Steve Jobs - Words of Wisdom

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
–  Steve Jobs

It seems that not only was Steve Jobs a visionary when it came to technology, but also in his view on life. I came across a website (Macstories), where they posted 60 quotes that were classic "Steve." I read through them, and have to agree with many of the commentators ... the quotes were funny, ironic, straightforward and ya, inspirational.

“Innovation distinguishes between
a leader and a follower.”
–  Steve Jobs, in via

Now, although I do use a Macintosh computer daily, I've never been a huge Apple follower. I chose to use Macs primarily due to my choice of career. As a graphic designer/creative consultant, I needed the equipment and software that met the "industry standards." And Macs were, and still are, 'it' as far as the graphics community goes.

I actually have both a PC and two Macs (an iMac and a MacBook), and have had several of both over my 25 year career as a designer. And although I'm not as heavily into design as I used to be, focusing instead on marketing and promoting Michael's work, I do still keep a couple of fingers in the pot. And, that's why I've stuck with the Macs. From my experience, they are pretty much problem free. I've never had a virus, or a major system failure. I have to tell you, that's worth it right there! About 5 years back we had a PC backup drive die in the morning, by that afternoon, the main drive had gone as well .... $2500 and 4 weeks later ... you get the picture (not pretty). Needless to say, I'm pretty loyal to the Mac when it comes to work.

That's why, even though I'm not an Apple junkie or even follower, really (I don't have an iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc), I was drawn to read up a bit on Steve Jobs. Who, agreeably, was an incredible visionary and creative genius.

Here are my two favorite quotes. The first one, because as the wife of an artist with Michael's drive and determination — never allowing me, or anyone else, to rush him through any of his paintings — it sums up Michael's commitment to his craft and style in a nutshell. And although we'd all like to see him paint faster (because we want to see more of his work), he'd rather only produce 3 or 4 great paintings in a year, than 6-8, what he would consider, second-rate ones. And I get that. He puts so much into each piece, he's not willing to do less than his best.

The second quote is along the same lines, be excellent in whatever you do, but goes beyond that in it's total message: Life is a gift. Make the most of it. Do what you love. And do it really, really well. (you can quote me!!). I think that says it all. — Linda

“Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.”
–  Steve Jobs, interview in Businessweek

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.” –  Steve Jobs, interview in Fortune

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Romantic Marriage Proposal for Auto Enthusiasts

I don't think of myself as a romantic, but being a part of a "muscle car wedding proposal" gave me goosebumps!!

We know many of Michael's car art prints, artist proofs and gallery edition canvases have been given as a gift for a number of occasions: birthday, retirement, anniversary, Father's Day, client and customer appreciation; grooms have bought an automotive print for their best man gift; brides have ordered artist proofs as gifts for their husband-to-be (traditionally called the groom gift, I think). But incorporating automotive fine art, in something as deeply personal as asking for a woman's hand in marriage, may very well be a first. And Dave, chose Michael's Road Runner painting, "BEEP BEEP!", to do it!

Here's a little video I put together. I hope it puts a smile on your face. — Linda

Too Busy to Blog - A Car Show Summer

Looking back, I cannot believe my last post was way back in June for Father's Day! Actually, with our busy summer schedule, I guess it's not all that surprising. Like many self employed people, we don't really have a down time, and if anything, the "car show season" makes summer even busier for us. Add to that our kids on summer break, and there's not much spare time. All that being said, we had a really great couple of months — managing to juggle both work and play.

We kicked off the summer with a trip to Cornwall, Ontario, for a local show put on by Jack Notman and his team at Notman Chrysler Dodge Jeep. What a treat. A small, local event, it's strictly a car show, no swamp meet, kiddie rides, or food fair. It gives area folks (from as far away as Quebec and Upper State New York) a chance to show off their pride and joy, have some fun, and support the local chapter of the Girl Guides (who do an awesome job of keeping everyone fed with great burgers and hotdogs!)

The event definitely draws an eclectic crowd. The cars — or more correctly, vehicles — ranged from a painted-up boogie van, to a rare special edition Viper, classic Chargers, Challengers, Darts and more, new Challengers and Chargers, even Chrysler's new Journey was present! Really, a great mix of old and new. The most unique, was the Road Runner and car hauler combo ... perfectly matched, they took best of show.

This was our second year, and having it fall on the Canada Day long weekend, made it even more special. With our kids fresh out of school for the summer, we turned the little trip into a mini family getaway. A sort of "kick off to the summer!" On Saturday we were able to enjoy the fireworks display over the Seaway – really nicely done – then the car show on Sunday, and a trip to Ottawa on Monday to round it out. Then we had a week at home and were off again.

Our next event was the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals .... but that's a whole other story. You'll just have to wait for my next post. I can tell you, though, romance was in the air. ;) — Linda

Happy Father's Day

Just a few short days short of summer, and spring finally arrived. And, just in time for Father's Day! As we do each year, we had a some lucky dads ask for, and receive, one (or two) of Michael's prints for their special day. There are definitely some off-spring collecting some major points this year!

The AutoDream Group is a complete
car restoration facility.

Michael and I got to spend the day with some of those dads, their kids and their cars at the AutoDream Group Annual Open House in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The weather, as promised, was picture perfect and, from what I could tell, the event was a great success. Thanks again to Greg, Matt and Charles for inviting us along for the ride this year!

