BTCHN Inc. Designs: Hot-Rod art with Attitude and Style

It’s no secret that SkillsetMag is a huge fan of the custom car scene. Whether it’s rat-rods, home-built Harleys, or a complete custom showstopper, we here at Skillset have fuel in our veins. Many of you have probably seen us at car shows, SEMA, overland events, and even the occasional drag race. It’s those types of events where we get to rub elbows with the cool cats in the scene, and Butch Hartman is one of those individuals.

Our editor-in-chief, Ben Tirpak, recently had a chance to pull Butch aside for a little one-on-one time and bend his ear on car culture, small business, and of course, the world of hot rod art. Here’s what he had to say.

Hot Rod Art by Butch Hartman

Skillset: How long have you been an artist, and has your work always been car-centric, hot rod-style art?

Well, I’ve always scribbled since I was a kid, up through high school for a while, and then here and there until I started Bitchin Inc.

The car thing, I grew up around them. My dad always had a Mustang. Basically, all my grandparents and I had old Ford trucks or Broncos.

Skillset: What were some of your early influences?

Ed Roth was a big one, for sure. I also grew up reading comics, so I drew those a lot. The old hot rod magazines and low rider magazines always had artwork in them or art sections that always inspired me. Also, Cool World and Who Framed Roger Rabbit definitely gave me ideas back in the day.

Skillset: Is this your full-time gig, and if so, when did you know you could earn a living from your art?

Yes, it is, but for a long time, it was a side hustle while I worked at Trask Performance in AZ for about five years until I had to decide whether to stop doing it or make it a full-time gig. Fortunately, it’s paid the bills thus far, haha.

Skillset: What’s your ideal work condition?

Really to be left alone with music or some type of distraction and preferably with an outside view.

Skillset: Do you only do commissions, offer prints, or just originals?

I mostly do commissions right now. I want to be at a point where I can create and sell originals because I have a ton of ideas. There are a few prints available on my website.

Skillset: Who is your typical client?

Honestly, it’s blue-collar. I’ve found that people who work hard for what they have have more of an appreciation for custom stuff.

Skillset: Does most of your business come from word of mouth?

Some word of mouth and a lot from media.

Skillset: A lot of your work is HOT ROD style. Would you like to do more work in the tuner scene or maybe the truck scene?

YES! Absolutely! I had a VW problem and probably still do I just haven’t got one recently. I also got into the tuner scene when it first started in the US. They’re fun, as the multiple tickets have shown throughout my driving career. Most things can be cool, whether it be hot rods, trucks, big rigs, motorcycles, tuners, etc.,

Skillset: You draw and create a lot of car art. Do you have any favorites? The ones you enjoy working on the most.

That’s a hard one, haha. There’s a number of them that have a special place. I think, though, tribute pieces always get me in the feels, especially when the clients are over the moon about it. It makes me feel good and a job well done.

Skillset: What about special projects? Any charity work or others you’d like to talk about?

I’ve done a few for the Fifty Legs auction but haven’t done much because of the constant workload. There’s a few with clients I’ve been cooking up and hopefully this next year I’ll be able to start sharing what those are.

Oh man, it’s helped everyone either start a business or further it. This is huge, but as we’re seeing now, it’s become the dominant form of advertising, and with that, we see accounts being suspended and shadow-banned because they don’t fall in line with the policies these big media conglomerates, unfortunately, take a stance on. I’ve seen people’s accounts get deleted for absolutely no reason. It’s been frustrating and really started just before Covid hit.

Skillset: Do you see AI as a potential threat to artists? Any benefits to your work come from AI?

I see it disillusioning the masses as to “what is actual art”. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have that mindset of cheap and fast. I’ve seen people claiming to be AI artists selling prints and books of generic AI images. They didn’t even create the app that created them. It’s like going into a tattoo shop, telling them what you want, the tattoo artist doing it, and then saying you did it.

Having said that, I can see it helping photography and possibly design ideas or references for artists to create something. I don’t think I’ll ever use it. But that’s for a lot of reasons.

Skillset: What’s the hardest part of being a small business owner in the custom art scene?

As mentioned above dealing with people that have that mentality of cheap and fast. I try very hard to be upfront about all my information and timelines so people can decide for themselves and know what they are getting into. I understand waiting 5-6 months isn’t ideal at all. Therein lies the issue of: once you take deposits, the clock starts. I’ve tried to create a balance, but I’m not sure that exists, really, especially with custom stuff. Or maybe it’s just me not taking the time I should, haha.

Skillset: What are the future plans for BTCHN INC Designs?

At some point, I’d like to do custom pieces I have wanted to do for a long time. I’ve also thought a lot about offering courses.