Attending car shows, especially those that have a family type feel, has the added incentive of meeting some of the most unique craftsmen in the industry. Those artisans that have labored, largely unknown outside of their local circles, producing legendary results. We recently found pinstriper Mike Schartel at such an event.

NSRA’s marketing director Jim Rowlett, who also supports the association’s clergy needs with his ministry during the weekend events, was kind enough to introduce us to Schartel at the recent Bakersfield Nationals.

Schartel draws a crowd when he starts working on a project, talking the entire time, while his experienced hands guide his pinstriping brush over expensive vintage automobiles. The ease at which he holds a conversation while producing some of the finest automotive artwork at the same time, make the job seem simple. The reality is, laying a fine line of paint over flawless car finishes is nerve-wracking for anyone without years of experience and tons of natural skill.

The side pinstriping was done previously by another pinstriper.  Schartel was asked to add to the theme with a design on the back of the vintage Ford.

“I’ve had this same spot at this show since 1984,” claimed Schartel. “I’ve been blessed to have a job that I love and enough work to provide for my family.”

Schartel does most of his work from his home in Hesperia, where he is known as a living legend. His love of vintage cars drew him into starting a mobile service where he travels to different car shows on the weekends. Word of mouth has kept his business expanding, and the demand for his work shows no signs of slowing down.

“I started free hand pinstriping in 1975,” he said. “After I saw a car being done at a car show. I’ve always loved art and drafting, and that is what pinstriping is. It is artistic lines.”

On this day Schartel was traveling with his son, so the conversation would rotate between the bystanders that were watching the work being done, his son, and yours truly. Switching topics as quickly as he did switching focus on who he was talking to, he managed to cover religion, weather, family, automotive and painting as he continued to work.

Schartel’s engaging personality gave way to his experience, self-confidence, and faith, to execute a flawless finished product.

With the particular car we watched Schartel work on, he explained that he had not done the base pinstriping but was asked to add a design to the original work. Color matching would normally make this impossible in any other form of painting, but Schartel explained that only one company makes paint for pinstripers. They all use the same product which makes color matching spot on.

Adding his signature to the completed work.

Biblical passages are abundant in his booth, and in his conversation, as Schartel has made the foundation of his business on faith. “God has given me the ability to do something I love and support my family,” he stated.

Schartel’s entertaining banter and quiet self-confidence add to the work that he puts on these classic cars. There is a captivating manner that one does not normally see from painters, in the way that Schartel works. There is little doubt that his faith inspires the man to produce fascinating finished products and for those that have been privileged to watch him work, a great memory of the captivating artist.

It is hard to argue with results like this.