American Motorcycling:  It has been depicted in a variety of ways from its likening to early pioneers and rugged cowboys who rode the range looking for adventure to the wild biker images that Marlon Brando and Peter Fonda made popular in Hollywood.  Yet, the history of motorcycling in this country has also been seen as neglected in comparison with the history of automobiles and other forms of transportation.  Well, today there is a trio of artists who have combined their talents to form a company dedicated to furthering the history, and through their respective mediums, they are creating some of the most revered and collectable motorcycle art that has been produced.  Meet the artists of Artists Riding Together, Inc., better known as ART Inc.  Tom Fritz, David Uhl, and Jeff Decker, each masters of their own design, are creating works of art that go beyond portrays of just motorcycles, but also represent the spirit of motorcycling in America.  And, with the full licensing from Harley-Davidson, these paintings and sculptures from ART Inc. are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after collectables in the motorcycle world.

Tom Fritz, who showcases his talents on canvas, told us that while getting three creative artists together can sometimes be a “deadly mixture,” here it was an opportunity for them to collectively show just “who bikers are.”  And with this key ingredient in common, Tom noted that they just had to get together as a group.  Sculptor, Jeff Decker, creates his images in bronze, and he told us that the industry of his art is similar to what the motorcycle mechanic goes through as well—the parts, the grit, and the grime all are part of the trade itself.  Next, there is David Uhl, another who prefers canvas as his medium of choice and who says that the group wants to tell a tale beyond the motorcycle in their works, and in fulfilling that vision they hope that it will take them to new levels in their work. 

Concerning their inspirations, they are all inspired by diverse sources.  Tom Fritz says that much of his inspiration comes from the smell of the oil paint that he uses in his work.  He says that he remembers the smell of his first paint-by-number kit and working takes him back to good childhood memories.  For Dave Uhl, it is the thrill of the ride itself that keeps him looking for new images to portray on canvas.  In addition, his dedication to researching the archives of Harley-Davidson’s Enthusiast magazine for historic motorcycle images keeps him motivated to create images of his own.  Finally, Jeff Decker says that his inspiration comes from several of the “Godfathers” of hot rod art.  Jeff went on to say that the artistic talents and works of Von Dutch, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, and Robert Williams have always inspired him to go beyond the traditional boundaries of sculpture.  Jeff went on to say that he believes that motorcycling is an important part of the American psyche that has been ignored.  Tom Fritz says that life experience on bikes influences his work—also, that he finds that light and composition of the art is what makes his work different.  Dave Uhl agrees that life experiences also influence his work, but from an historical angle as he continues to scour the archives of The Enthusiast for images from which he can draw inspiration.

Finally, Tom Fritz told us more about this talented group and what they hope to accomplish.  “We felt that by combining our forces, interests, and resources that we could smooth the bumps in the road, so to speak.  Our intention is to take the fine art of the motorcycle to places it’s never been before in a manner that hasn’t been approached before.  So far, the response has been overwhelming.”  Trust us; once you see what this incredibly gifted group has accomplished, and will continue to produce, we believe that you will be overwhelmed as well.  If you would like to know more about ART, Inc., you can visit them on the web at www.art-inc.biz.

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