The Blog Home of Paul Jamiol's Bikers are Animals

A place to talk about the books, the characters, art, motorcycles, riding or to check in to see what's going on with Paul and the critters.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Check out the detail,,,

I've teased a lot on this blog as the book came about with roughs, partial pages and close crops. Now that it's out there, here are completed pages 14 and 15 as the critters get ready to leave the parking lot at the start of their ride to the mountains.

All pages are full color with a whole lotta detail. Lin and I are really proud how it came out and hope kids everywhere get to see how cool these riding critters are.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

It's here...Yay!!!...



Now available...the first ad!

Monday, October 10, 2011

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.....

Critters, start your engines!...

Friday, October 7, 2011

Next week the critters ride!

©2011Paul Jamiol
This is it folks...You're hearing it here first! Next week the Bikers are Animals crew hit the road in their new adventure Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. The motorcycles are ready and packed and the weather looks great. All that needs to be done is updating the BAA web page and we're on the road. I'll have a follow up on Wednesday the 12th. We think you're gonna like this one!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

New characters...

©2011Paul Jamiol
There are a couple of new characters introduced in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. Ban-Tam the ridin' and bike buildin' rooster is one of them. He doesn't ride in BAA3. The crew meets at his custom bike shop before they head out on their ride. He's shown above riding, which he'll be doing in Bikers are Animals 5 - Let's Ride!...Oops, cat is out of the saddlebag!...I'm planning a BAA4 and 5...keep it on the low for now...more later...Paul

Bikers are Animals tattoos?...Only for adults and only at...

Bill Thomas and Paul (PJ) Jamiol

Bill's Shop
I've been asked if anyone can get a tattoo of the critters in my books. The answer is yes with two caveats...first, as long as the "about to be tattooed" is of age and can legally get one. We do not under any circumstances condone under-age youngsters getting tattoos (we may have stick-ons for the younger set in the future.)

The second is a very important caveat. These images are copyrighted and the only tattooist that has my permission to use these characters is my good friend Bill Thomas of Rosebud Tattoo in Sanford, ME.

Bill is a serious motorcyclist and has been around the motorcycle world as long as I have. He knows his stuff and has been a sounding board on the BAA books. I respect both his opinion and his art. Bill has inked me 8 times. So there you have it. Want a official "Bikers are Animals" tattoo?...go to Rosebud Tattoo in Sanford, ME and see Bill. His website is www.rosebudtattoo.com

Press release from the publisher Dog Ear Press...

The press release from the publisher is complete and will be going out (see below) and the BAA website is getting updated...It's a matter of days before the critters are blasting down the highway.

2011 – Biker Animals Hit the Highway for a Riding Adventure in Cartoonist’s Latest Release
Bikers Are Animals 3 - On the Road: A Children’s Book on Motorcycling
is released by author Paul Jamiol
When the weekend rolls around, it’s time to hop on a motorcycle and have an adventure. That’s the plan as Trash the bear and Akorn the squirrel meet up with their biker animal friends. They'll be going on a ride to the mountains for an overnight stay at their friend's cabin, in this new release. The group plans the trip for weeks, splitting up into small groups to handle every aspect of the trip from shopping for food to leading the ride. Right before heading out on their motorcycles, they discuss one more important topic: riding safely.
Bikers Are Animals 3 - On the Road provides a colorful, easy-to-read story that includes gentle reminders of respect and working together while having fun. The author’s fun-loving critters check over the motorcycles before riding them and watch out for each other once on the road. At the cabin, they play, relax and get together at a campfire to share stories, sing and enjoy their friendship. On the safety page at the end of the book, the critters spell out biker safety rules for children and adults. Children are reminded that real kids should always wear a helmet and listen to their adults.
This is the third in a series of children’s books by author/cartoonist Paul Jamiol that focuses on biker animals who enjoy being with their friends and doing the thing that bonds them...riding motorcycles. Jamiol, an avid motorcyclist, has been recognized locally, nationally and internationally for his artwork. His illustrations and cartoons have appeared in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. Linda Habib edited the book and contributed creatively. To learn more, visit www.bikersareanimals.com.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

The last teaser...

