Johnny Jalopy

Even from a young age, I loved old cars. As a young boy, growing up on the Central
Coast of Florida, my parents would take me with them to car shows featuring classic cars
and hot rods. Everyone knows that area is saturated with events of this kind. There was
always something going on. I always enjoyed seeing the cars and always imagined
myself with a car like that of my own one day. I would study every line and every detail
until I knew it by heart.
My father was an artist and would draw just about anything. I remember him pointing out
shading to me, and how colors combined in the sky. He always stressed the importance
of perspective. This is really where I developed an interest in art. What boy doesn’t
want to be just like his dad? I recall the very first painting my father made for me – it
was of a funny car. That picture is still etched in my memory, right down to the flames
coming out of the pipes and smoke coming off the tires. In Junior High, I took an art
class, taught by Mr. Beedinger, and learned the basics of art. This teacher was really into
automotive art and I remember what an inspiration he was to me. This was my only
“formal” training. From that point forward I have been self-taught.
I loved George Trossey art, cartoon magazines, and “how to draw a car” activities as a
kid. This is when I began drawing. As a teenager, I developed different ways to
customize my vehicles, stepping outside “the norm” and creating my own style. I have
built upon this view to develop my art in the same way, always seeing things outside of
the box and with a unique perspective. I’d always sketch my “dream car”, just how I
pictured it in my head.
I first started selling my art in my 30’s when I began painting on river rocks and setting
up a table at the flea market. My father started oil painting and encouraged me to paint
on canvas, but I had other ideas. I had been interested in airbrushing and my parents
bought me a starter-kit one year for Christmas. At first, I tried creating some designs on t-
shirts and started off working with a skull theme. I worked on that for a while but was I
quickly inspired to do more after watching Chip Foose develop his renderings on an
episode of Overhaulin’. From that point forward, my focus became cars. I started
drawing cars, pencil drawings and ink on paper, and eventually developed my own style
in doing so. At first I used a projector to help lay down my lines, but I was free-handing
in no time. All of those years studying the body lines and details of those classic cars I
loved were finally coming out on paper.
I began airbrushing cars on t-shirts, then incorporating other types of designs and
background designs using the airbrush. My pencil drawings started developing even more
quickly and I started using paint-pens to lay the color and colored pencils for my shading.
I was given a writing tablet, Wacom Pad, for a computer by a friend of mine and, within
a matter of months, I had taught myself to use Photoshop and incorporate the tablet in my
renderings. Still operating with this set-up, I’m continuing to produce renderings that are
so different from any of the other styles I’ve seen. It is truly my personal view of the
vehicle and its characteristics that comes out in my drawings. I capture the attitude of the
vehicle I’m drawing and maybe that sets me apart from some of the other designers out
there.

With a talent to create, passed down from my father and which I have personally worked
to develop, I continue to incorporate my love of hot rods and the hot rod culture in my
designs. I’m always looking to grow, create better work, and produce a better quality
product. I’m continually searching for new mediums and I can be found pin-striping,
painting acrylic on wood, and oil on canvas, just like my father had always encouraged.
My latest endeavors include creating designs for screen-printed t-shirts and stickers and
creating logos and flyers for companies.

Johnny "Jalopy" Wood is a custom hot rod artist, illustrator, and Kustom Kulture creator known for his collaborations with fabricator Ian Roussel on the TV show Full Custom Garage. He is recognized for his unique, cartoonish, and "funky" design concepts that Ian Roussel has brought to life as drivable vehicles.
Here are the key details about Johnny Jalopy:
Role on Full Custom Garage: Johnny acts as a conceptual artist for the show, where his sketches—often featuring exaggerated "monsters" and wild car designs reminiscent of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth—are transformed into real metal,, such as the "Johnny 5" VW-based vehicle.
Artistic Style: His art is deeply rooted in Kustom Kulture, focusing on hot rods, monsters, and detailed, colorful, and imaginative car renderings.
"Sketchy Live!": For over 8 years, Johnny and his wife, Ity-B, have hosted Sketchy Live!, a weekly, live-streamed show on YouTube and Facebook where they showcase his art, discuss car culture, and interact with viewers.
Background: He is not only a designer but also has experience in the workshop, with Ian Roussel involving him in the actual fabrication process to ensure the final build stays "true" to the original sketch.
Online Presence: He is active on Instagram and Facebook as "@JohnnyJalopyArt" and runs his website, johnnyjalopy.com.
Johnny Jalopy is considered a key contributor to the artistic, imaginative side of the custom builds featured on Full Custom Garage.