My laser-cut Ferrari GTO

For my laser-cut stainless steel Ferrari GTO piece, I chose to show Mexican driver Pedro Rodriguez on his way to winning the 1963 3-Hour Continental race at Daytona. Rodriguez was racing 250 GTO #4219.

This race later became the now famous 24-Hours of Daytona.

My laser-cut GTO piece is power-coated stainless-steel, hand-painted with white highlights, is 25"x 10" (63.5cm x 25.4cm) and weighs 4 lbs.

It's been featured in Motor Sport (UK), Wheels Canada, Classic Motorsport (US) and Octane (UK) magazines.

I'm only doing a very limited edition of 10 copies. If you are interested in acquiring one, please contact me at paul.chenard@hotmail.com

Wheels.ca Gift Ideas

With the Holidays racing towards us at break-neck speed, gift ideas might be dancing in loved-ones heads.

I was very happy to see that Gary Grant of Wheels.ca has done a feature on gift ideas in the current Fall/Winter issue.

He has feature my large laser-cut stainless steel Ferrari GTO limited edition (of 10) art-piece.

Merci, Gary!

Motor Sport Magazine – November 2012

Started as the Brooklands Gazette in 1924, the title changed to the current Motor Sport in 1925.

It is one of the oldest automotive magazines on the planet, and is certainly one of the most respected.

I have the huge honour of having one of my art pieces featured in the “Desirables” section (page 125) of the November 2012 issue of this wonderful magazine.

They are featuring my new limited edition (of 10) laser-cut GTO sketch from stainless steel, which I had powder-coated red. I then hand-painted the white details directly on the piece.

Mercedes-Benz W25

Until 1934, three automotive companies dominated Grand Prix racing: Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, and Maserati. Each year, these companies produced racecars that were faster and more powerful than those of the previous year.

The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR), the controlling body for motor sport in the 1930s, decided to change the requirements for the 1934, 1935, and 1936 Grand Prix seasons. The most important new requirement for the racers was that the maximum weight could not exceed 750 kg, excluding driver, fuel, oil, water, and tires.

The AIACR believed that Grand Prix cars were becoming too fast and reasoned that the change in weight parameters would limit the size of the engines used.

However, the AIACR had not at all taken into consideration the possibility of the manufacturers using new technology and lightweight metallurgy to create yet more powerful, efficient racers.

Mercedes-Benz saw an opportunity to move ahead, promoting their know-how and the sale of their products through Grand Prix racing.


Luigi Fagioli on his way to winning the 1935 Grand Prix de Monaco in the Mercedes-Benz W25.

I did this sketch while waiting for my Halifax flight at gate B05 at the Montréal airport on September 24th. The guy next to me practicing on his guitar; it was great to sketch to this guy's music.

Pen&ink, paint markers and markers on gray archival stock 12"x 9" © Paul Chenard 2012

Mercedes-Benz took a traditional approach with the front-engined rear-drive racer, but also took a serious look at using innovative aerodynamics and lightweight materials to give them an advantage. A steel-blocked 3.36-litre straight-8 supercharged engine powered the new Mercedes W25, and it was wrapped in a beautiful aerodynamic aluminum skin, with all-round independent suspension.

In that first year of the new formula, they won the Coppa Acerbo, the Italian Grand Prix and the Spanish Grand Prix. For 1935, they won 9 major races, giving driver Rudolf Caracciola the European Championship.

Spa 6 Hours Classic 2012

After our long weekend at the fabulous Goodwood Revival as vendors, Nicolas Cancelier and I went to the Spa 6 Hour Classic race as spectators.

I absolutely love going to that event on such a historic track. The countryside is beautiful, and the track is very challenging. The sights and sounds are amazing!

Sports Car Digest has done a feature on the races that weekend; you can read them here:
http://www.sportscardigest.com/spa-six-hours-2012-report-and-photos/

Last year at the same event, my camera died, and I've yet to replace it. I've thought of my roll as an artist, and decided to do at least one sketch at each event, instead of photography.
Lola T70
Pen&ink, paint markers and markers on gray archival stock © Paul Chenard 2012

This time, I set up behind a friend Jason's beautiful Lola T70, and sketched the exposed V-8 and it's sinewy headers and exhaust pipes, and trumpeting brake-cooling ducts.

