Jeff Devey: We talk about truck lettering, pinstriping, custom painting and his drag racing habit.

[@JeffreyDevey]

That's my dad! Great interview!

[@StoriesnSteel]

I'm glad you approve! Thank you!

[@paulheywood2116]

Paint slinging legend

[@bondobrian]

Fabulous interview. I've lived 100 miles away from Jeff for as long as he has lived in Idaho but never had the honor of meeting him. I'd see him at the drag races and always wanted to talk with him, but I was so amazed at his talents I was too scared to approach him. It's great to know Jeff is so humble of his astounding talents. Now, after seeing this interview, I feel I can approach him for a conversation. Thank you, Brad and Jeff

[@paulstoll2145]

ppgpaul I met Jeff back in the Sacramento days. He lettered a stock car I painted then disappeared. Finally caught up with him in Idaho, I painted drag cars and he striped and lettered them, we did lots of funny cars then. He is one of the best and I have been good friends for a long time. Great episode Brad !

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thanks Paul! I knew you guys went back aways and he told me some great stories!

[@peterspicer3740]

Nice to see such a talented guy being so humble. Great stuff

[@elroypinstriping8022]

Awesome. Such a great style and love his passion.

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you! He is really a great guy!

[@TrampWarner]

Best of the best right there Jeff is the real deal very humble will always stop and talk teach and stripe or letter at the same time This documentary on how life work when you keep trying to do better than the last job. Great interview thanks to you and the crew and the work ethics of Jeff wait ago Idaho

[@StoriesnSteel]

Yeah, he's definitely amazing! a real down-to-earth guy with some serious talent.

[@monkeysign123]

When I went to Jeff's Jam a few years ago, I was introduced to Urethane Pinstriping paint. I have been striping with urethanes ever since then. It's a good thing!

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

Been waiting for some new episodes. DAM that was AWESOME, definitely worth the wait

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thanks for being patient!

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

You are very welcome Love these stories

[@shakeypainter2]

Great interview...my story sure sounded fermilour to mine...thanks so much for sharing!

[@ricoamordavila7496]

Jeff Devey and his sons are very talented. Jeff is an amazing dude!

[@markneurohr9663]

Great story. Killer artist! 🎨

[@scottpacker9906]

Great video, thanks for posting. Jeff is a generational talent and also a wonderful man👍👍

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you! He's definitely a great guy!

[@JackFlemingArtistry]

Great video, not only the interview, but the footage as well. I think that those of us trying to walk in y'alls shadows definitely got a lot out of this one. Thank you for.creating another great video and putting them out there.

[@StoriesnSteel]

Wow! Thank you very much Jack! Jeff is truly amazing and had a great story!

[@JackFlemingArtistry]

@Stories 'n Steel absolutely. I may need to reach out to him and see if he would be interested in being on Freddie Villa and I's podcast, the Pinstripers Podcast. A very inspiring story.

[@StoriesnSteel]

@@JackFlemingArtistry I'll have to check the podcast out. I've been dragging brushes for over 40yrs now...

[@JackFlemingArtistry]

@Stories 'n Steel we try to get seasoned vets on, and a few younger folks too. It is pretty similar to your interview here, in that we are trying to record the history of the craft through capturing the stories of established stripers.

[@StoriesnSteel]

@@JackFlemingArtistry you do nice work, I'll have to check out the podcast.

[@kaliman6920]

This is real sign painting. I love it.

[@53Peterbilt]

OMG.....You're BACK!! Frikken AWESOME!! 😎👍 ...and Jeff is such an Outstanding example of where to rejoin this program, and what someone with a bit of talent, and ALOT of drive can do with their lives. He's the epitome of a great sign & graphics guy. plus, he's just a super good human being. Such a blessing to have people like this in my life. and when you guys start talking about how painters like Jim Ingram and Mike Clines have touched your lives, I too started tearing up as I too know these gentlemen and they've done that exact same thing to me. Heck...you all have! Guys like Jeff have been such a huge influence on the quality of my work, and also how I run my business. (he's an fantastic businessman) Thankyou all so extremely much! Hello to Jeff, his wonderful wife Joyce, and to you Brad. Miss you people! So glad you're bringing 'Stories in Steel' back to life Brad! I Love it, and can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve!

