John Hannukaine: Still pulling lines

Back in 1997, John Hannukaine literally wrote the book on pinstriping with his Pinstriping and Vehicle Graphics, published by SignCraft. In 120 pages he outlined his approach to the art of fine lines, graphics and pictorials on vehicles, explaining the process step-bystep for those who wanted to try their hand at it. It inspired thousands of sign painters and pinstripers, and SignCraft still hears frequently from sign people who tell how John’s book has influenced their work. The book is still in print.

John has spent most of his life painting and carving signs and doing striping and pictorials on vehicles. Now 74, John is still pulling lines, painting signs, doing some artwork and getting in a little fishing, too. SignCraft spoke with John at the studio next to his home in Tumwater, Washington, shortly before the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I pinstriped a pickup yesterday,” says John, “and did a Lexus for another person a couple days ago. Last week I worked on a bike for a couple days. Today my truck is loaded to go to a body shop to do a project. My three boxes of gear are in the back of the pickup—that’s my little world.