New member from Nova Scotia

Automobiliart · #1 05-11-2012, 10:29 AM

Hi all
Thanks for having me here.
I'm a graphic designer with a passion for Grand Prix and Sports/GT racing history, and since 2007, I've been doing art on this history.
Recently, I've started working with aluminum in my art.
My first piece is a tribute to James Dean driving his Porsche 550 Spyder on his last drive. I created the Porsche-part of the art in 18 gauge aluminum sheet.
Shortly, I'll be doing a couple of piece representing the pre-war Mercedes and Auto Union "Silver Arrows" GP cars.
There seems to be some fabulous metal work here so I hope to learn a lot.
Cheers!
Paul Chenard
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Automobiliart.com

David Gardiner · #2 05-11-2012, 02:53 PM

Hi Paul, welcome to allmetalshaping.

David

dammit · #3 05-11-2012, 03:25 PM

Nice to see another "Bluenoser" on here. Welcome from the deep south west of the province. Be sure to post pics of your work.

HEATNBEAT · #4 05-11-2012, 10:38 PM

Hi and welcome Paul!

doug_walter2002 · #5 05-12-2012, 04:15 PM

Welcome Paul, I'm a big fan of your work from the Canadian Motor Sport History Group.

Peter Tommasini · #6 05-12-2012, 05:26 PM

HJ Paul welcome to the forum
Peter

Automobiliart · #7 06-05-2012, 08:24 AM

Thanks for the welcomes everyone.
I've always been fascinated by metal work, i.e. cast and shaping. In the late 1970's I worked at a pewtersmith's shop where I learned a lot about pewter.
I've been interest in sheet metal, so I created a "James Dean" piece where I did his Porsche 550 Spyder in 18 gauge aluminum.
it was a lot of work, all done by hand on the kitchen table (I don't have a studio), but it worked.
I've attached it here; the piece was featured in the March issue of Classic Motorsports magazine.

James Dean - Immortality.jpg

What do you think?
Cheers!
Paul

David Gardiner · #8 06-05-2012, 03:20 PM

Hi Paul,I like it, what did you do paint the alluminium allowing it ti shaow through where you wanted?.

David

Automobiliart · #9 06-05-2012, 03:38 PM

Hi David
Thanks very much.

The Porsche 550 Spyder is on 18-gauge sheet aluminum, which I engraved, and sanded to suggest the body contours. I painted on the detail (badging, headlights, graphics) with oil model paint and pen&ink. I then cut it out with a coping saw, filed and sanded it, and finished it in gloss varnished. The Porsche is about a 1/4" off the canvas ...

The background is acrylic on 70 year-old unused canvas board (my dad's), Dean and his mechanic are in pen&ink and archival markers on illustration board, on which I also illustrated the wheels in Prismacolor pencils.

The size of the piece is 16"x 12" (40.6cm x 30.5cm), unframed.
It's framed in a black floating frame ...
I included part of a quote of his that I found appropriate for this.

All in all, about 30-40 hours of work, all by hand.

I'm currently working on 2 pieces for the Goodwood Revival featuring the "Silver Arrows" from 1937. This time, I'm having the aluminum cut by water-jet; it's a lot more cutting, so I'll save about 30 hrs of work. An acquaintance has a laser cutter, so down the road, I'll give that a try too.

Cheers!
Paul