If art is subjective, then automotive art is downright personal. Car enthusiasts often prefer works that focus on a very specific subject, usually their own car. For an artist to capture the essence of someone’s prized possession when the real thing is parked nearby takes a special eye.
I recently discovered the work of Texas artist Shan Fannin, whose photorealistic works require a second examination to confirm they are not, in fact, pictures. But while the details are amazing in their presence – tire treads and headlight refractors are like windows into the vehicles’ souls – it’s the lightplay across surfaces that really brings her paintings to life.
Originally trained as an art teacher, she returned to painting later in life after she and her husband began attending car shows together with their classic Thunderbird. Fannin painted a vintage GMC pickup at her husband’s insistence and discovered she still had the skills.
Her brand of realism harnesses the energy of her subjects, whether parked or moving. Chrome and paint look liquid on her canvases, and surface reflections are just as immaculately depicted. Not surprisingly, most of her works are commissions from enthusiastic collectors, with vehicles ranging from cars and motorcycles to airplanes and bicycles.
Check out more of Shan Fannin’s impressive artistry at her website, www.shanfannin.com or follow her Instagram @shanfannin to see her latest works.
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