In a world where design software dominates, Chris Dunlop—better known as Pinstripe Chris—chooses Sharpie markers and airbrushes. You see his work on muscle cars, hot rods, and even an all-electric Nissan Ariya. He takes tools you find in a drawer and uses them to transform cars into rolling artworks. Dunlop’s story stands out because he didn’t enter the art world through classrooms or galleries. He started in body shops, painting and restoring cars in Maryland, and shaped that experience into a career that now has collectors, automakers, and enthusiasts seeking him out.
The Artistic Evolution: From Auto Painter to Automotive Artist
Pinstripe Chris @pinstripe_chris grew up around cars, learning his craft as an auto painter. The work taught him everything about form, light, and color on complex surfaces. His path shifted when he picked up an airbrush and later a Sharpie. What began as experiments soon became signature projects, like the Sharpie Mustang and Sharpie Camaro, done with nothing but permanent markers and raw nerve.
In 2017, he and his wife Caitlin packed their lives into backpacks and moved to Huntington Beach with no jobs waiting. He took a gig at a local hot rod shop and sketched at night. Within a year, his art commissions sustained him full-time. That leap set the stage for projects with major companies and a growing reputation as the artist who could turn any car into a one-of-a-kind piece.
Signature Techniques: The Analog Approach in a Digital World
Dunlop works by hand. No undo buttons. No digital shortcuts. Just markers, airbrushes, and paper. He lays down color cells with Sharpies, then blends transitions with airbrushed paint. The process demands precision and confidence—mistakes stay put. He sees that permanence as part of the art.
What makes his big projects unusual is how unplanned they are. When he covers a car in Sharpie designs, he doesn’t map every inch. He fills the space as he goes. You watch it unfold in real time. Clients trust him with cars worth tens of thousands because they know the final result will push boundaries without losing authenticity.
Cultural Significance: Preserving Hand-Rendered Art
Hand-rendered automotive design is vanishing. Dunlop keeps it alive. He points to influences like Chip Foose and Steve Stanford, masters of the tradition, and sees his own work as part of that arc. He won’t replace digital rendering, but he offers something different: an art form that feels immediate, human, and imperfect in the best way. Sharpies on classic Mustangs. Airbrush on exotics. Electric cars dressed in circuit-board motifs. You recognize his touch instantly, and you see the tension between old-school craftsmanship and new technology.
He also reminds people that you don’t need expensive tools to make important work. Permanent markers cost a few dollars. The bigger investment is the willingness to take risks when others hesitate.
Notable Projects: From Muscle Cars to EVs
The Sharpie Mustang kicked off his reputation. A 1999 GT covered in hours of marker work, eventually sealed in clear coat, proved durable and unforgettable. Then came the Sharpie Camaro and other builds that spread his name across custom car culture.
When Nissan wanted its electric Ariya to stand out, it turned to Dunlop. He gave the crossover a body of circuit-board-inspired graphics that connected its futuristic battery system to its surface design. Before that, he decorated a Nissan Z using a simple black felt-tip pen. He’s also tackled challenging renderings, like PAC Racing’s ’49 Chevy truck, where he had to make patina and rust look real on paper—a project that tested every inch of his technical patience.
Chris left a stable shop in Maryland to gamble on Southern California. That decision shaped his career. He and his wife built their business together, and his encounters with long-time heroes like Chip Foose gave his story full-circle moments.
What sets him apart isn’t only the art but the way he approaches work. He doesn’t bend to endless client revisions. He trusts the process and asks clients to do the same. He stays grounded despite the attention. Interviewers call him one of the most approachable people in the industry, and you sense that in the way he retells his journey.
Future Vision: Automotive Art in the Digital Age
Cars are going electric. Autonomous vehicles will reshape how we use them. But Dunlop shows that art still has a place in this shift. His Ariya proves that even EVs can wear design narratives that fit their technology. As cars grow mechanically similar under the hood, exterior art will matter even more. People will want ways to stand out, and that’s where his analog artistry fits.
He blends usefulness with expression. His renderings help a car builder plan a paint scheme, and at the same time, they hold value as standalone artworks. This crossover between utility and creativity hints at where custom car culture is going: a merging of design, art, and personal storytelling.
Chris Dunlop’s art feels both rebellious and deeply rooted. He trusts permanence over polish, flow over planning. When you see a Sharpie Mustang or an Ariya covered in asymmetrical lines, you see more than decoration. You see an artist turning something familiar into something personal and lasting.
He once said he finds quirks more interesting than perfection. That’s the key. Perfection fades. Quirks endure. In the end, his true canvas isn’t just cars—it’s the belief that art, in all its mess and spontaneity, still belongs in your daily life, even if it comes from something as ordinary as a Sharpie.
Every Artist Has a Story. What’s Yours?
Whether you’re just getting started or have been creating for years, your story matters. At Art Tellers, we share real voices from real artists—what drives you, what you’ve learned, and why you keep going.
This is a space for honesty, inspiration, and connection. No filters. No hype. Just people who love to make things and aren’t afraid to say why.
Want to share yours? Send it to info@arttellers.com. We’re listening.
