Monday 28 September 2020

Juan Carlos Ferrigno


Born in Buenos Aires in 1960 where grew up and lived until he was 28. It was when he was only 10 years old that his father took him for the first time to the Buenos Aires race circuit to watch a F1 and Sportcars Grand Prix, he was that shocked and impressed by all about he saw that as he said once about that: “I felt as if falling in love with sportcars and F1 racing cars… in a very special way I felt captivated by the Porsche 917, and I perfectly remember I was not hungry for almost 2 weeks!”, At this point, he did not realise how relevant that fact was in his future life, as he had come across one of his two passions. The other had already loomed from his infancy, for he showed his affinity and interest in drawing and all about art at the school, however from that memorable day watching racing cars, he always chose drawing both sport and F1 cars instead of other themes.
It was in 1978 led by his own desire for painting, mainly racing cars at that time , Juan Carlos entered The Fine Art School, and soon he found a job in one of the most prestigious graphic design companies in Argentina where he started his professional career as an illustrator.
“I will be always thankful for having been the opportunity to develop and learn at once, I could interchange both the knowledge I learnt at Fine Art School, and the one I was obtaining by means of that job. That was definitely fundamental for me to learn and acquire a higher level method and the development of my skill.” explains Juan Carlos.
In 1985, even before he graduated he took part in several projects for important clients such as, Marlboro, Renault, Aerolineas Argentinas amongst others.
Once he finished his Fine Art studies in 1988, he moved to Ibiza (Spain) and a year later he moved to Barcelona where he still lives today.
In 1994 he held his fist “solo” Motoring art painting Exhibition, and so he started his full time career as an auto artist.
He entered the 1st. International Motoring Art Competition, and was awarded with the 1st prize among more than 260 artist’s entries from all over the world. The event was organized by a prestigious English company Planners International Events (P.I.E.), who were dedicated to promote and manage Motoring art painters.
He didn’t just win the 1st prize, but he was also approached by them to be painting under their management and he agreed.
In 1997 working with PIE management, he published more than 50 Limited Edition Prints of his original paintings, as well as commissioned original works and he held at least one “solo” exhibition a year around Europe and mainly in London.
In 2000 Juan Carlos was published his first book; “The Motorsport Art of Juan Carlos Ferrigno” by Christopher Hilton. Apart from motorsport Juan Carlos also started painting and depicting music which also suited his style of work. He had his first “solo” Music Art exhibition in 2003 “The Art of Music” at the Mall Galleries in London which was a great success. Through this he was also involved with “Hope for Tomorrow” foundation which became the first unit medical mobile centre with the unique aim to help and give support to families to cope with cancer.
From then and always under PIE’s management, since 1988 he has had several paintings exhibited at the F1 Paddock Club, where he normally attends the exhibition personally, getting commissions and also working on new originals.
Ferrigno has exclusively been working both his motoring and art of music together with Chris Mills, and altogether he has achieved such a different and unmistakable style, therefore has accumulated a lot of enthusiasts and clients around the world who recognize and love his way of painting.
His work is collected and appreciated worldwide. Here are a few names who own some of his work; the British Racing Drivers Club (B.R.D.C), Eddie Jordan, Jody Scheckter, Mika Hakkinen, Jaques Villeneuve, Juan Manuel Fangio’s Museum, Ayrton Senna’s Foundation, Ross Brawn, Ron Dennis, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Cliff Richard, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards just to name a few.
Today after 25 years, he continues fully dedicated, always trying to capture real motion in his work. His new addition to his portfolio is Marine Art paintings. He held his first exhibition on yachting and marine art in 2005 at Protocol-VIP hall at “Salón Nautico de Fira de Barcelona”.

You can find out more about Juan Carlos, see more of his works and contact him on his website here.

Also, you can follow him on Facebook here.

Motorsport is our Passion






Saturday 12 September 2020

The art of Sven Warren Simpson


Sven is another one of our featured artists who was self taught. He was born in South Africa, although these days, he lives in the UK.
Without any formal classes he picked up drawing and eventually got into automotive art in 2001.
“I’ve always had a passion for cars – and so I think it was a natural move to make from general art to automotive art” explains Sven.
In 2004 noticing the interest in his work, he moved to the UK where the interest grew in an amazing pace and included commission work.
His work has been featured in various international magazines, including Truckin’ Magazine, Colored Pencil Magazine and recently a UK based Hot Rod Magazine.
He has also been able to publish a free drawing and shading tutorial, as well as his Illustrated book – Automotive Art. Recently he has approached by the editor of Rod Authority to do an a multi-view illustration of a 1936 Ford that they are building.
“I see my artwork as a hobby, a place where I can relax and enjoy Art” Comments Sven, “where I can assist others in the improving their artwork. With every drawing I do I still learn many techniques, new ways of doing things – I strive with every drawing to take my art to another level”.
Well, we are certainly impressed by the quality of Sven’s work and can only recommend that you follow his progress in the coming years.

You can find out more or keep in touch with Sven via his website here.

Also, why not follow Sven on Facebook here.

Motorsport is our passion






Monday 7 September 2020

Don Packwood

 

This week's featured artist is Don Packwood from New Zealand. Some of his work can be viewed below in the gallery, but first here is a little about him.


Totally self taught, Don started paining in oils since he was just eight years old! He has developed many techniques in his style of painting and later started specializing in motorsport subjects.

Don is the resident motorsport artist to the International Art Centre in Parnell Auckland and The Champion Brock Experience in Queensland Australia.

He works full time and most of his work is by private commissions, for automotive enthusiasts and collectors. He has also been commissioned by organizations in the motor industry as well as the Bruce McLaren Trust, Child Cancer Foundation and Karting NZ, to name just a few.

Don exhibits at many events internationally and domestic. He has exhibited in the UK, USA and Australia and examples of his work hang in many international fine art collections.

I think we can all appreciate Don's outstanding talent and international reputation.

This was written about Don by the late author and journalist Eoin S. Young

Don Packwood is a brilliant motor-sporting artist who appeared with a display of his paintings at Hampton Downs. Each one was exciting and accurate, with a flourish that captured the spirit of speed. Motor racing art is incredibly difficult, as some of our local artists show us, but each of Packwood's paintings on display was worthy of purchase. Usually there are perhaps a couple in a show of eight or 10 that I might consider purchase, given the wherewithal. Packwood scores 10 out of 10!

Eoin then goes on to write… in Eoin Young's Diary, September 2010. Victory Lane.

"Packwood seems almost puzzled at his success at the easel".
"My knowledgeable Pommy mate David Greeney describes Packwood as combining the abilities and spirit of famous British motor racing artists Roy Nockolds and Frederic Gordon Crosby and I wholeheartedly agree".

Don's work is now available through the Queenstown Gallery of Fine Art, New Zealand.

You can look him up on Facebook HERE, or check out his website for more on THIS LINK

We feel privileged to be able to share some of Don's work with you below. As always, please respect copyright.