Your car illustration can end up in a personal art gallery in a whole different country.
This is not an exaggeration.
Art is all about generating emotion.
For us enthusiasts, the connection with our cars, those we deeply care about and bond with, is very strong.
You can create an illustration that is just "another drawing" for some, but can be so important to one particular person.
This is the story of my latest (and so far only) illustration from 2024.
Today's topics:
- The genesis
- My art in a gallery?
- Cars connect people
- How you can also start with 0 previous experience
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The genesis
During the first months of the year I started a new illustration.
A Mercedes-Benz W113 Pagoda.
This happened right after Shami Kalra, founder of Omologato watches and huge automotive and motorsports enthusiast, got one for himself.
I spent most of the first half of the year learning photography, preparing for my second ever visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This was the main reason why I could not create more artwork in 2024.
The trip would also be my first drive from the Netherlands to the UK, ferry included.
What I didn't know is that I would meet Shami in person after interacting with him for years online.
When I learned he was going to the Festival of Speed, I knew I had to finish the illustration. It would've been a shame to meet and then think "oh, I wish I brought a print".
I put in the effort and finished the illustration, which I'm very proud of. Got it printed and brought it with me to the UK.
My art in a gallery?
Shami received the illustration with much joy.
This was a pleasure for me as well, as I absolutely love when my art sparks pure happiness in people.
Weeks later he shared a video showing the illustration and the car that inspired it.
He said that he appreciated how much it made him smile and said it would go perfectly on his wall in the gallery. I was over the moon and can't wait to see it.
โCars connect people
6 years ago when I started illustrating, I never thought my art would:
Decorate full blown playroom walls.
End up in personal art galleries.
Allow me to meet my favourite people, race car drivers and teams I look up to.
But here we are! And I can't wait to see what the future holds for our future artistic endeavours.
How you can also start with 0 previous experience
There was never a better time to start illustrating cars.
You don't need to learn how to draw.
You don't need to spend years practicing until you get something you are proud of.
Some of the biggest challenges for aspiring artists are:
- Not knowing how to start
- Not knowing how to draw
- Not knowing what software to use
- Not being able to come up with ideas or things to illustrate
- Being able to create traditional art but struggling with digital tools
And I know this because I asked you, and also because I was where you are now in 2018.
A car enthusiast interested in creating automotive art but feeling a bit lost.
I learned from a ton of different resources.
Back then, there was not one single resource that mixed creating art with automotive examples, so I had to spend time gathering mixed information and figuring out how to apply to my interests.
That is how my free course called "0-100: How to illustrate a car from reference".
It's a course that I would have loved to have when I started.
If you:
- Don't know how to draw.
- Don't have time to figure it out on your own.
- Know nothing about digital illustration software.
then this course is ideal for you.
You can read more about what's inside by visiting this page.
There you can sign up for free, just with your email and get started right away.
The course is self contained, and nothing is held back.
You start from 0 and end up with a finished illustration you will be proud of.
โGive it a shot and if you do, please let me know! I'd love to read what you loved and what can be improved on it.
That's it for today. If you enjoyed it, let me know! See you on the next one.
All the best,
Juanma from Creating Lightly
PS: A quick update for extra precision. I got in touch with Shami some time after writing the email above to see where he was in terms of hanging the illustration in the gallery. He shared that the plan changed from gallery to his own office. I guess that can be called an upgrade, since he will be able to see the artwork more often? :D
โ