Paint My Love

Spray painting is like love - it's never easy. As I've experienced being the shortest and youngest at Axalta Training Centre in Bangkok, there are multiple steps that you need to take note of, with the 'prerequisite' of having the ability to pay attention to the slightest of details.

Like getting to know your lover, there's much to learn. There are the scrupulous 'mix and match' and, of course, the painstaking 'trial and error' phase - all of which are standard 'packages' you need to have and go through before you can attain your final product of full-blown painted love. Of course, with my possessive nature, there is a possibility I'm overdoing it with the meticulousness.

You see, to attain a specified colour like Lamborghini Orange or Mazda's Soul Red isn't as easy as breathing. The necessary mixture of a certain amount of paint with an exact amount of thinner must be faithfully carried out in order to achieve a colour that is accurately consistent. Now, while patience isn't exactly my best 'P' virtue, there are other 'Ps' I have to consider before ensuring the job is well done.

Positivity: Remember the time when you have to apologise to your lover even though you're not at fault? It's the same when it comes to spray painting. You did your best to mix the colours but because you've got yourself a kitty cat customer, you've got to redo the mixture and apologise for it. Stay positive.

Passionate: It's simple. Kiss her like you mean it. In other words, spray every single panel with your heart and put your mind to it. The rewards are unique.

Peaceful: Don't make decisions when you're sad and make unnecessary replies when you're angry. Similarly, don't even think about touching the spray gun when you're feeling upset. The last thing you want is to pay dearly for a messed up spray job.
I selected the Lamborghini Orange as my target colour and a golden 'gun' as my preferred weapon of choice. It was a two-stage system, where the orange will go onto the panel first before I had to lacquer it with clear coat. Suited up in an overall and with little ventilation and no experience, I worked on my panel. It was so hot and stuffy that my balls were stuck to my thighs and I was sweating my heart out. But that's the thing, I thought if I worked hard, focused and perspired enough, my panel would be the best in town. Turns out, it's quite the contrary. In fact, it's an utter failure.

My instructor and training manager, Chris Ortega, said, "No one can tell you how much spray is enough. You must use your own eyes to gauge. You'll get better with experience." He's not wrong. Like love, spray painting requires ample practice and many mistakes. I suppose we need to do the best we can until we know better because more often than not, what messes our heads the most in life is the picture in our minds of how much better it could have been.

So I sat down on the couch with my fellow compatriot from Torque, Singapore's number one automotive magazine, and wondered to myself: This is one of the hardest lessons for me. I enjoyed the ride because it took me to some remarkable places. I made some mistakes but I did learn from them, which is immensely liberating.

I may be the shortest and youngest spray painter at Axalta Training Centre in Bangkok, but I bet you I've got the biggest heart in town.