MAY '08 - INTERVIEW #1 VESA YLI To kick things off with a bang, our first professional painter is Finn Vesa Yli, Vesa is one of the best painters in Europe at the moment and his work can be seen driven by top drivers like current Euro’s champion Teemu Leinu and Martin Hudy as well as many of Team Xray’s display and packaging work.

SS: When did you first start painting and how long did it take for your to realise you had a talent for it?
Vesa: I started with painting my own buggy and 1/12th scale bodies in ’95 when I also started racing. at first I only made a simple designs and with basic colors with a spray can. After I got more in to racing I changed my painting and colors all the time to find the right colors to please my eyes. After I got success in races, people asked to get some help with paintings if possible. At first I did only a few paintings every now and then for club drivers and stock drivers. Then in ’99 –’00 Sakke Ahoniemi asked me to paint a body for him for the Worlds. I felt really happy for being able to make bodies for such a great driver  and that made me a bit nervous about the quality. But that's when the things got started. After that I have got plenty of drivers in the team using my paintings all around the world, hopefully the quality has also improved since those times.

SS: What painting tools do you use to help you achieve your results?
Vesa: I always use Badger 100LG airbrush with all the graphics. With paints I have tried many brands but after I got a change to try SpazStiz special colors I have been sticking to them when I need to make something special. Other tools I use are liquid mask for preparing the bodies for the cuts, and different kinds of tapes for details.


SS: Are there specific styles of work you enjoy doing, ie patriotic styles, lots of detail, replicas, flames etc?
Vesa: I have a design periods all the time. If you see my early paintings and go through them you can easily see what was the “thing” in each period. I used to like ripped and and indented lines like with XRAY trademark bodies I have done. Nowadays I have went more to straight lines and more simple designs with bright colors. But the contrast always needs to be good, that’s why I prefer to have either of the main color to be darker. And I love the details made with chrome!


SS: What is your least favourite aspect of painting?
Vesa: Definitely the light weight bodies. New style bodies are very thin with material and doesn't last as long when painting has been done by cutting the design on the body with liquid mask.

SS: Do you have a favourite colour combination on a paintjob?
Vesa: For years I have used the same color combination on my race bodies, I only had some years in the middle I tried something else. But now I am back again with the Metallic grey, orange and yellow, the same colors I used at the nationals and at the 1/12th Euros with success, so I felt I will stick to these again so those seem to be the colours to combine at the moment.

SS: How and when did you first discover Spaz Stix paints?
Vesa: Over a year ago I had a great change to try the Spaz Stix chrome and I haven’t looked back to other brands since that when it comes to special colors and effect paints.

SS: When you paint so many bodyshells for top drivers and regular customers you need to get things perfect time and time again, what is it about Spaz Stix products that gives you the confidence to do that?
Vesa: One word, reliability. Every time I open a new bottle of Spaz Stix I can be sure the quality of the paint is equal to previous ones with no exception. Also with those pre-cut mask tapes, they are proof and give the sharpest edges when using “cut out designs” compared to others I have tried.

SS: The bodyshell painting market has become very competitive with so many talented painters out there, how do you manage to stand out from the crowd as one of the best?
Vesa: It has helped a lot that I have done promo paintings to XRAY for years and also to other companies. It seems that people just rely on those paintings more due to that. Its always nice to be contacted by new people who have discovered my paintings and want something fresh to race with.

SS: We're asking each painter for a top tip, do you have a tip you can offer visitors to help them improve?
Vesa: Go back to basics when you start. Start with easy and clean designs and do not try to make the most difficult themes in the beginning. Do not mess with too many color combinations, 2 or 3 colors are fine in the beginning. Play with colors on paper or with PC first. Well made simple design Is better than too complicated design with messy details. Just keep on practicing and you’ll get there, that's how I did. Nowadays all kinds of helpful materials like pre-cut masks are available to help to begin the painting hobby. So go for it!