©2011Paul Jamiol
This is the last teaser for Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. This is a rough of Zag, Zig, Slick and Akorn in the campfire scene. Our two cool riding gorillas are toasting bannas while Slick and Akorn recap the day. The full scene has all the critters around the campfire having a great time.

Linda and I looked at the final proofs on Thursday and all that needs to be done is fix one spelling issue and we are good to go. It looks like we'll have a book in a couple of weeks right on schedule. So to our critters...Start your engines!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

It's time...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Prowla gives the signal that it's time to ride in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. She's also signaling that this riding adventure is at the printer and is on schedule for it's September roll out.

Friday, August 5, 2011

It's getting close!...and another rough...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Will be looking at first draft of BAA3 from printer later today...really excited that it's moving along so quickly.

This is another rough of the crew when they pull into the meeting place for the start of the run. The finished drawing as some serious detail!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

New old lens...old (2001) motor...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Got a new lens (Tokina 25-35mm...used but really nice) and took some pics of my bike. This is a shot of the 1600cc motor of my 2001 Yamaha Roadstar. In my eyes...a true beauty! For those interested, camera is Pentax K-7.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Prowla cleaned up...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Prowla is cleaned up from the initial rough of her and is enjoying her friends in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. She cleans up rather nicely and she knows it...Lookin' good Prowla!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Prowla rough...


©
2011Paul Jamiol
A rough of Prowla the Puma. She rides with the best of them and loves to play her guitar. This is a rough of her at the cabin in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. This is a crop of the original rough where she is playing her beloved guitar while Howlena howls along.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Biker Kidz and BAA Critters join together...


The Bikers are Animals Critters have joined up with Belt Drive Betty in her effort to raise some some money for the education and prevention of child sexual abuse.

They will be a part of the Biker Kidz 2012 Calendar. Each page will have a BAA Critter introducing a Biker Kidz. A portion ($10) of each calendar sale will go to either the Little Warriors or the Katlynn Stinnett Memorial Foundation. The buyer has a choice of which organization to support or can buy two calendars and support both.

The BAA Critters are extremely proud to be a part of Belt Drive Betty's effort to help abused kids.

You can order your calendar with the Biker Kidz and the BAA Critters at http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Slick lands back cover of BAA3...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Slick is one of the few, if not the only, riding pachyderms in the motorcycle world. That distinction plus his cool riding demeanor landed him the back cover of Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. When I asked Slick about this honor and how, if at all, it would affect him, Slick responded, "My agent will be in touch with you."

Thursday, June 2, 2011

It's done!...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road is done and at the publisher! Look for the critters on their over-night riding adventure this September.

Lin, Bandit and I are thrilled and the critters are chompin' at the bit to put the rubber to the road!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Pit Pass Radio interview...

Check out this radio interview I did with Pit Pass Radio. Click on link http://www.pitpassradio.com/ or logo and scroll down until you see pic of me and the critters.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Another BAA 3 preview...Bandit tinkers with his putt...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Bandit tinkers with his bike before the ride home from the trip to Roag's cabin in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. The book is almost finished and will be heading to the publisher next week. I'm excited, Linda is excited and the critters are raring to get on the road in the riding adventure for kids. We're looking at the end of September for the first copies. Full-collor illustrations will show the critters having a great time on two wheels!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

BAA3 preview...Roag on the Road...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Roag rides his ultra cool V-8 powered motorcycle in Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. He, along with his riding buddies from the first Bikers are Animals, take to the road for an overnight adventure.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Coming this Fall!...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Bandit on the final cover design of Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. Coming this Fall! Watch as this cool dog and his buddies go on an overnight ride to Roag's mountain cabin.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Bandit makes the cover of Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road!

©2011Paul Jamiol
Bandit, the hard-riding cool little dog from book one has been chosen for the cover of BAA3 - On the Road. When asked if the fact that his real-life counterpart is our dog and that might have something to do with it, he barked and growled that he is the best rider of the bunch and his bike is totally cool. Seeing I don't know how many of the critters check this blog, I'll just say the competition was tough and close. Lin was the final judge. Bandit will be on the front cover followed by that dresser-riding pachyderm Slick on the back cover.

