From the Pages of THE TON #9 Triples Paint Works
If it were not for motorcycles, Andrew Riffle probably wouldn’t have a career. “I’m so happy I found motorcycles,” says Riffle, “It was my first vehicle I owned, my first time learning anything mechanical, first time traveling on my own; it’s taught and given me so much.” It all started for Riffle in 2013 after getting his own bike. “I wanted to get it painted by Max Schaaf at 4Q,” says Andrew, “I had no idea how much it cost but I loved his work, turned out I couldn’t afford it, so I started trying to learn by myself in my backyard.” During this process Riffle would reach out to Schaaf to ask for painting advice, “He ended up giving me a ton of pointers and I’m super grateful for that,” said Andrew.
After finishing up his own bike, Riffle would go on to paint the majority of his close friend’s bikes and which would him get the hang of the basics of painting. After two years of painting and sharing his work online, Riffle began getting jobs from out of state. With a desire to learn more as he was gaining more clients, Riffle also took on work in a restoration shop.
“I always told myself I would go on my own once I got too busy to go to work,” says Riffle, “I started having parts piling around me while I’m going to work every day. So, I talked with my boss, and he pretty much told me ‘you’re ready dude’. I went and got my shop and started getting after it the next day.”
Starting a new business is not without hurdles, and Riffle’s experience was no exception. “I had to get my shop in order while also cranking out some work,” says Riffle, “But the biggest hurdle for me was mental. I’d be doing a paint job that I was really happy with but then the little voice in my head would be saying shit like, ‘you don’t have enough work, you don’t have enough money, what the hell are you doing.’ I would and still do constantly remind myself that these feelings are normal and you just gotta keep showing up every day – the work will come.”
Before long the work did come, as well as a growing fanbase online. Andrew acknowledges that the internet has been foundational to his business. “Most of my work comes from Instagram,” explains Riffle, “I’m thankful for that.” Despite a quick launch into business, Riffle is having less issues with needing more work. “But… had I known now what I didn’t then, I would learn to slow down,” says Andrew, “Ninety-nine percent of mistakes happen when you’re trying to hurry.”
For now Riffle is keeping his mind set on the long term. “I am here for a long time not a good time,” says Riffle, “I’m just trying to keep working hard, staying positive, and enjoying the process. I’m already blown away by where it’s taken me, I plan to continue learning and getting better.”