ONTARIO, CANADA

In his best selling book, Illusions, Richard Bach states, “You are never given a wish without being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.” When he was 17 years of age, Jason Gateman of Digi-llusions knew Bach’s words were profound and when it came to developing his growing airbrush skills and philosophy, Bach’s words fit perfectly. Being the best would not come without dedication and hard work. Sixteen years later, Bach’s quote is continually reflected in Jason’s ongoing success in today’s airbrushing and custom paint industry.

In 2005 TSN’s Canadian Chopper Challenge gave Jason the opportunity to work with builder Bob McKay where he showcased some of his best work. Jason spent 425 hours painting the winning bike with an intensely detailed and intricate portrayal of the history of the NHL. The aptly named Ice Time features a paint job starting from the early days of the NHL with a depiction of Fred “Cyclone” Taylor in 1908 and flows throughout the bike to the end of the NHL strike in 2005.

“The opportunity to compete in the build-off with McKay was definitely a pinnacle in my career. The expectations and tight deadline for that paint job was the most intense pressure I’ve ever had to work under,” Jason recalls. “In the end it was worth every ounce of stress considering all I’d gained from the whole experience.”

In July of 2007 Jason was called back by Bob McKay to airbrush the CFL Edition bike for the second installment of the Chopper Challenge. Although the paint job was much less time consuming, expectations still ran high as Jason had to paint the headlight to look like an exact replica of a CFL game ball including the bumpy leather texture and every single stitch.

Jason’s passion for his artwork and his strong work ethic have led him to work all over North America from Las Vegas to Miami and all points in between. His impressive client list is a testament to his dependability, dedication and his eye for capturing minute details with the airbrush. Corporate clients like Motorola, Sprint, Samsung and Sanyo in the U.S. have recently used Jason’s airbrushing skills to give them the most visible impact for promotions utilizing custom painted Harley’s. Celebrity clients spanning the gamut of the music, sports and movie industries have also trusted Jason to work on their bikes, vehicles, clothing and canvases.

“The hard work and dedication is now starting to pay off. It’s been a hard road at times to say the least, but it’s been the most satisfying and amazing journey I could have ever hoped for. I’m looking forward to what the next 16 years has to offer.”

Located in Guelph, Ontario, Jason works from a modest shop from his home, often traveling to paint shops to work in-house when needed. No job is too big or too small, and if he can get it to sit still long enough, Jason will get paint to stick to it.

“Custom paint on motorcycles is a serious passion of mine as I love the challenge each and every job brings with it. People in the motorcycle world really appreciate airbrushing and I really enjoy helping enhance their pride and joy. Being able to do what I love for a living is the greatest privilege for me. It’s something I never take for granted; I am eternally grateful.”

For complete details of Jason’s whereabouts, upcoming class schedules, contact info and online portfolio, please visit his website.

 

Digi-llusions
7251 Wellington Rd. 51
Ariss, ON N0B 1B0
519-837-3317
www.digi-llusions.com