[@StoriesnSteel]

Dude, thanks for calling today! It's definitely game on now!

[@jameswulzen590]

I started in the Oakland Roadster show when I was in High School ( Alameda High ) 17 years old. I hung out at Tommy the Greeks shop in Oakland. Had Von Dutch tell me how to mix paint, in a letter. I striped many cars over the years then moved to San Jose to work at San Jose Honda as parts manager .

[@chrisfernandes3730]

i remember brad king from sign craft magazine, back in the days he mentioned wanting to have a show about auto art and pinstriping and lettering, glad to see this, good work

[@dennisprice1916]

Such an Awesome Interview with an Amazing Talent, Thank You Brad

[@mitchhall4243]

Really enjoyed this video! Very similar story to mine about influences, drag cars, signs, etc. I never went all in though and don't have the creativity or talent ! Amazing to hear of guys that made a career out of something so many admire. Great interview!

[@monkeysign123]

Oh yeah, Jeff Devey, a master jouneyman sign guy.

[@airbrushken5339]

Love the T-Shirt story ... in 1967 I went to the Detroit Auto Show and Big Daddy Roth had a big stall with screen printed Tees of airbrush images, plus his RF hats and about 5 people working plus one guy airbrushing a T-shirts. Further down, was a guy from Michigan called (Stan) "Mouse" who just free handed airbrushed shirts, he later met up with Kelly to form "Mouse and Kelly" doing album covers (Grateful Dead) and Rock posters ... I was on my final year as a Bump and Paint guy and I used an Airbrush to touch up paint chips. I studied fine art at night at college and got to play with my airbrush there, as one of my teachers did art work for Pontiac Motors and used the airbrush to make chrome effects, skies, backgrounds for their design department ... I got drafted, ended up 9 years with the Army (2/502 Infantry, 101st Airborne - Vietnam). Finished college at night and moved to Australia as a teacher. Custom painted a ton of bikes and also several boats. I did a lot of pin strip work for Mack, and Scania Prime movers. Also did work out of one truck yard, lettering trucks and trailers. Sadly Agent orange (Dioxin Poisoning) stopped my teaching and climbing ladders for truck work, as my balance is bad. I still do a fair amount of design work and fine art works. I also do a lot of Gold leaf reverse image on glass for personal jobs... Been asked lately to pin strip and letter saws??? I had to explain to one guy the 100 year old "cross cut" as it was ... would sell for about 2-3 grand ... so a friend of mine clear coated it to seal in the aging and I distressed a hand saw for him and then lettered it.... Money talks...LOL Loved the stories... I miss old Ron Finch plus the old custom car and bike scene... no one lives for ever. ... but at least Jeff follows my same dream; "Do what you love and love what you are doing"....

[@richardelliott8352]

When the apprentice becomes the master it is quite a story, in part because that is so historically important in human evolution. this guy is impressively talented, the commend of the medium combined with the expression of the image desired , really shows there is an artist at work. I even noticed some pinstripeing that went beyond the conventional and turned into line drawings in parts of the work.

[@jeremyhinson3483]

Hey Brad! Glad to see you doing more episodes. I've drooled over Jeff's lettering work in Signcraft since forever, what a treat to hear his stories and see him in action!

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you Jeremy! I think Jeff is a hero to EVERY brush fanatic out there!

[@h4z4rd42]

Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing.

[@matthewgilmore5307]

i need to see lots more of your work, im painting my mustang, never thought about strips untill watching this video and im hooked but not GT stips, everyone has that. Kandy purple and now got to figure strip color

[@alf-be7kq]

Outstanding artwork (:

[@MileHighScaleModeler]

Finally! Thank you for producing more content! Always enjoy these videos.

[@StoriesnSteel]

I know, I've been a slacker long enough!

[@MileHighScaleModeler]

@@StoriesnSteel just glad you are putting up more content and release a couple vids today. Much appreciate.

[@DouglasRay-x3z]

Wow! Great interview - such talent!

[@billybubba600]

Great interview! Great talent, great artist!

