Richard Markham Joins OTC
OTC announces addition of artist Richard Markham to its Custom Paint & Graphics program
CLEVELAND, OH – Ohio Technical College (OTC) announced the addition of artist Richard Markham to its Custom Paint and Graphics program. Markham brings his talent and creative vision to OTC and together they plan to launch his greatest project yet, a live airbrush tour titled “The Evolution of Life” with an 80 ft. tractor trailer for a canvas. In addition, Markham will be putting his professional stamp on OTC’s Custom Paint and Graphics program as an instructor and helping to develop the college’s new Advanced Airbrush Techniques program.
“We are excited to have Richard on board as an instructor, demo artist and creative advisor,” said Tom King, Director of Enrollment Management. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and new techniques to our programs and students and we are thrilled to be involved with his ‘Evolution of Life’ road tour. No one has ever seen anything like this before.”
The truck will also feature the first airbrush mobile classroom that will make scheduled visits to high schools and car shows throughout the country. In addition, the truck will be used to transport some of Richard’s hottest projects to date, including the 2000 Toyota Celica Ice Car, and two custom hotrods; a 1934 Ford Hemi 1000 (aka “The Devil’s Ride”) and a tribute car to the 1977 “Pumping Iron” movie; a 1932 Ford Deuce that was unveiled in March 2009 by Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Some of Richard’s former students will also be joining him on the tour to contribute to the live airbrushing of the truck.
“The tour will be an exciting event with the huge truck, mobile classroom and feature live airbrushing at car shows, malls and schools,” says Markham. “OTC has been supportive of the venture from the start and I am thrilled to have the full support of the college to move forward on several exciting new projects.”
Other joint projects in the works include live streaming classes from OTC into high school programs, instructor airbrush seminars, contests, scholarships, and partnerships with several major suppliers.
OTC, which was named the 2009-10 national School of the Year, will be expanding its high school demo program to over 130 schools this year and will participate in over 30 events. The addition of Markham to OTC’s existing airbrush artist Tom “Big Daddy” Banks, a former student of Markham’s and instructor/artist Mike Gold, will allow OTC to become a leader in airbrush and custom paint training.
About Richard Markham
Richard Markham has been airbrushing for 20 years. Completely self-taught, Richard started off with pencil sketching, cartooning, and eventually worked up to portraits and paintings. At 19 years old, Richard discovered the airbrush and has never turned back. His ability to produce high quality, detailed work in limited time has evolved into a desire to teach others. Richard has created his own system and techniques to teach airbrushing to those who proclaim they “can’t even draw a stick figure”. Throughout his career, Richard Markham has always explored his options as an airbrush artist. Some of his accomplishments include subcontracting for Six Flags New England, owning and operating his own chain of mall airbrush stores, featured articles in numerous magazines, and winning dozens of awards at car & truck shows. In recent years, Richard has been gaining recognition for his live airbrush demonstrations that he performs at car shows and high schools across the United States. Markham’s work can be seen on his website at www.richardmarkham.com and his products can be purchased at www.ultima-airproducts.com.
About Ohio Technical College
Ohio Technical College (OTC), the 2009 School of the Year, is an accredited private, proprietary technical school dedicated to providing premier technical training in the world of modern mechanics. An Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) college, OTC and its PowerSport Institute branch campus encompass nearly 800,000 sq. feet of classroom and workshop space. Drawing students from all over the United States, OTC offers technician training programs in Automotive, Diesel, Auto-Diesel, Collision Repair, Classic Car Restoration, High Performance and Racing, Welding and PowerSport Technology as well as specialization in BMW, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Custom Paint and Graphics, CDL Truck Driver Training, and Power Generator Systems. Motorcycle technician training is provided through the PowerSport Institute, a branch campus of OTC in North Randall, Ohio. For more information, write to Ohio Technical College at 1374 E. 51st St. Cleveland, Ohio, 44103; call 800.322.7000 ext. 163; or visit www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com and www.psi-now.com.
