Jon Kosmoski
Jon Kosmoski: The Master of Kustom Paint
The vibrant colors, the shimmering metallics, and the eye-popping finishes of custom motorcycles and hot rods owe much to one man: Jon Kosmoski, a pioneer in custom paint who revolutionized the industry with his innovative techniques and unmatched vision. From humble beginnings in his mother’s basement to founding House of Kolor—a company synonymous with custom paint excellence—Kosmoski’s journey is a true American success story.
From Basement Beginnings to Breakthrough Innovation
Jon Kosmoski’s fascination with custom paint began shortly after he graduated high school. Like many young enthusiasts, he started small—painting helmets and motorcycles for friends in the makeshift workshop of his mother’s basement. What began as a hobby soon turned into a career path, and before long, Kosmoski opened a small body shop where he could expand his talents and pursue his passion full-time.
By the mid-1960s, Jon had moved beyond simple paint jobs. He recognized that the limited palette available to custom painters was holding back the creativity of the industry. So, Kosmoski began manufacturing his own line of vibrant, eye-catching Kustom Kandy Finishes. These vivid colors stood out against the dull hues of traditional automotive paints and quickly gained a reputation for their unmatched brilliance and depth. House of Kolor was born, and the world of custom paint would never be the same.
A New Era: Solving the Pigment Crisis
The custom paint world was thrown into disarray in the late 1950s when Nitrocellulose Lacquer—the go-to paint for customizers—was discontinued. The new replacement, acrylic lacquer, presented a unique challenge for custom painters. Unlike Nitrocellulose, which acted as a natural dispersing agent for pigments, acrylic lacquer struggled to incorporate bright colors. The result? Muddy, muted tones that lacked the pop and brilliance that artists craved.
Kosmoski saw the problem early on and took it upon himself to fix it. “What I learned was that nitrocellulose was a natural dispersing aid for pigment, allowing any pigment to be used, whereas the acrylic was difficult for the pigment to incorporate,” Kosmoski explained. “Something had to be done, and I set out to find a way to incorporate clean, bright colors into this new crack-resistant acrylic lacquer.”
After years of trial and error, Jon finally achieved his goal. Through relentless experimentation and innovation, he developed pigments and additives that made acrylic lacquer colors as vibrant as Nitrocellulose Lacquer—and sometimes even better. This breakthrough was the first of many, solidifying Jon’s reputation as a leading figure in the custom paint industry.
The Kosmic Urethane System: A Decade in the Making
Jon Kosmoski didn’t stop with lacquer paints. By the early 1970s, he had turned his attention to the new urethane paints that were beginning to appear on the market. Urethane paints offered superior durability, but no one had yet mastered how to incorporate the deep, candy-like colors that made custom work so captivating. For Kosmoski, this was just the next challenge to tackle.
“It took better than 10 years of work, but I introduced the Kosmic Urethane system, with the Shimrin base coats,” Jon recalled. This revolutionary system allowed customizers to create finishes with a depth and clarity never seen before. Designed for a 15-mil thickness—more than four times the thickness of the average new car’s paint—Kosmoski’s urethane system was built to withstand the harsh conditions of the real world. He even included an extra ultraviolet absorber in his formula to prevent fading, extending the lifespan of a paint job far beyond industry norms.
“It’s not uncommon to see a paint job 20 years old with our products,” Kosmoski proudly stated. The Kosmic Urethane system set a new standard for durability and beauty, cementing House of Kolor as the go-to brand for custom painters looking to create show-stopping finishes.
From House of Kolor to Industry Icon
By the mid-1990s, House of Kolor was a powerhouse in the custom paint world, with sales reaching millions of dollars. Jon’s relentless drive for perfection and his willingness to share his knowledge made him a respected figure not just among painters, but within the entire automotive community. In 1997, Jon sold House of Kolor to the Valspar Corporation, a move that allowed his groundbreaking products to reach an even broader audience.
Although he sold the company, Kosmoski has remained deeply involved in the industry. As a consultant for Valspar, he continues to work on new products, ensuring that the legacy of innovation he built carries on. Jon also shares his decades of expertise through videos, books, and seminars, inspiring a new generation of custom painters to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
A Lasting Legacy: Creating the Art of Color
Jon Kosmoski’s impact on the world of custom paint is hard to overstate. From solving the pigment crisis of the 1960s to developing the industry’s first comprehensive urethane system, Kosmoski’s influence has touched every corner of the custom paint world. His dedication to quality, his drive to innovate, and his willingness to share his knowledge have transformed what was once a small niche into a thriving art form.
Today, custom painters around the globe continue to use the tools and techniques that Jon Kosmoski developed, creating stunning works of art on two and four wheels alike. And while House of Kolor may have grown into a global brand, its heart and soul remain firmly rooted in the spirit of a young man painting in his mother’s basement, determined to make the world a little more colorful.
For anyone who’s ever admired the gleam of a perfectly executed candy apple red or marveled at the depth of a shimmering metallic finish, Jon Kosmoski is more than just a pioneer—he’s a legend. Through his passion and perseverance, he not only transformed the custom paint industry; he helped create a new medium for artistic expression, one dazzling color at a time.