Valspar

Saturday afternoon found me standing alongside a big tent where Jon Kosmoski, author of two Wolfgang paint books, did a totally kick ass demonstration on the basics of custom painting.

The occasion was the annual Wings and Wheels one-day car show and book sale in Osceola, Wisconsin (wings because there’s an air show as well) sponsored by Motorbooks, the company who published my first book twenty years ago. Despite the fact that Motorbooks is now part of a bigger company, and has moved out of their original building in Osceola, the party must go on.

Jon Kos as he’s known locally, doesn’t know the meaning of the word “retirement.” Instead of resting on his laurels after selling his company to Valspar some years ago, Jon just stepped it up a notch. Today he divides his time between doing seminars for Valspar and working seven days a week on his current project – a ’34 Ford in this case.

Jon Kosmoski, doing what he does best - share his passion for custom painting.

The best thing about Jon’s demonstration wasn’t the paint information or the diagrams on the big sheet of paper. The best thing about Jon, is his passion. His presentation was great because when he says “there’s nothing better than the satisfaction you get from taking something that’s ugly and making it beautiful” you absolutely know Jon believes that deep in his heart.

Jon is so good in front of a crowd I always think his second career choice could have been theater.

Sunday morning found me listening to another passionate man, another who could probably retire if he weren’t having a pretty good time doing what he does. Ron Covell travels the world teaching others how to take flat steel or aluminum and form a series of complex curves that just happen to match the fender lines on an old Ford or an early Indy racer.

Ron Covell, a man with two skills, fabrication and teaching.

Ron started out making bodies for race cars, today he spends most of his time teaching others how to do what he does so well. Watching Ron from the back of the room as he works to communicate with each student the principles of sheet metal fabrication, is to watch a man doing what he was meant to do. His approach is patient and carefully metered, but without any hesitation. Ron knows what the students need to take home with them, and he knows how best to convey those principles.

By Monday morning I was back at work, trying to make a dollar, and keep part of that dollar in the checkbook after everyone else is paid. It often seems that there will never be enough money in that account for that dream we all carry in our heads – retirement. After watching Jon and Ron at work though, that idea doesn’t seem so bad. In fact, I’m starting to believe that the key to not only a long life, but a happy life, is to find something you’re passionate about and do that – to the very, very best of your ability. I’ve been wrong all this time, it’s not about the money.

Ron demonstrating the finer points of hammer and dolly work.