Since 2007, he also has been creating the annual PPG calendars. The pieces are sought out by auto buffs who prize Mayabb’s artwork. The 2012 items will be available for purchase at the PPG show truck during its scheduled show appearances throughout the coming year.
“We are fortunate to have such an amazing talent available to us,” said Randy Cremeans, PPG, marketing director, collision sector refinish. “Darrell just gets better and better every year, and we get more and more requests for his calendars. He is a genuinely gifted artist who loves cars. I can’t think of a better combination of qualities.” Mayabb’s association with PPG began in 1996 when one of the PPG regional managers noticed Mayabb’s illustration work in Rod & Custom, Hot Rod, Street Rodder, and other major hot rod magazines.
He brought Mayabb together with PPG to generate ideas to attract people to the company’s booth at National Street Rod Association shows. Mayabb successfully responded with colorful drawings that drew fans to the PPG exhibits. He was subsequently commissioned by PPG for several original art projects.
Impressed, PPG asked him in 2007 to channel his talents into the annual calendar. It became one of the most popular car calendars in years. Mayabb’s love of cars and art dates back to his youth. As a young man in the 1950s, he was influenced by the big names of hot rod design—“Big Daddy” Ed Roth and Tom Medley, creator of the “Stroker McGurk” cartoon character series in Hot Rod , which led him to develop his artistic style known for its color, line, and cartoon qualities.
He attended the Central Academy of Art in Cincinnati and graduated at the top of his class in design. Early in his career, he was the illustrator on the NASA Apollo project. He has also designed cars for NASCAR race team owner Joe Gibbs and painted a portrait of Dale Earnhardt for Chevrolet. In 1999, his industry peers awarded him the Stroker McGurk Award for outstanding work. Today, Mayabb lives in Colorado, where he works in a barn he converted into his studio.For more information about PPG, call (800) 647-6050 or visit www.ppgrefinish.com. For more information about Darrell Mayabb, visit www.automotivegraffiti.com.
