Music and  the female form are two things that greatly appeal to Humble resident Ray Gatica. And he's found a unique way to express that through art.

    Gatica is an airbrush artist who spent several years in the commercial industry, airbrushing images onto cars or flames onto motorcycle tanks.

    These days, he's spending less time on metal that comes attached to wheels, and more time on metal small enough to hang on your wall.

Art deco inspired 
    "I have three images that are inspired by the Art Deco period of the 1920s and '30s," said Gatica. "I like that elegant look and feel.

    "I'm inspired by Art Deco stuff, exaggerated forms of males or females. I've also been inspired by high fashion figures. And I like the jazz feel, too."

    Gatica has captured all of those things in his series of three paintings, a collection he plans to add to and exhibit sometime next year.

    Light my Fire is a jazzy piece depicting a jazz musician on his knees, passionately playing a saxophone with flames shooting out of the instrument.

    Texy is a high-fashion cowgirl sporting a six-shooter and Texas-star badges for earrings. 

    Turning up the Heat features a woman in a striking orange dress with a big bejeweled bolero hat, Art Deco-style green hat, long green stylish silk gloves and soft colorful flames in the background.

    Creating airbrushed metal art is time consuming. Gatica spends weeks on each piece.

Lengthy process 
    First he has to prepare the metal with primers, followed by a sequence of layering colors and clear coats, allowing time for drying between each one. He also wet sands the piece to even out the surface. 

    Gatica said one must have a steady hand when airbrushing on small pieces of metal to avoid overspray."If not controlled, the final product appears fuzzy, out of focus, messy and amateurish, "Gatica said. "The better the control, the better the art quality."

    Gatica had the chance to show  his pieces last June during an art