Greensburg woman hand-paints Marine Corps tribute on ‘World of Wheels’ motorcycle

Building a customized motorcycle is a single factor. Developing a person that honors one’s brothers in arms is a different.

At the 60th once-a-year Environment of Wheels custom auto display this weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Heart, Todd Keyser of Ligonier is exhibiting off his custom Harley, hand-painted with reminders of his time in the Marine Corps from 1981-85.

“I’d at first acquired the bicycle for my daughter, but she ended up acquiring a auto,” claimed Keyser, 59. “So I bought with my mechanic, Mark McClain from McClain’s Jam Cycle in Acme, and advised him I experienced the ridiculous strategy of constructing a customized bicycle.”

After receiving the a variety of parts powder-coated in possibly crimson, yellow or black, Keyser experienced to come to a decision on a topic and decorations.

McClain realized just the man or woman for the position.

Lori Mozina of Greensburg, an artwork teacher at Franklin Regional Senior Substantial College, is on a regular basis commissioned to produce custom, hand-painted pieces for both motorcycles and biker vests.

“Since I train artwork total-time, this kind of challenge is my ‘fun occupation,’” Mozina stated. “I actually appreciate military services tribute parts like this.”

She requested Keyser to locate some images and themes he desired in destinations like the oil tank and fenders.

“I wanted a portrait of Chesty Puller, the most really decorated Marine in the Maritime Corps,” Keyser reported. “When we ended up heading through boot camp, all people understood who Chesty was by the time we had been carried out.”

Keyser also preferred a military services dog and an Osprey, the tilt-rotor helicopter made use of given that 2007 by the Marine Corps.

“I preferred to display my aid for all my brothers that have been fighting for us,” he reported. “I gave her a couple suggestions, but she really brought them to everyday living.”

Bringing them to life was an fascinating course of action, in accordance to Mozina.

“The parts are black, so I was sort of painting in reverse,” she said. “You’re slowly and gradually creating skinny levels of brightness, as opposed to shading a drawing on a white floor. So every thing is painted in quite slender layers of white.”

Just after she completed, she used three layers of apparent coating, two glossy and a person satin.

Keyser couldn’t be happier.

“I’ve been seeking to get some bicycle journals intrigued in it,” he stated. “At the past minute I obtained a copy of the (Entire world of Wheels) application and sent it on. So ideally it’ll get some recognition.”

Mozina just needs to see it assembled.

“I really do not constantly know what the general structure system is supposed to be,” she said. “So it’s seriously good to see all the pieces set back together. To me, that is pretty much like seeing it in a picture body, simply because it’s lastly finished.”

The Globe of Wheels customized automobile display runs via Sunday at the conference center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard in Downtown Pittsburgh. To see additional of Mozina’s operate, go to MozinaGraphics.weebly.com.