I entered the artcar world via some strange form of amebic action. Along with the cars I evolved. I just did things to my cars and was noticed. This is how it can be for you. Start simple. Make a few modifications- paint a flower on your car or put a few magnets on- glue on something. You need not become an artist or some sort of commercial entity. You may wish to go to parades or caravans but you should feel just right staying at home and using the car for your daily chores.  Some want to just have the artcar for special occasions. They paint the car with water soluble paints, attach magnets, stick on vinyl sign material or maybe bolt on artwork- just for the day. This is OK too!

The important thing is self expression. Do not be limited by others. Think up your own designs as independently as possible. Your car should be a blank canvas. There are many many areas in which to find inspiration. Some people use animals as models. Others like to paint scenes of fantasy. Others stick on whole worlds of plastic life. Thrift shops will help give you ideas. But search yourself- what would you want to do? The essence of designing an artcar is that it should be different and individual.  Take your own path. One area where you may wish to consult others is in the realm of technique and materials.

One of the exciting aspects of artcar construction is experimenting with materials. I have been working for the past several years with magnets. What will stick to the rubber ones that will not weather and fade?  I eventually found out it was contact paper and only the black sharpie permanent markers- but getting there was a lot of extra work. I could have used the answer the first time. In the area of materials and techniques there are many places you can turn to for help. You will be amazed at the knowledge of your fellow artcar artists!  Turn up at a meeting, a caravan, parade or show and you will find artcar artists swapping tips- the best unsolicited advice in the world. We are all experts at what we have been through. Some have worked with electricity, others with paints and still others with adhesives. Another area entirely is metals fabrication. To find help you can also join the artcars list via our main page. Once you are subscribed ask away!  You can also check out our bookshop page which is linked to the main page. There you will find books on artcar construction related topics. You can either purchase them (which helps us to support these pages) or you can request them at your local library.  Check out the archive of photos of artcars at the web site of the Orange Show of Houston Texas.

In the artcar world you will find many different kinds of artist. Some are in business to design and build your artcar for you. This is a good way to get around the technical limitations. They generally will execute your design. Other artcar artists remain off the road and design static or infrequently driven cars. My artcar started out broken down for several months with a bad transmission! While I prefer to think of artcars as one's standard set of everyday wheels you can also build a car just for parades and for sitting in the front yard up on blocks if you so desire. One of the dangers of the business is exceeding your beer budget er...disposable income with the costs of materials, repairs,events, and transportation. When this happens you may wish to seek out some sort of money making activities.

Within our little community some artcar artists actively seek out employment and compensation. Many have been in movies or in commercials. Others have made movies, written books and created  postcards, tee shirts, magnets... to make a little money here and there. I have sold  cardots and books with Amazon and have thought  about creating a non profit to keep my vehicles maintained. I would never limit myself to events that pay (I just don't want to miss any!)but,  you may wish to seek out those which will give you a little cash. It doesn't hurt to ask! You should also ask at events if it is ok to sell things. When I appear for free I generally expect to be permitted to sell a limited number of items-and this generally works out.  If you wish to enter the money making world with your art be careful- it is often helpful to find  an agent who can assist you with negotiations and contracts. Our little world contains these as well. They are able to arrange for artcars to appear and make sure that the artist gets paid the going rate. Within the artcar community we even have people who don't know that they have an artcar!

Friends of ours thought that they just had an antique painted VW Bus until we noticed and helped them learn how to be artcar artists!  You really do have to remind folks of the possibilities sometimes! If you see an artcar on the road put a note on the window.  Who we will find out there in limbo.  Give them the address of this page- get them started.

Writing in 2012 concerning making money a few thoughts occur to me. Often artcar artists are used by well funded organizations to bring in visitors. The visitors come to visit artcars and spend money on other things. They make the festival profitable for many companies. When artcars are used for luring in business and money cartists should be compensated for gas, wear and tear and for costs out of pocket- food etc. This is only fair. No matter local or distant cartists have expenses.  Volunteerism is great- when everyone volunteers!  I think that is a good guideline. This is a personal decision but cartists not selling anything should be helped with expenses generated by the experience. There is hardly an event that does not cause wear and tear. We have to pay for gas. We have to eat often paying more than market prices at festivals. RESPECT  THAT! ALWAYS! When you think of it when I make an appearance you have a rental car, a driver, a clown and entertainer. If you had to hire them as you do other entertainment it would be as considerable sum.

I don't mind artists who use their artcars as storefronts cramming them full of art to display at the festival. Often these people get money to come from out of town- for gas and accommodation but, they make money at the festival- how can paying them be fair? Most festivals wave the site fees for them too. The result is that non commercial cartists help to bring in their business yet non commercial cartists dont go home with profits but return home with bills and wear and tear! I would not mind if commercial cartists helped those who dont make money- a fair trade off.

Organizers of festivals should appreciate the benefits, reward all cartests in some way so that we can all return again the next year.