Check out their site and blog later this month. Like last year, I'm sure they'll be posting some photos.

Not being to spend the day with their dad, our kids gave Grandpa a treat by standing in for me. Secretly, I think my dad really enjoyed the extra attention!

My dad also turned 73 this past week, and all he asked for was for me to make him a special dessert. Falling on, what is now become, an oldie, but a goody, I whipped up a double batch of Tiramisu —12 eggs and 32 oz of Marscipone later — I think he's set for a while. If you missed my blog post with the recipe, check out: http://automotivefineart.blogspot.com/2010/04/tiramisu-recipe.html. If you have a sweet tooth, like mocha, chocolate and creamy desserts, you'll love this one. And, it's pretty much sugar-free!! Plus, it's easy to make and has a big WOW impact!

Hope your Dad's Day was wonderful, as well.
Have fun! See you at the next show. — Linda

Keeping the Hobby Alive - The Next Generation of Car Enthusiasts

One thing I love about the car enthusiast hobby, is that although it's definitely for grownups, it can be a real family experience. And THAT, is great to see. Especially when you consider that in order for it to thrive into the future, we have to get the next generation interested early on.

It's wonderful to see fathers and sons, or whole families for that matter, cruising the show field at events like those held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Or mom and dad with a couple of kids in tow at a Wednesday night cruise-in at the local shopping mall or burger joint.

I'm glad to see kid-friendly stuff and activities crop up at carshows, as well.  Especially for the younger ones, whose attention spans are a bit shorter. And that organizations like Take a Kid to a Carshow exist. Monster trucks, dirt track stock car racing and days at the drag strip, are also super for getting kids excited about cars and trucks — I mean who doesn't love the noise and excitement! The Cars movies aren't hurting the hobby either, and show us that there is interest even at the youngest of ages.

When we exhibit at car events, we get a chance to see the effects of involving young people in person. It gave me goose bumps when, at the Mopar Nationals, an 8 year old boy chose one of Michael's automotive art prints over a Sony PSP. Or, when at the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum, a 12 year old spent his saved up lawn mowing money to do the same.

And, then there's this: Antoinette, a client of ours, sent us a photo of her husband, Peter, with their little granddaughter reading her favorite book ... the Mopar Collectors Guide ... you just have to love that!

Mopar lover's favorite bedtime reading: Mopar Collectors Guide!

It gives me hope for the future of the hobby. Be safe and have fun. — Linda

What People Are Saying About Michael's Latest Shelby Painting

"Pure As The Driven Snow" - 'Pure' Shelby Painting

On Pure As The Driven Snow, released June, 2011

"Very cool painting! If I was Ford guy, I would buy it." - Dave

"Michael's a creative genius. The internet just doesn't do it justice. Better in person than I could even have imagined—I was blown away when I saw it." - Jim

"Really nice Shelbys." - Joanne

"LOVE IT!!! Hook me up with one." - Paul

"Beautiful!." - Tim

"Give your Mike a big thumbs up on this print — excellent work and on the Boss 429 [Boss Building, released June 2010] one as well." - Mike

"Thank you for sharing this most beautiful print." - Bill

"Wow. That's watercolor? Wow. His work is amazing." - Susan 

"I like the painting more each time I look at it." - Dave

These are just a few of the accolades that we've been receiving on "Pure As The Driven Snow," which was released early last week and shown for the first time at Steve Plunkett's Fleetwood Country Cruise-In and Ford Carlisle, this past weekend. Once again, Michael has pushed himself creatively to give art collectors and car enthusiasts, like himself, more than they bargained for! — Linda

Fleetwood Country Cruize-In 2011

We spent another wonderful weekend at the Fleetwood Country Cruize-In. With the exception of a bit of rain on Saturday morning (and some thunder), the weather was 'car show' perfect. As we've come to expect, the cars on display were incredible and our host, Steve Plunkett, incredibly gracious. All proceeds generated by this annual event go to the Plunkett Foundation, which in turn supports many charities. Only in it's 9th year, the show has already managed to raise over 4 million dollars ... that's awesome!

This was Michael's and my 3rd time at the Cruize-In and I finally had a chance to tour Steve's Auto Salon — in a word, amazing. His collection of Cadillacs has got to be, bar none, the most impressive collection in North America. He not only has several 1 of 1 rare prototypes, but has some incredible gems like the 'Kennedy car', which he recently lent for use in the TV series, "The Kennedys".

Steve, himself, gave us a personal tour of the Auto Salon, giving us a unique one-on-one perspective on the cars (Cadillacs), the company (General Motors) and this 1915 ad, that is still today, considered to be one of the all time best advertisements, ever created. The ad, made up strictly of copy and no images, speaks to the caliber, quality and integrity of an individual or company, and the work that they produce. From my understanding, it's what GM, has not only striven to achieve, but has succeeded in doing over the years. Steve has it prominently displayed, larger than life, above the main floor of the salon. He made sure to point it out to us and give us a printed copy - very cool. I thought you might enjoy reading it as much as I did. — Linda:

The Penalty of Leadership - Cadillac ad from 1915,
that ran in the Saturday Evening Post

The Penalty of Leadership

In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be merely mediocre, he will be left severely alone - if he achieve a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you, unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountebank, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest genius. Multitudes flocked to worship at the shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could not build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is the leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy - but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as the human passions - envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains - the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live - lives.

By Theodore F. MacManus