Process
Every commission starts with a conversation. Not a price.
HandShake work is collaborative from the first message. The piece you end up with is not the one I imagined when you wrote in — it’s the one we arrived at after a few rounds of listening, sketching, and looking at references together. That iteration is the work. The painting only starts once we’re both certain.
- Inquiry. Tell me about your project. A few sentences about the instrument, who it’s for, and anything that’s already in your head. Reply within five business days.
- Conversation. A call or a back-and-forth by email. I listen for what the finish has to say — the meaning behind the commission, the player, the moment. We compare references, pull from album art, sneaker soles, vintage Cadillac swatches, whatever opens the right door.
- Mock-ups. I sketch and digitally mock the direction. Sometimes one round, sometimes three. We don’t move on until you can see the piece in your head clearly.
- Specification. Once we’re aligned on the design, I write up what the build requires — base colors, technique (kandy, flake, crushed glass, blends), clear schedule, hardware decisions, lead time.
- Quote. After all design decisions are made and the materials and hours can be estimated honestly. One number. Half down to lock the slot.
- Color samples. For custom mixes — especially pantone matches — samples are sprayed and approved before any final coat goes on the shell.
- Build. Photographed across every stage. Marquee commissions ship with a printed build book documenting the whole arc.
- Final inspection. Mil thickness, gloss, hand-feel. The piece either passes or it goes back to the wall.
- Delivery. Packed, labeled, shipped with tracking. Signed certificate of finish included. Local clients welcome at the shop by appointment.
I don’t color-match new work to an existing drum or kit. Every commission is its own piece, made on its own terms. If the goal is a matched set, that’s usually best handled by the manufacturer at build. If it’s a stand-alone piece that lives alongside others, I’ll help you find a direction that holds its own.
Why limited slots
Twelve marquee and thirty-six signature commissions a year. Two intake windows. The work asks for sustained attention, and there is one set of hands.
Materials
Automotive-grade urethane base, kandy, and clearcoat systems — the same chemistry used on custom motorcycles and lowriders, applied with the patience drum shells deserve. Real crushed glass, metal flake, and hand-mixed pantone matches when the piece calls for it. Documented per project so every recipe is reproducible.