Artist Spotlight

Artist Spotlight: Ryan Pistana

Alpha Prime Racing’s Creative Director, Ryan Pistana, shared his journey from console-game paint booths to designing some of the most memorable and eye-catching paints in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Steve Luvender

Nov 1, 2024 — 6 min read

Ryan’s clearly checking his Trading Paints notifications. Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana

Ryan Pistana is the Creative Director for Alpha Prime Racing, a team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. If you’re active in the Trading Paints Showroom, you might recognize his name from his dutiful uploading of team paints.

1️⃣ How did you get your start designing?

In elementary school, I would race to finish my tests so I could draw race car designs on the back side of the paper. Shortly after, I started playing NASCAR video games, and starting with NTG [NASCAR The Game] 2011 on the PS3, I would learn about the paint booth — and, man, it was rough at first.

My personal favorite is the Wheaties car where I spelled “Wheaties” incorrectly.

W-H-E-A-T-I-E-S. It’s OK, Ryan. We all start somewhere. *Image courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

In high school I utilized my photography class’s free Adobe login from home. Over time, I taught myself how to use the programs and started figuring out how to layer assets that I stole from online (sorry to whomever) and create my own driver-side templates.

Rough stuff in those early days compared to the heat that Ryan’s putting on track today. *Images courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

After a couple years of posting concept designs online, Tommy Joe Martins held a paint scheme contest before the 2019 season and chose my design.

An early design piloted by Ryan’s now-boss Tommy Joe Martins. *Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

2️⃣ Where do you turn for inspiration?

I find myself going back and looking at older designs I’ve made. I’m always looking to improve the overall look of a certain design, especially if it’s for a returning partner.

Ryan Pistana (left) and Ryan Ellis (right). *Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

I also have Ryan Williams, since he and I are constantly bouncing ideas and feedback off of each other. Sometimes he makes cool stuff that gives me ideas for the partners I work with. Don’t tell him I said that, though.

Ryan Williams (left) and Ryan Pistana (right). Whole lotta Ryans in NASCAR. *Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

3️⃣ What project of yours are you most proud of and why?

Even though they’re based off of other historical work, I’ve always been proud of each throwback design that I’ve done because they’re just fun to make.

Some throwback paints featuring iconic designs in NASCAR. *Photos courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of awesome sponsors that are willing to stay as close as possible to the original design we are trying to replicate. Hell, CW & Sons joined Brennan Poole this season and had a throwback design in both of their first two races — one being a Hot Wheels throwback that actually won best in show at Darlington.

Throwback designs driven by Brennan Poole featuring creative interpretations of the CW & Sons colors. *Photos courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

I’m fortunate the team allowed me to keep the trophy so it’s pretty cool to see that displayed every day.

4️⃣ From your perspective, what’s the value of a brand to invest in a well-designed paint scheme?

Extremely valuable.

I always tell sponsors that if you want to be remembered and talked about many years down the line, you have to make an impact with the design. I don’t think anyone will ever have the reach that the Rainbow Warrior or The Man In Black had with their designs, but that’s always the goal in mind.

Can’t miss this one on track. *Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

Something loud, eye-catching, or topical will always get a bigger response.

5️⃣ What’s your ‘trademark’ style that helps you stand out from other designers?

I’ll shout out Harris Lue who came up with this name, but he calls it the “Pike,” even though I don’t really know what that means.

Some of Ryan’s eye-catching designs featuring the so-called “Pike” style. *Photos courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

I often use a different form of this sharp, check mark sort of shape in front of and below the number. I just think it looks rad and can be incorporated in a lot of different ways.

I also use bold and thicker lines, and shapes with brighter colors that can be seen from further away. I try to stay away from anything that’s sort of pinstripe-like or too thin or else it just gets lost in the details.

Bold lines and bright colors. *Photo courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

6️⃣ Do you prefer working with partners and team members who have a lot of opinions and direction to offer, or do you like total freedom? What does a typical project with Alpha Prime Racing look like in this regard?

I’d be ridiculed if I didn’t say I prefer having creative freedom, but a typical project for me starts with the driver tagging me in an email with the partner so I can introduce myself and ask for vector assets or brand guidelines that the partner has. Once I receive those, I very rarely am given any direction and just go for it.

It’s probably less than 10 percent of the time that the first version I send back gets approved, but when it doesn’t, I work with the sponsor and bounce ideas back and forth with them until they are happy with the final product.

Sometimes it’s three emails, sometimes it’s 47.

Some more stunners. *Photos courtesy of Ryan Pistana*

7️⃣ When you’re not creating amazing artwork, what show, series, or movie have you been watching lately?

The Last Of Us is such an insane story and after playing through both games multiple times, I just finished re-watching season one of the show for the second time.

Also, the Smile movie franchise. I just watched the first one with Brennan [Poole] and our friends a week before the new one came out, and while in Vegas we all went to see the second one at the South Point. Absolutely insane. All-time, though, my favorite movies are The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Truman Show, Interstellar, and the Spiderverse movies.