Photos can never really compare to live art ...

The Goodwood Revival 2012

Another year older and deeper in debt, as the song goes ...

Going to the Revival as a vendor is not for the financially faint-hearted, especially if you are from outside Europe.

Wonderful British artist and friend Anna-Louise Felstead graced us with her presence.

That said, it’s a 3-day 13-hour-per-day adrenaline rush of sights, sounds, contacts made, art sold, friendships renewed, experiences shared … a very hard combination to resist.


We were visited by Mrs Carroll Shelby, a lovely warm-hearted person ... a huge honour for us.

My friend Belgian automotive artist Nicolas Cancelier and took another “leap of faith” and returned as vendors again.

Nicolas and I working on our art in the open
Photo © Matt Jacques

There were numerous changes in the event organization this year which directly hurt our sales. On the positive side, new contacts and relationships nurtured have a direct result of the hatching of large interesting projects with interesting people.

While at the Revival, I met Mrs. Carroll Shelby, Mr. and Mrs. Henri Pescarolo, Rowan Atkinson, Tony Brooks, Jean Alesi, Sir Stirling and Lady Susie Moss and Murray Walker.

We also met some wonderful artists and business owners.

The next few months will be very telling, but for the optimist in me, things are looking bright indeed.

Laser-cut Ferrari GTO

In mid-summer, I received an e-mail from BrandMetal, a Nova Scotia company promoting the fact that they could laser-cut your logo out of stainless steel.

I contacted the owner Mathew to find out what they need to make it happen. The idea I had was to do a pen&ink sketch and have them laser-cut it. I found the contrast of a hand-rendered sketch being laser-cut from steel very intriguing.

After much stumbling around to produce something BrandMetal could actually use, I had the stainless steel cut and powder-coated in red.

Once I got it back, I hand-painted the white highlights onto the red surface. I did the N.A.R.T. logo in colour to create a focal point. 

Everything that you see in black on the piece represents my original sketch, and has been actually laser-cut out, even the Cavallino Rampante of the N.A.R.T. logo! Everything that you see in black in the first photo represents the original sketch. The whole piece is 25"x 10" (63.5cm x 25.4cm) and weighs 4 lbs.

I'm only doing a very limited edition of 10 copies. If you are interested in acquiring one, please contact me at paul.chenard@hotmail.com

I'll be showing it off at our Goodwood Revival Market Stand #61; drop by to see it!
I'll be following this piece up with a blue Cobra Daytona Coupe.

Goodwood Revival 2012

As those of experience know, you can't not return to the Goodwood Revival.
© www.johncolley.com (Fabulous photographer!)

And so Belgian automotive artist Nicolas Cancelier and I are going back. We are both very excited to return to see old friends, and to meet new ones.
© Dirk de Jager (Another fabulous photographer!)

Please come find us at the Revival Market Stand #61.

And don't miss our daily morning and afternoon show!

Sebring 1962 - The GTO Starts it’s Winning Ways

The 1962 12 Hours of Sebring was one of the first major races for the brand new 12-cylinder Ferrari 250 GTO.

The initials of this famous racer stand for "Gran Turismo Omologata", Italian for “Grand Touring Homologated”.

The Phil Hill/Olivier Gendebien driven N.A.R.T. GTO #24 was very successful in the race, not only beating all the cars in the GT Class, but finishing the race 2nd overall.

In my most recent sketch below, The N.A.R.T. and Scuderia Serenissima Ferraris are being prepared the night before the race.
Behind the GT Class-winning N.A.R.T. GTO, Luigi Chinetti chats strategy with Phil Hill. In the background is the race-winning 250 TRI/61 of Jo Bonnier and Lucien Bianchi.

