Mopar Dream Farm Continued

It's hard to believe that March flew by as quickly as it did. It's always a busy month, what with kids home for Spring Break, but this time it seemed even crazier. And now, we're half way into April! Before we know it, summer will be upon us. And with it, the summer car shows.

Our first big show would have been last weekend. We had planned on exhibiting Michael's automotive art at the Charlotte Autofair in North Carolina, however due to my mother's health, we just couldn't make the trip this time round. If you went, I'd love to hear how it was!

What we were able to do, however, was participate in a local event, Car Collector Auction (formerly RM Auction) at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Only an hour's drive from our home in St. Catharines, we could each make the drive back and forth, as needed, over the 3 days. That meant, I could be here for my mom and at the event as well.

Along with the personal stuff, what's been keeping us super busy is the release of the long awaited sequel painting to Michael's incredibly popular, They Came With The Farm, aptly named .... They Came With The Farm Too (as in "as well"). When you see the two paintings next to each other, you realize the second one is actually a continuation of the first scene. It's really quite amazing.

Don't forget that the first one was painted 3 years ago, that's part of what makes it so incredible. Think about it, not only did Michael have to "line up" the scene, because one painting starts where the other ends, but he also had to match the color palette. Now, these are not out-of-the-tube paints ... each one is mixed - kind of like a custom paint job. The colors of every blade of grass, the sky, the sun and the shadows, all have to "match" the original painting.

Next, objects, trees and cars that were "cropped" on the right hand side of They Came With The Farm, have to appear in the second painting. Classic Mopars that were reflected in the body panels of the cars, had to appear in painting. And the cars in the first one, needed to be reflected in the cars in the new one! If that wasn't enough, the paintings had to work as a pair (color, layout), that was the goal, after all, and yet, like the first one, They Came With The Farm Too had to stand alone as well!!

Incredibly challenging and difficult, Michael pulled it off! Whether hung together or separately, this is an amazing collector set. Add to it that we are matching print numbers, and it just doesn't get much better ... although, if there was a third, maybe .... we ARE getting tons of inquiries!

For now, we'll just have to wait and see. Here's to a fabulous Spring! — Linda

Tiramisu Recipe - Simply Wonderful

February and March were extremely busy months at our little art studio. With over 25% of Michael's new painting, They Came With The Farm Too, being preordered before it was completed, you can imagine how busy we were once it was released! For Michael it was signing, numbering and embossing all the prints as well as the Certificates of Authenticity! Plus, he packs each order himself - that was a lot of tubes. Let's just say, FedEx loves us. For me, just the organization of paperwork and shipping documents alone, was a bit overwhelming.

Most of the first big rush is behind us now, making this weekend kind of a nice "breather" for me. As I prepare Easter lunch today and get ready to make my self-proclaimed, "best Tiramisu in the world," I am reminded that I promised to share this little flavor morsel with anyone who reads my blog!

Now, as you may already know, both my parents have diabetes, but my father, in particular, has an extreme sweet tooth. I am continually trying out new recipes (finding ways of making traditional ones as sugar free as possible), and although many are unsuccessful, this one's a real winner (even with non-diabetic friends). It's rich, decadent, and almost sugar free. I say almost, because although I've tried, I have not yet succeeded in finding sugar-free alcohol or making sugarless lady fingers. For now, I'm using store bought ones. What I do, however, is cut down the number of ladyfingers. My dad says the best part is the filling, anyway.

So, here goes. I hope you enjoy it. By the way, you may want to keep this little number a secret ... it's not as hard to make as people let on. Whenever I make this Tiramisu, I am always reminded of the Kellogg's Rice Krispie commercial where the mom dusts herself with flour to make it look like she's slaved over the squares!

Tiramisu Recipe - Simply Wonderful

6 large eggs, separated
1 cup Splenda Granulated
16 oz (475 gram) tub of Mascarpone
20 ladyfingers
1 cup Espresso or strong coffee
(I mix Maxwell House Instant Rich Dark Roast; 3 tbsp into 1 cup  water)
2 tablespoons brandy
3 tablespoons coffee liqueur
1/8 cup cocoa
Optional: whipping cream (sweetened with Splenda

To make the filling, combine 6 egg yolks, 4 tbsp coffee, Splenda, brandy and 2 tbsp coffee liqueur into the large mixing bowl.  Beat at medium speed for 2 - 3 minutes.

Add Mascarpone and beat another 3 - 5 minutes until smooth.

In another bowl beat 6 egg whites and a pinch of Splenda until forms stiff peaks. Gently fold into Mascarpone mixture.

Pour the coffee and remaining tbsp coffee liqueur into flat dish, dip one side of each ladyfinger and layer the bottom of a large, clear serving dish (I use a trifle bowl) with 6-7 ladyfingers. Unlike a traditional recipe, the fingers don't need to touch, since we are using less. I often break them in half before dipping - that way I can spread them out more on each layer.

Cover the ladyfingers with 1/3 of Mascarpone mixture and sprinkle with cocoa. I use a flour sifter, it makes for a nice even dusting. Alternately, you can use a small mess strainer. I use a fairly liberal dusting on the "in-between" layers, a lighter one on the top.

Continue layering and finish with a Mascarpone mixture layer, dusted with cocoa.

Refrigerate for at least an 1 hour before serving. If you can leave it overnight, it's even better!

