Educated in architecture and aero engineering, Craig Fraser started Air Syndicate as an airbrush studio in Firenze, Italy, in 1990. Upon returning to the U.S., Craig hooked up with Dion Giuliano of Kal Koncepts fame in 1992. Craig is now the in-house airbrusher, pinstriper and co-designer for Kal Koncepts. For the past decade Kal Koncepts/Air Syndicate has been a driving force in the automotive and motorcycle kustom paint industry.
Some of Air Syndicate’s previous clients include: “Jesse James” West Coast Choppers, Arlen Ness, House of Kolor, Colorado Custom, Trenz, General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler/Viper, Bones Concepts, Rick Dore, and many others. Craig has been the designer for Kal Koncepts from their first cover feature in 1992, and is in for the duration.
“There have been a lot of painters, and workers that have gone through our doors, the benefit of our partnership is that we know the importance of each others contributions. What we have done in the last decade has been a team effort.” “I love it when the competition counts us out,…that’s usually about the time another cover hits the newstand…heheheh.”
Craig is also a freelance automotive photojournalist, and has worked for such publications as Autographics Magazine, Hot Rod, Truckin, Lowrider, Minitruckin, Streetrucks, Airbrush Art+Action Magazine and Airbrush Action. He pens the advice columns “Paintbooth” for Streetrucks Mag and “Paintime” for Autographics. The author of the best selling kustom paint book, “Automotive Cheap Tricks, and Special FX,” and the recently released, “Pinstriping Masters.” Craig has over a dozen how-to videos currently on the market, with new self-produced DVDs currently being released.
Craig created the hands-on automotive workshops that he taught in Airbrush Action’s getaway series for over eight years. A certified instructor for Valspar, House of Kolor, and PPG. he currently teachs hands-on workshops for Coast Airbrush, House of Kolor, Iwata/ASET and AIWA, both here, and overseas.
Craig continually developes new airbrush products through Coast Airbrush and kustom stencil designs through Artool. Craig credits the key to the success of Kal Koncepts/Air Syndicate on three factors – quality, innovation and diversity. By contantly searching for new aspects, venues and mediums in the kustom paint industry, Craig and Dion have kept ahead of the competition, and will continue to challenge the boundaries of the kustom kulture.
“This industry is what you make of it. If all you want to do is sit around and hold court…You’ll get what you deserve…ridicule. To make it in kustom painting, you have to be constantly pushing the envelope. Don’t worry about the competition, just paint and let them worry about you!”
Keep an eye out for Craig’s new hands-on workshops for graphics, murals and pinstriping coming to your local ASET/Iwata jobber or vocational school near you. The events calendar on this site will keep you informed of any upcoming seminars or workshops in your area, as well as the hands-on mural and graphics workshops taught through Coast Airbrush, (714)-635-5557.
Craig is also putting together the sequel to his first kustom paint book. Keep an eye out for it at a jobber or a Barnes & Noble near you.