Bushwhacker to illustrate your Ferrari, etc.

Thanks David,

Most of the time I rough out and compose the illustration in pencil first to work out the details and missing information. But other times, depending how brave I feel I'll go right to ink. When working on the composition I'll do a number of variations until it just feels right, can't explain it.

 

Thanks Grant, I saw your illustrations. Very nice, I love the fresh feel they have.

Bush...

 

Just found this blast from the past. Probably did this about 1976 for one of the motorcycle magazines.
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Jack,
I used to use "Dr Martins Dyes" but now use an improved fade resistant india ink based colors by Dr martins dyes as well. You can get them at any good art store.

 

Thanks, Yeah, there were a couple other great automotive illustrators as well at the time, Richard Corson and Bill Neal.

 

Here's a couple new illustrations of Ferrari's I did last week. The 'Superamerica' here was at the Malibu car show a couple years ago. What a great venue, on the grass overlooking the Pacific on a warm sunny day. Great cars and great people in a wonderful environment.
Until some research I didn't know that most all of the Superamericas were different by the owners choice of components from the factory, some had side vents, some didn't, some had hood scoops, some didn't, etc.,etc. I wonder if the owner of this car is a member here at FChat? Beautiful!
The Enzo pictured here was just a couple spaces away from the Superamerica at the same event. What can I say about the Enzo and it's namesake ?......nuff said, just amazing.
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Worked on this over the weekend, a 1937 Auto Union "Avus" Streamliner
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New off the drawing table, a 348 Ferrari engine in it's bay, next if I'm correct it's Enzo in 1947 and finally a very strange Factory car carrier from Mercedes in the mid fifties, enjoy.
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Mucho thanks,

Well as the old adage goes it's what you leave out is as important as what you leave in. I like to play positive against negative shapes, the subject matter doesn't matter. It's where you want the eye to go. Sometimes people have asked me why didn't you finish the drawing? at which I really don't know what the answer is, I know it sounds funny but you have to listen to that little voice inside that tells you when to stop and when enough is enough, you just feel it.When I was a Director/Cameraman on commercials the same thing holds true when composing a shot, it's just a gut feeling of what feels right, you have to learn to make a decision, stand by it and move on, it's a strange discipline.

 

Well, here's a little illustration for all you Porsche fans. It's a car I saw a couple years ago at Cars & Coffee in Irvine Ca. My notes say it's a replica of one of the Porsche LeMans Carrera's. If I remember right it was a very well done and an eye catcher. I just took a section of the car as I thought it was interesting in a teasing kind of way.
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Hi David,

I don't have a website as of yet but everyone keeps asking so I might in the near future. Unless I am commissioned by a publication, corporation, etc. I really draw for the pure enjoyment of the drawing process, it's really relaxing and contemplative and at the end you have a feeling of accomplishment. I know it's a weird metaphor but it's almost the same as mowing my lawn, the smell of the fresh cut grass, the row by row process of cutting and the end result of a beautiful lawn, then in a week you get the joy of doing it again....strange huh.
Well, each illustration is different as far as how long it takes, it depends on the complexity and content. For example I posted an illustration of a 348 engine a couple weeks ago, it took about three days. I start out blocking out the drawing roughly and may do two or three really rough compositions bringing in different elements such as typography, other cars or related objects , people etc. I let the car tell me where it wants to live, each is different.
A really simple drawing can be four to six hours initially but then I go back in and detail it, another three hours, etc. Detailing in my style requires whiting out the ink 'hand smears' where I have brushed against the surface before the India ink has dried, sometimes I use a hair dryer to speed up the process of drying. Also at this time I may correct some really bad miss-strokes of the pen. I also walk away from the drawing from time to time and come back to it with a fresh look.......this is very important in the process to me as you see things in a different way and make judgment calls along the way. But, when I'm drawing I am very focused and try to work with a fluid pen stroke rather than belabor it and worry about every little line, personally I think a loose line adds freshness and character to the overall look and feel rather than mechanical.

 

Thanks Jason, really appreciate it............Dennis

 

I've got a 288GTO on the list, love that car!. I'm sure a beautiful 308 will work it's way in there someday.