Original available, as are limited editions.
Pen&ink and markers on white archival stock
18"x 14" (45.7cm x 35.6cm)  © Paul Chenard 2012

3rd Annual British Motoring Festival

A few months ago, I was asked to design and illustrate the poster for the upcoming British Motoring Festival, a British motor event that includes not only cars, but other motorized vehicles. The poster celebrates the 50th anniversary of the MGB, which is, without a doubt, the world’s best-known sports car.

Well, the Festival is now on our doorstep, happening this coming Saturday, July 21st.

I’ll be there with my booth, showing off my art, doing some art, and signing the posters, which will be on sale at the event.

It’s being held on the lovely grounds of Kings Edgehill School in Windsor, Nova Scotia, starting at 10 am and wrapping up at 4 pm.

Please drop by if you make it to this wonderful event. Mr. Bean will even be there, carrying on with his Mini!

Photographer Allan de la Plante

Over the past few years, I’ve followed a path of highlighting automotive motor sports history through my art. And all along the way, I’ve been blessed with meeting wonderful people … Nicolas and Dirk in Belgium, Jennifer and Stephen in USA, Lyndsay and Ralph in the UK, John in Scotland, Peter and Rob in Canada …
Allan (left) talking to his friend Bobby Rahal 
Photo courtesy and © John R. Walker 2012

There are many many more, all of whom I can call my friends. Another one of those special people is sports and motor sports photographer Allan de la Plante from British Columbia, Canada.
"Four into Four" © Allan de la Plante 1976

We connected a few years back, through a friend of a Facebook friend, and through his FB albums I became aware of his fabulous photography, and in particular, the wonderful photos of his dear friend Gilles Villeneuve.

On Monday evening, Allan was at the Halifax airport, a stop-over on his way to Newfoundland. He notified me of this, so my friend Alan Coles and I scooted out to meet him.

I have to say that it was to have Allan there in person … what a heck of a guy! It was like meeting an old friend for the first time!

We had all but 10 minutes to chat, but Allan graciously signed my Villeneuve book and my Canada Post Villeneuve stamps, talked with pride about his old son’s forays into motor sports photography and golfing, and then told us 3 quick motor sports stories, none of which I can publish!

Now, I have a goal of meeting up with Allan again, and spending more time listening to one a greats of motor sports photography. Merci, Allan!

Jaguar’s Return to Le Mans

At the end of the 1940's, Jaguar the car company decided to enter the world of racing, fielding their successful XK 120 sports car. And they went after one of the biggest motor sports, the 1950 24 Heures du Mans. Unfortunately, clutch failure ended their quest.

For 1951, they created a lightened, rebodied version labeled the C-Type, and succeeded. Their C-type won again the prestigious race for 1953.

They followed up with a totally new racer christened the D-Type, and won the 1955, 1956, and 1957 Le Mans races.


The Office – Jaguar D-Type CockpitPen&ink and watercolour pencils on white archival stock
© Paul Chenard 2009

The company continued with the development of other racers, but with little success.

In the early 1980's, Tom Walkingshaw Racing (TWR) took a Jaguar XJS to a win of the 1984 European Touring Car. With this success, Jaguar decided to get officially back to racing.

With company support, TWR developed the Jaguar XJR-6 for the 1987 season, and it finished 5th at Le Mans. With their other successes in the season, Jaguar won the World Sports Car Championship.


Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9LMPen&ink, paint markers and markers on purple archival stock
© Paul Chenard 2012
For the 1988, TWR built the all-new XJR-9LM. For their assault of the famous French endurance classic, Jaguar had Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace driving their beautiful racer.

Thirty-one years after their previous Le Mans victory, Jaguar was finally in the winner’s circle again.

My First Gallery Show Opening!

On June 23rd, I had the opening of my very first gallery show!

I was interviewed by Radio-Canada's arts reporter Nathalie Geddry.
All photos © Alexander Henden 2012

Thanks to friend and organizer Alex Henden, my show took place in the lovely Pavia Gallery – Expresso Bar & Cafe.






