David Mann

2004, Promotion

David Mann is all about portraying the essence of the motorcycle lifestyle from personal experience. Since 1962 David has been creating paintings that represent the motorcycle culture. His imagination and wit, coupled with his attention to detail, are hallmarks of his style.

In 1963 the "Hollywood Run" and 1948 Customized Harley-Davidson® pieces accompanied David to the Kansas City Car Show. There, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, car/bike customizer and publisher of Chopper magazine, bought the "Hollywood Run" painting for $85.00. Thus, David's career was born. In the years that followed, David painted 10 more paintings for Roth.

While working at Sheffer Studios in Kansas City, David met Dave Poole, an architectural renderer who taught him how to use an airbrush. Further refining his craft, David went on to study at the Kansas City Art Institute.

When David saw his first issue of Easyrider magazine in 1971, an ad for artists, cartoonists and illustrators often caught his eye. Since issue #3, David's artwork has illuminated the pages of Easyrider, and often appears in Biker magazine.

Capturing the essence of the biker lifestyle for a whole new generation of riders, David's paintings have often inspired styles in motorcycle customizing. He'd exaggerate a rake or the length of a front end and someone would build a bike to match that look.

David says, "My outlook on life is one of having fun, enjoying life and freedom, and not letting others get you down."

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