[@wfoguy]

Pretty cool. :) I have made the statement about never knowing how we affect people for years. Most of us are watched all of the time. I found out that it was who I was that was important. The character you exhibit impresses or runs people off. It never hurts to be talented and humble. :)

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you and very well said!

[@mikelenapyne9835]

What a great interview! We are hometown proud of Jeff Devey 🎉 So amazing how you two explain the world of signs and lettering. Jeff you definitely built yourself up! Thanks for making us all look FABULOUS 😊

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, he is pretty amazing!

[@jameswulzen590]

This man is many times better that I am, but I still love to do my thing, it's the way it is.

[@joseywales3789]

I believe that it's called *work ethic* and I'm blessed that my father in law taught me it once I left the submarine service, I was a marine engineer but there's very little use for a nuclear marine engineer in civilian life so my father in law suggested that I go back to college in the evenings and take any job opportunities to pay the bills. I did this, qualified, went on to University, Qualified, took a PhD and then Doctorate and all the while... I worked to pay the bills and feed and clothe my growing family. My father in law helped out now and again but I always paid him back, he even gave me his old car for a birthday present one year... "You earned it son!" I set up my own business and worked every hour that I could, I progressed in my career and became a member of the charter of mechanical engineers, I still worked hard but now the money came in... Kids grew up and went to University themselves. My father in law died three years ago and I still tear up talking about him and his influence on my life. *Work Ethic* the kids of today don't have it! They'd prefer to play computer games than do something constructive that'd make them money!

[@StoriesnSteel]

You're absolutely right in your comment! Sounds like Dad in law was an awesome guy!

[@caseybranton812]

Awesome stuff agreat talent thanks for sharing your story

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you!!

[@jameswulzen590]

I'm 84 now and living in Hawaii and still doing the paint lines on motorcycles, since I'm in a wheelchair now..

[@tucsonairbrush3233]

Inspiring

[@ajcates9136]

Good stuff wow

[@Hotrodmonk55]

Sooo good!

[@Hotrodmonk55]

Thanks soooo much for doing this!

[@StoriesnSteel]

Thank you!!

[@ronjon5386]

I wish I had a chance at that job working with a master

[@jameslong1644]

This is crazy I goy into sign paint as a grocery store sign painter in the Antelope Valley in SoCal in about 92 and a friend of mine taught me the basics and introduced me to Sign Craft where I saw Jeff's work for the first time and between him Bert, Rob Cooper among many others I was hooked. In about 1993 I was driving down the freeway when I came upon a slammed Astro van lettered and stripped to insanity and I started yelling at the guy like I was mad he waved at me to follow him which was right off the freeway to his job and it was Brad he was stripping a flame job on a shoebox Chevy and I must have talked his ear off for as long as the job took seemed like 10 minutes but was probably 2 or 3 hours he showed me his portfolio and the magazine covers he had been on stating his goal was to be featured on the cover of Hot Rod by a certain age but he had made it way before then so he had to raise the bar. He was the nicest guy about a year later a local sign shop owner saw me painting signs at one of the local grocery stores I was doing work for and offered me a job it was mix of vinyl and paint we did a lot of amusement park work and metal letters years went by and in 2005 after working up to production manager and art director I moved on and eventually landed about an hour from my old home in a little town with no reliable sign guy and have never been this busy and as a bonus I've gotten to pick up the brush again because everyone wants the real thing now. Man what a pleasure watching this!

[@StoriesnSteel]

Wow!! You just made my day! I remember the "crazy" guy on the freeway chasing me down! That's so cool! Glad you're keeping busy and happy you enjoyed the show! More coming soon!!

[@jameslong1644]

@@StoriesnSteel man I remember that day like it was yesterday! Sign painting and the sign industry is the only thing I’ve ever been able to stick with that I didn’t get bored with in a year or two. Really glad you’re doing this channel looking forward to more episodes!

[@RafaelLopez-fx5rc]

Tengo nervios pero si quiero hir al baile

[@franko2k]

I'm a little surprised he didn't mention The Godfather of Jersey artists,Julian "Mr.J" Braet. 😎

[@StoriesnSteel]

I actually think I brought J up while we were talking, but I needed to keep it whittled down time-wise. It could've been a two hour episode! 😁