Alex and Chris had also made the gallery opening a fundraiser for FEED Nova Scotia ... Bravo!

It was a wonderful, well attended opening on a beautiful Father's Day. Friends and family showed up, along with car lovers, art lovers and lovers of Italian food ... and the coffee and food there are fabulous!
Artist, chef and gallery-owner Chris Webb doing some of his Espresso art.

There was some lovely eye-catching rolling art sitting in the parking lot too.




My show continues through till July 7th.

Automobiliart Gallery Show!

Well, I'm a just few days now from my very first gallery show!

Design by Alex Henden

It takes place at the wonderful Pavia Gallery at 995 Herring Cove Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Sunday June 17th (Father's Day!) The show runs until July 7th.

We expect a good showing of some very nice cars.

I hope you can join us!

And remember to bring a packaged food donation to FEED Nova Scotia!

"Silver Clouds" Book Art Wins Award

The art for my limited edition, self-published book "Silver Clouds: The 1934 Grand Prix Season" has won the Applied Arts Magazine Illustration Award in the category "Complete Book Illustration".

It's a huge honour for me for the art of this book to be recognized.

Fangio Monaco T-shirt Launched

Retro Formula 1 in the UK has just launched a new t-shirt based on my “Fangio Monaco 1957” pen & ink sketch.

Pen&ink of vellum 8"x 10"
© Paul Chenard

In my opinion, they’ve done a lovely job of the art on this t-shirt.
© Retro Formula 1

You can pick one up through this link to their website:

http://www.retroformula1.com/Fangio/formula1_Fangio57_SHOP.html
This reads pretty high of the “Cool” meter!

A Passion for Art & Motorsports History

Some people start their passions early in life, while others slowly get around to it.

I guest I fit in the latter category; I started collecting vintage racing toys and reading of motorsports history when I was thirty years old. That was almost 25 years ago, yet I’m still discovering new things and having more and more fun along the way.

Then there are the younger set who’s passions start very young, usually introduced to them by their parents, a sort of passion passed on …

Recently, I was contacted by Jenny from the USA who wanted to acquire some of my art. They were decorating their son Lucas’ room, yet found my archival limited editions a bit over budget, and my greeting card sets a bit too small.

With this in mind, I decided to make available affordable 10”x 8” open edition prints. Jenny choose a selection, I had them printed up, and shipped them out to her.

Yesterday, I received the wonderful note and photos below:

Hi Paul,
I am so sorry it's been so long since I replied back to you. Life has a way of sweeping you along and before you know it ... two months go by before you get around to that email!
Anyways, I just wanted to tell how great the prints look! They are such a nice addition to our son's room. Again, we appreciate so much that you worked with us so that we could enjoy your art in our home :)
Our sweet boy is actually only 10 months old! But he will grow up with that art around him. He is all boy and already likes cars and makes car noises :)
Our 11 year old son thinks your art is pretty sweet too! Here is a pic of how we hung up the prints. (snapshots never do it justice, the room looks awesome!)
Thanks again,
Jenny

Passion can come in very small packages!

Carroll Shelby 1923-2012

Carroll was a firstly a racer, and a successful racer at that.

He started in MGs, and quickly moved up to Allards, Ferraris and Maseratis. He joined the Aston Martin racing team, and shared a win of the 1959 Le Mans with Roy Salvatori.

Health issues forced him out of racing shortly afterward, so he set up a driving school.

Ken Miles in an A.C. CobraPen&ink and pencil crayons on corrogated cardboard
© Paul Chenard
His European experience showed him how more advanced the European and British sport car chassis and suspension setups were against their American counterparts.

He reasoned that a British sports car fitted with an American engine could be a successful combination. He ordered a modified A.C. Ace body and chassis and fitted it with a Ford engine. From Autumn 1961 till late Summer of 1962, Shelby American developed the A.C. Cobra into powerful performance sports and race car.
Shelby Cobra 289Pen&ink, paint markers and markers on blue archival stock
© Paul Chenard 2012

Orders flooded in and the car was a success. A further development of the Cobra came as an aerodynamic coupe, in a form more apt to beat Ferraris at the long distance races such as Le Mans.