I scoop my Tiramisu into dessert bowls and top with whipped cream (which according to my dad, makes everything better). It's not "pretty" but I'm more about taste than presentation! The dessert does look fabulous in the serving bowl, however, so you may want to "show it off" before scooping/serving. You may have seen photos where the Tiramisu is cut into pretty squares. Because we use less ladyfingers, my version is not as stiff. The ladyfingers absorb some of the moisture, making other recipes more "rigid."

From our family to yours, have a wonderful Easter weekend. Enjoy the food, no matter what you have, but especially the company of family and friends. See you soon. — Linda

Muscle Car Magazine Covers

It all started back in late spring 2007. Rob Wolf, of the Mopar Collectors Guide (MCG), gave us a call. He wanted to put Michael's first all Mopar painting, "They Came With The Farm," on the cover of his magazine. Our first reaction was to say, no. Up until then, we had always turned down queries about utilizing Michael's automotive paintings on anything other than the Limited Edition Prints, or Artist Proofs with Remarque, or Gallery Edition Canvases. Our feeling was (and still is), that if a collector is investing in a limited piece of art, it should in fact, be limited. Not that suddenly the complete, un-altered image appears on mugs, notecards and t-shirts.

That being said, a magazine cover was intriguing. Especially since it would be supported by an article about Michael and his art. Rob described in detail how the cover would be handled and we ultimately agreed. The rest, as we say, is history.

One interesting thing that came about due to Michael being "covered" ... it created a whole new kind of collectible. Now clients who have the Limited Edition Prints, Artist Proof with Remarque or Gallery Edition Canvases and the matching postcards, can also add the magazines to their collection! In fact, many have come up to us as automotive events and auctions, and had Michael autograph their copy of the magazine .... how cool is that! While some just hang on to their magazines as keepsakes, adding them to their collections, others frame them up right alongside their reproduction.

If you're interested in getting in on the collecting ... check out MCG's back issues webpage: http://www.moparcollectorsguide.com/backissues.html, they may still have some copies available. Then, next time you attend an event we're exhibiting at, bring your copy. Michael will happily autograph it for you! — Linda

Here are the covers and their issue dates:

"They Came With The Farm"
August 2007

"Six Pack Salute"
April 2008

"Feeding Frenzy"
December 2009

"Service Fit For A King"
April 2010

Disaster at Russo and Steele Car Auction

I know it looks like old news, but I had forgotten to post this blog in February, my apologies — sometimes life just takes over.

The folks at the Mustang Magazine, covered the disaster brought on by mother nature, at the Russo and Steele Auction in January. Here's a link to the article on their blog: High Winds Hit Russo Steele’ Scottsdale Auction

Warning: some of the photos are pretty nasty to look at.

A bit of background on this publication .... the brain child of Curt Patterson and other like minded Mustang aficionados and legends in the business, it's one of the nicest Mustang magazines to grace the shelves of convenience stores and bookstores nationwide. Going back to basics, it it dedicated solely to the classic pony car. If you have a chance, visit their website and give it a look-see, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and even a little bit impressed. — Linda

Life Advice for Partners of Classic Car Buffs

The headline, "Old car crush irks wife," appeared in our local paper last weekend. As you can guess, it was about the amount of money a woman's husband was spending on his classic car (no, no one mentioned the year, make and model). Here's the question and the advice, Sun Media columnist Robin Anderson, had to give:

Dear Robin: My husband is into old cars. The other day, he let me know he is sending a car out for some work -- to the tune of $8,000. I almost snorted my coffee. Why is it he thinks it is perfectly fine to drop that kind of money on an old car, but has a fit when he sees the grocery bill? — Seeing (candyapple) red

Dear Seeing Red: If he is spending the grocery, family vacation or home renovation money on it, you can bet your tush I have a problem with this. But as far as I'm concerned, there are so many worse things he could be doing. If he is home every night, treats you well, loves you, is not addicted to drugs or running around on you, let him have his hobby. If he has a problem with the grocery bill, take him with you the next time you shop and ask him which of his favourite meals he can do without.
— from "School of Life", St. Catharines Standard, January 22, 2010

It's funny, that's exactly the attitude that I share with many wives and partners of muscle car enthusiasts. As the wife of someone who is heavily into cars, I've kind of taken it one step farther ...  "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em — and drag the kids along too!" I'm joking, of course, they come along willingly most of the time! I'm not kidding about joining Michael, though. It's pretty much been like that from the beginning. Like Robin says, of all the things he could be doing or spending our money on, the car hobby is my first choice! And, for the most part, muscle cars and sports cars are a pretty good investment, either increasing in value or at least holding their own.

It's also given us the opportunity to work side by side, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. And, I do like muscle cars, especially their aggressive front ends and all that chrome. I've even worked on the cars alongside Michael. I've detailed interiors and re-upholstered our 1967 Mustang GTA Convertible.

Here's something you might not know: if you look at Michael's painting, Flashback on the Track, you'll see that the 2005 Legend Lime Mustang is reflected in the wall of the Nashville Speedway. But, it's reflected as a 1967 GT Fastback ... that reflection is based on our car. The one I worked on!

So, next time there's a car show, grab your partner, go to the show and treat her to a nice dinner. You never know, she might really enjoy herself. If she's like me, at the very least, she'll appreciate spending time with you and of not cooking or doing the dishes! — Linda

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