Hot Rod Art in July 2023
It’s amazing how fast the summer goes! It seems like I made my last post just a couple days ago, and it’s already time to recap my hot rod art in July 2023.
I started the month with this VW drawing. Volkswagens always seem to be a popular item at shows, and I was sold out at the beginning of the month. I started this piece by sketching a classic VW beetle on canvas, and rendering it with Sharpie and black Copic markers.
I wanted the car to really pop off the canvas, so I used red acrylic paint around the outside of the car for contrast.
My favorite paintings are very chunky and layered with the paint use. I made sure to spare no paint in adding texture around the car. Finally, I used black paint to tie in the sides of the canvas to the car. I love this style and the way the car turned out!
My next July project was this ’57 Chevy sketch. I have drawn a ton of 1955 Chevys – and it’s one of my top three favorite cars – but I’ve hardly drawn any 1957 model cars. It’s curious, being that it’s got an arguably more iconic face.
I first started out with a plain line sketch on white cardstock.
This sketch started out as a stylistic study for me. I picked four of my favorite drawing styles and rendered the scanned line work using each.
The first style is this classic black and white, rendered using sharpie and Micron pens.
Next, I rendered using this negative technique with a thick outline around the car. I love the attitude this one gives!
This style is similar to the first, but with a red outline. I think the red outline gives a certain edginess to some hot rod drawings, but I don’t love it on this drawing.
Finally, I rendered this version using Copic grayscale markers. Putting it to a vote on social media, this was definitely the most popular style. I chose to render the original line drawing using this style, but in a little lighter shade.
I found this chunky aluminum frame to hang the drawing in, and I think it really goes well together!
My final drawing in June actually wasn’t a hot rod at all. I also really enjoy drawing boats and ships of all styles. Most notably, I’ve drawn two Edmund Fitzgeralds this year. I wanted to do something a little different, but representing size so I drew the last ship to make contact with the Mighty Fitz, the Arthur M Anderson.
I love this perspective because it really shows off the scale of this monstrous ship! Even though she is painted red, I love the black and white style on ships.
I rendered the ship using black Copic markers and white charcoal pencil. She’s framed in this funky midcentury frame I found at the antique show.
What’s extra cool about this legendary ship is that she still sails on the Great Lakes! As I’m writing this, she’s currently on the north end of Lake Michigan approaching the Mackinac Bridge! That’s my recap of hot rod art in July 2023. Stay tuned for August!