The rough sketch and line-drawing is a preview of Bandit rolling down the highway in the cover shot. Look for BAA 3 this fall.

Friday, April 1, 2011

This is really cool!...

Motorcyclepedia, the official host museum to the Antique Motorcycle Foundation, is opening to the public for the first time on April 16. Check out this link www.antiquemotorcyclefoundation.org for more info. The opening exhibits look awesome plus an 85,000-square-foot facility with more than 300 motorcycles...now that's worth checking out! I'll be there covering event for the Motorcyclist's Post so if you decide to attend, pull me aside and say hi.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Knife and Fork...

©2011Paul Jamiol
This is a piece is for the Motorcyclist's Post Knife and Fork Report...a regular feature on dining spots for bikers along the road.

Cooking and ridin'...

©2011Paul Jamiol
This is a piece I recently did for the upcoming issues of the Motorcyclist's Post. The feature is recipes from Biker Billy and this is a little extra for those pages. Cooking and ridin'...watch those potholes!

Roag on the road in BAA3...

©2011Paul Jamiol
Another sneak preview of part of a rough... On these pages, Roag is on the road with his buddies. His V-8 powered mc is running smooth and strong!

Friday, March 4, 2011

That rough BAA3 preview now not so rough...

©2011Paul Jamiol
That previous rough from BAA3 a couple of posts down is now not so rough. The "garage meeting" pages are now complete. This is just one half of a full 2-page spread. I know I'm teasing with this but I'm excited about this book and want to share some of the progress.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Shinya's Mod Eater

©2011Chabott Engineering
Shinya Kimura is without a doubt my favorite bike builder. He is incredibly gifted. His partner Ayu is also gifted and brings an incredible karma into their mix. Lin and I were delighted to meet them at their shop Chabott Engineering in Azusa, CA last July. Shinya recently created a sculpture from pieces of metal and named it Mod Eater. You can see it on their site at www.chabottengineering.com

I took his piece a little further and put it on the ocean floor. Shinya's motorcycles and his non-bike creations inspire...that's what this illustration is about. One artist's originality and creativity inspiring another.

Sunday, February 20, 2011


©2011Paul Jamiol
This is a logo I just did for the "Critter Cruise" to be held this July in Massachusetts by a group of bikers. It's for a good cause and is a melding of bikers and hot rodders getting together to make it happen. I'll post a poster with all info when it gets closer to the event. Will be quite a sight rollin' down the highway!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A preview...

©2011Paul Jamiol
I've started Bikers are Animals 3 - On the Road. This is a rough of a meeting the animals are having to plan the trip. This is one half of a full-page spread. All of the animals from Book one will be doing an over-night ride to the mountains.
©2011Paul Jamiol
This rat-rod Sportster was on display at the Boston mc show last week. Love the whole look of it. Bad to the bone!

Friday, January 28, 2011

©2011 Hammer Down Jack Lydon
Two grizzled bikers (good friend Bill Thomas and myself) at the NY MC show last week trying to decide whether they liked the new blacked-out 2011 Indian. Both agreed that it was seriously expensive but overall liked it.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Back in 1991...

©2011 Paul Jamiol
Back in 1991 I was ask to come up with a design for a modern Indian. Here was my design. Overhead cam v-twin, driveshaft, some fancy body work and fenders. I thought it was pretty hot.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Close up...

©2011 Paul Jamiol
Close up of old school bobber engine at Providence, RI mc show.

Old School...Hard School...

©2011 Paul Jamiol
We went down to a bike show in Providence, RI over the weekend. It was great to be around motorcycles and mc people on a winter day in January. Really liked the look of this bobber. Got a chance to sit on it and it felt bad to the bone. However, if in my stable, it would only be for short rides. Hard tail, springer front end, small seat, foot clutch, hand shift, no front brake and short pipes with no mufflers. This is one a hard ride but I love the style and looks totally cool. Old school...hard school!

Happy New Year to all and I'm back!