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and the Rockers. Andy was tempted to
pass altogether, but while visiting www.
amandabeeillustration.com he saw a
simple white helmet with a single stripe,
enough to spark his interest.
Andy and Amanda met at a local donut
shop and discussed the project. The
motorcycle community being as it is,
close knit; the two soon found they had
many mutual friends, so Andy now had
plenty of viable references to work with.
At first Andy was thinking a simple white
with a black stripe, possibly a black and
white union jack on the side panels.
Through discussions, Amanda soon had
Andy thinking outside of any constraints
he may have put on himself. The concept
and colors were agreed upon and after
her partner had prepped the tins and the
base was applied, Amanda went to work
doing what she undeniable does best.
What makes a writer pick a particular
piece to work on? The interest can come
from just about anywhere. This piece for
instance? Well, I love British bikes, that’s
a given, Triumph’s above all, I own one
and look forward to throwing a leg over
her whenever I can (and yes, we are still
talking about motorcycles).
Over the past couple of years I have
gotten to know Amanda’s parents, Alan
and Laurie, as well as her. From time
to time over each season I find myself
in there company on a ride of some
description, and fine company it is.
More often than not on a warm summer
evening, like most riders, we end up at
our favorite donut shop contemplating
politics, religion and the more important
decisions in life such as, Boston Cream or
jelly filled.
At least once a week or so, I am taken
aside by Alan, one of the proudest
Fathers you are likely to meet and shown
a helmet or the latest Black Widow
creation on two wheels. Every chance
I get I take a walk around his beautiful
Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 that has been
airbrushed by his daughter and am
always amazed that I see something
knew each time I do.
‘You should write a story about
Amanda’, says Alan (His daughter’s best
PR man), and to be honest, that had been
on my mind for some time.
Truth be told, talent comes in many
forms and is evident every day, if you
take the time to look. What I believe sets
Amanda Brisebois apart from the pack is
entirely in the details. Whether it’s the
curl of a flame, the edge of a lion’s mane,
an eye, a maple leaf, or the use of a
gunmetal grey instead of blue in Andy’s
union jack, there is just something you
can’t quite explain about her work.
As a little girl, she was happiest on
the back of her Dad’s motorcycle, riding
all over Vancouver Island or sketching
instead of doing her homework (to the
dismay of her firecracker of a Mother
Laurie). Dad surprised her with her very
own motorcycle at the age of 15, the two
of them worked tirelessly to get the little
Kawi 440 on the road, and she has been
riding it ever since (custom Burberry
airbrushing, by guess who?)
Alan knew how to push the right
buttons to get his girl on the right track.
Amanda recalls being picked up one
day from Sheridan College and being
whisked off to a local bike shop by Dad.
‘Give it a shot’, he said, and handed her
an airbrush gun.
Some time has passed now and with
many projects under her belt, you can
really see a progression that is awesome
to witness.
Let’s face it; the bike community in
Southern Ontario is small. Chances are,
we all know some of the same riders,
roads, destinations etc. Not to mention
mechanics and yes, even artists. I can
tell you this; it is getting more and more
common to hear someone talking about
Black Widow, when contemplating a
bike project. It doesn’t take long for a
good thing to be realized, especially in
the motorcycle community. You want
to buy gear at a good price; you go to
Double R leathers in Erin and see Ray.
You want to have led lights installed on
your bike, but you don’t want to risk
your ride to some electrical butcher,
you go and see Rick and Kim at Rixters
Garage in Caledon, and you get it done
right, the first time. Both shops are avid
supporters of Amanda and her work.
It only took Andy a few minutes to
realize he had found the artist he was
going to trust his Triumph with when
they met. Visit Amanda Brisebois and
Black Widow Airbrushing online and
see for yourself. She is a sweet lady
that will set you at ease and work with
you to see your dream come to fruition.
As she says, ‘You are only as good as
your last project’.
Personally, every time I see her latest
project, I am more amazed than the
previous. I know if I undertake a
project in the future, I have only
one number to remember.
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