It's All a Matter of Opinion

Sept/Oct 2018 edition
Issue #1 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Steve Austin

Automobile Art is as old as the first automobile.  In fact it was the automobile artist whose talent promoted the sales, the events and, of course, the first races, giving us a glimpse of what was to be. 

The thousands of artists who have since arrived on the automobile art scene are as varied as the vehicles they painted.

So, who was the best, you may ask?  Just like the race drivers, it’s all a matter of opinion.  For someone who is totally talentless, even painting a fence is a challenge, I refuse to become that horrible character, the ‘art critic.’  In fact, I prefer to go at it from a far more friendly angle. 

While, quite obviously there are icons who have graced the walls of collectors, there are also many journeyman artists who have depicted and brought fantastic moments to life.
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"Sir Stirling Moss" by Masha.

I purchased my first piece of art at a very young age.  I didn’t even recognize it as such.  It was a set of Christmas Cards advertised in the Autosport weekly magazine.  A set of ten pictures of my Formula 1 heroes.  Of course I had no interest in sending off the ten Christmas Cards, even if I knew ten people to send them to; these cards were mine.  It took me many years of collecting these annual treasures before it dawned on me that someone had actually painted them.  Starting from a blank sheet to...yes!... A work of art. That wasn’t a revelation, but more an understanding of what a talented artist could do.  These were paintings that were real - images of light, shade, speed, almost sound.   ​

"Monte Carlo Rally 1964" painting by Nicholas Watts.

I started to truly study these people, some who splashed color, some who caressed the paper with watercolor, some whose detail was so intense you believed at first it was a fine photograph, and some who were so brilliant you were absorbed into the painting.  I loved it, maybe too much, as my ‘car art’ collection got larger and larger.  It was only a matter of time before I needed to move some to allow for new ones. I was precariously close to becoming that object referred to as an ‘art dealer.’  A dubious recognition! 
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The ensuing, now twenty-eight years, has been quite a ride.  I’ve traveled around a large part of the world to various venues, met many of these talented people and come away with definite perceptions.  

In my art business I represent three artists, each different, each extremely talented.  That doesn’t mean they are the best, that is something for each viewer to decide.  To me they are a great combination, each offering a different perspective.  

The painting ‘Beau Rivage’ was commissioned from Alfredo de la Maria of Argentina.  A master of light and balance.  You can feel the intensity of both drivers, Nuvolari and Varzi.  The excited crowd and the depth of detail makes this one of my all time favorite pieces.  
 

"Beau Rivage" painting by Alfredo de la Maria.

Nicholas Watts is a purist, his paintings are perfect portrayals, his cars are alive with sound, they even conjure up the smell of hot engines.  Take the scene portrayed.  Lights blazing, racing through heavy snowfall.  In my opinion, no one can hold a candle to this artist for pure emotion.  

Masha, is a recent addition to my displays.  A young Ukranian artist, now living in the US.  Her portrayals are brilliant.  The painting she did of Sir Stirling Moss is one of my favorites, however, equally good are other pieces - Andretti, Steve McQueen, Dan Gurney, and more.

In future articles, I will try to address the value of art, both in personal enjoyment and in personal gain.  Meanwhile, look at paintings... and imagine...the artist bringing it to fruition.

Steve Austin​

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