" It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
      It screamed attitude, rebellion and speed. It was as
     archaic as an old appliance, yet with graceful lines
  and symmetry. It was the hot rod, and I was hooked the
                                very first time i saw one. "

                                                               Ruben G. Duran

 
      As an art student at San Jose State University, Ruben
Duran focused primarily on drawing and painting, and
soon began to include hot rods in his work.  He  wanted to
depict cars that had an interesting look to them; it may be
their patina, mismatched wheels, missing door handles or
exposed mechanics that lends character to them. In
addition, He wanted to paint people in each work because
of the bond they have with their cars, which is a very
important part in telling a story.
      His subjects usually derive from personal photos,
to images from books and magazines. Generally,  he
changes  the image a bit by adjusting the color scheme or
adding different elements to really make the image his own.
       Typically painting in oils, Ruben has experimented with
the media by introducing small amounts of automotive
fluids into the paint, thus creating a  direct relationship
between the media and the subject.
      His goal is to honor the hot rod and its history by
representing it with the passion it deserves.