Do you want a crowd of people around your Corvette at the next car show?
It’s simple. . . just raise your hood and show off your attention-grabbing Happenin’ Cats Airbrush hood liner.
Owners of trophy-winning show cars know how valuable the hood liner’s real estate is to convey their theme message.
That’s why they spend so much time looking for the right artist to impress judges and spectators alike.
And who do they call in Atlanta? The answer is Kim Correll from Happenin’ Cats Airbrush in Kennesaw.
We finally caught up with Kim at a Caffeine & Octane event. Fortunately, he had documented the recent transformation of a stock C7 Corvette hood liner into a show-stopping Batman original.
You’re in for a treat if you’ve never seen the process from freehand sketch to finished product.
All About Layers
Rod Worley – Editor – Your Batman hood liner grabs your attention the moment you lay eyes on it. However, it has to be challenging to airbrush a felt hood liner.
What goes into the process, and how long does it take?
Kim Correll – Happenin’ Cats Airbrush – You’re right. It is more than just airbrushing. There are several steps and techniques involved.
Getting rid of that dark gray background color alone can take a day or so to get it light enough to accept other colors.
Building layers take time to dry. So I use a hairdryer to speed up the drying or go to another part of the project and return to that spot later.
Often I’ll also use a technique with ocean sponges and push the paint into the felt liner at one point in the process. But, in the end, it’s about building layers of paint to bring out the color you’re looking for in the project.
Typically, a hood liner can take anywhere from three days to two weeks to complete depending on the complexity of the project.
Airbrushing For 38 Years
Rod Worley – Editor – Kim, your artistry is terrific on several levels. How long have you been airbrushing?
And did I hear that you’re partially color-blind as well?
Kim Correll – Happenin’ Cats Airbrush – Thanks, Rod. I’ve been airbrushing for the past 38 years and have owned my shop for 31 years.
During the second quarter of my first year at The Art Institute of Atlanta, I found out I was “color confused.” Not really color-blind as most people define it, but sometimes I see green when it should be brown.
I can tell you it’s either blue or purple, but it’s more challenging when it comes to green, yellow, or brown. So when I’m unsure, I ask my wife.
But I’ve never let it sideline or slow down my artistic pursuit.
Honing His Craft
Rod Worley – Editor – It’s something to watch crowds gather around to get a closer look at one of your hood liners. How many have you done over the years?
Also, when did you start professionally airbrushing?
Kim Correll – Happenin’ Casts Airbrush – I started in 1982 in Panama City, Florida. Back then, I worked for an advertising agency airbrushing t-shirts on the beach.
You’d have a line of people waiting for you to finish their shirts on Sunday so they could go home. For me, it was a way to hone my craft and get experience.
As far as hardliners go, I’ve been doing them for well over 20 years. So I guesstimate I’ve easily done 100’s of them.
As Long As It Holds Still
Rod Worley – Editor – You’ve got an impressive photo portfolio of your work. However, the diversity of the surfaces you airbrush on really stood out to me.
Kim Correll – Happenin’ Cats Airbrush – I’ve got thousands of photos of completed work separated into different portfolios. I used to say, “As long as it holds still, I’ll paint on it.”
But one day, that got me into trouble when I went to paint on a boat tied up to the dock. The problem was it was still bobbing up and down on the water.
Recently I spent two months painting megaphones for cheerleaders. I’ve also created custom art for many, many Home Depot aprons.
There is always another project to do. So I stay busy and never get caught up.
Takes Time To Master
Rod Worley – Editor – What kind of advice would you give somebody thinking about doing airbrushing as a career?
Kim Correll – Happenin’ Cats Airbrush – Try a different career. Seriously though, I teach airbrush classes, and 99.9% of people give up.
This craft takes a lot of time to get right. In my experience, it takes two good years of practice before most people can go out there and make money.
I can show you five basic exercises. You have to master those to make it happen. So after 30 years, I’m starting to get the hang of it.
Centerpiece Of Art
In the hands of a talented artist, a drab, nondescript hood liner is transformed into a centerpiece of art.
Spectators’ heads turn, judges smile, and large trophies go home with you when you’ve got an attention-grabbing hood liner.
In the hands of Kim Correll, this blank canvas becomes a stunning visual focal point that instantly conveys the theme of your custom Corvette.
So, if you want to personalize your Bowling Green creation or go hunting for big trophies, Happenin’ Cats Airbrush is the place to start.
*** Special thanks to Steven Cassaniti from Classic Glass Corvette Club of Marietta for letting us photograph his stunning Batman hood liner and introducing us to Kim Correll.
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