopped nuts if you like. I hope you enjoy it at least 1/2 as much as my dad does. — Linda

1970 Superbird Painting Official Release

It's taken a bit to get back into the swing after our whirl-wind tour of the Car Collector Auction in Toronto, the pre-opening of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alexander City, Alabama and SEMA in Las Vegas. I finally got it together and posted the webpage for Michael's newest release, Service Fit For A King, featuring Richard Petty's infamous #43, 1970 Superbird.

Service Fit For A King, is a great piece which is already receiving lots of accolades! With the edition size being a bit smaller than Michael's other prints (there are only 500 Limited Edition Giclées on Watercolor paper available), and the fact that it will appear in next year's RacingOne Official Nascar Souvenir Publication, it's sure to be a quick seller. I say next year, but it's really only a couple of months away. Hard to believe 2010 is just around the corner!

We showed the original for only one day in Toronto, and prints and the canvases for one day in Alabama, plus the postcards of the painting will be going out at the beginning of next week and I just sent out the email ... so there are still a few "key" Mopar numbers still available. From past experience, I know those and all years of cars are pretty much the top ones to go, along with #1 and #500 ... unless clients are collecting matching numbers, which I think is really cool!

Remember that this painting was created by Michael so that you can hang it as a horizontal or a vertical — again, very cool. No matter what your space, this painting works! All the paintings in this series, "Above Them All" will be created with the same idea in mind. Just so you know, there are only 500 prints, 20 Artist Proofs with Remarque and 50 Gallery Edition Canvases, TOTAL ... no matter how they are ordered.

Another thing that makes this series very unique ... is that unlike our other prints, these ones are reproduced on watercolor paper. The texture, look and feel of the paper is very similar to the cold-pressed watercolor board Michael paints on, so the Limited Edition Prints and Artist Proofs very closely mimic an original painting.

Have a "super" day! — Linda

Classic Car Auction, Muscle Car Museum & SEMA

In a three week blur, we exhibited at the Classic Car Auction in Toronto, attended the pre-opening of the soon to be famous Wellborn Muscle Car Museum, and made some new friends at the Automotive Fine Art Exhibit put on by Hot Rod Heritage at SEMA ... wow!

The Auction was our best ever. It was great to see that no matter what the media says about the economy, spirits were high — everyone was having a great time! We set up on Thursday, then showed Michael's work Friday through Sunday. Monday was for regrouping and by Tuesday we were on the road to Alabama.

The Wellborn Muscle Car Museum is absolutely amazing. Scheduled to open to the public spring 2010, it is a must see for all muscle car enthusiasts. I knew it would be incredible, but it exceeded my expectations. Tim and Pam Wellborn are incredibly gracious hosts with a clear vision for the Museum and the collector hobby. Their tag line, "Preserving the American Musclecar Heritage," says it all.

Below are a couple of sneak peeks, including one of Michael with our set up (above). On the far right, you can see the Gallery Edition of his newest #43 Petty Superbird painting. You'll notice that the photos are pretty Mopar heavy, and with good reason: it was the Aero Warriors Superbird Reunion, held every 5 years in Alexander City - we were just lucky enough to be part of it!

Rounding out the trip to Alabama, you know we just HAD to take in the Nascar race at Talladega. To start the day off, 75 wing cars circled the track. Then came the race. Wow. It was amazing to experience our first live Nascar race at a Super Speedway. Incredible, and at the start/finish line no less! 'nough said.

Michael and I took off to Las Vegas (without our kids) just one day after returning from Alabama ... I know, right! SEMA is a pretty amazing experience ... it's just so big. We stayed pretty close to the Art Exhibit, taking the opportunity to meet some new collectors. Michael did take some photos of unique cars, I'll post some once I download them off the camera.

It's been a fun 3 weeks, exciting and tiring, but well worth it. That being said, it's great to be home. The emails and phone messages have been piling up and I have lots of work ahead of me. To begin with, I'll be posting the webpage to release the Petty Superbird, Service Fit For A King, painting this week as well as sending out the email and postcards. And we'll be sending out the prints that have been pre-ordered. In the mean time, here's a look to hold you over!:

Like the other prints in the "Above Them All Series," this one can be ordered as a horizontal or vertical. Special Introductory Pricing will be in effect. Check your email and/or our website on Thursday for the official release. — Linda