 
Cobra Daytona Coupe – Le Mans 1965Pen&ink, paint markers and markers on blue archival stock
© Paul Chenard 2012
The Cobra Coupes beat Ferrari for the 1965 GT Championship, and Shelby was also instrumental in Ford Motor Company’s successful GT 40 wins at Le Mans for 1966 and 1967. At the same time, he developed their new Mustang into successful track car with the GT350. 
Ken Miles in a Shelby Mustang GT350Pencils on white stock, digitally painted
© Paul Chenard
Though working in performance development with mostly Ford, Carroll Shelby also worked with Dodge and Oldmobile. He was a “tuner” before the word was even coined!

Shelby American has also continued creating “continuation” Shelby Cobra roadsters.

Carroll Shelby saw opportunity where others didn’t and followed through with his vision and goals. Very few can match his legacy.

Villeneuve – 30 Years Passing …

Though it has been a full 30 years today since Gilles Villeneuve was lost to us on that track in Zolder, his fearlessness, passion and driving art are forever remembered.

Villeneuve at Zolder 1982

© and courtesy of Paul-Henri Cahier

The Cahier Archive

He had the love of his public, and the respect of his fellow drivers. He did not play politics or games, and raced with his heart, sometimes pulling off the seemingly impossible.

Villeneuve at Monaco 1981

© Paul Chenard 2011

Three decades after his death, the love of his public and the respect of his fellow drivers are just as strong …

Cheers to you, Gilles!

Porsche in Formula 1

When someone thinks of Formula 1, the Porsche name does not necessarily come to mind. That wasn’t always the case though.

In the late 1950’s, Porsche was finding success in the sports car and GT classes of racing, sometimes beating out the much more powerful teams. That was the case for the 1956 Targa Florio where the Porsche 550 of Umberto Maglioli and Huschke von Hanstein won the Sicilian race against the Maseratis and Ferraris.

In the late 1950’s, Porsche decided to try their hand in the 1500cc class F2 races with the Porsche 718. In 1961, the former F2 class became Formula 1, so Porsche went F1 racing with the 718.

It’s 1957 design showed itself as outdated, so Porsche produce a new car, the 804, for 1962.

Porsche 804 Formula 1, rear view, 1962
Pen&ink, paint markers and markers on gray archival paper
17"x 12" © Paul Chenard 2012
This original artwork is available, as are limited editions

American Dan Gurney brought Porsche their first and only Formula 1 win as a constructor, taking the French Grand Prix at at Rouen-Les-Essarts on July 8th. Gurney also finished 3rd at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on August 5th.

With the upcoming Formula 1 rule changes, Porsche decided to withdraw from Grand Prix racing in 1964 to focus on sports and endurance racing.

In 1983, Porsche returned to Formula 1 as an engine developer through TAG for McLaren and helped them win the 1984 and 1985 Constructors Championships.

MGB 50th Anniversary

50 years ago, a little British car splashed onto the market that defined the idea of “sports car” to the masses.

The MG (Morris Garages) Car Company was started in Oxford, United Kingdom in the 1920’s by Cecil Kimber. They produced small 2-seater sports cars from the beginning, and produced some very successful models, some of which received class-wins, not to mention overall wins, in competition.

In the late 50’s, the company started looking a replacement for their MGA, their premiere sports car. They wanted to create a more modern, more comfortable, and more effective car that would appeal to a broader audience.

The result was the MGB. Launched in 1962, it was an instant success. The proof of this is shown in the fact that it was built until 1980! 

Pen & ink, paint markers and markers on white archival watercolour paper.

Original art available, as are limited editions.

Current sports cars of today, like the Mazda Miata, or even the BMW Z8, are to varying extents inspired by the MGB.

There are enough still around today to bring a big grin to anybody’s face.

Art inspirations ...

Whenever I have self-doubts about why I'm doing my art, I just read a letter like this and it becomes very very clear.