Painting at the Car Races

Here's a new video that takes you inside auto racing, based on a thrilling painting session from last Saturday. (Direct link to video)

Here's the painting. I was initially attracted to the backlighting of this view of the paddock area from the spectator hill in the outfield. I also loved the contrast between the crowded, noisy, hectic spectacle, and the peaceful autumn landscape that surrounds it.

Before the race, I spent an evening with my cousin Alex Gurney and one of his mentors, Sam Posey.


Sam is a retired racing car driver and a sports journalist. He knows the Lime Rock track from the driver's seat. He and his wife Ellen are also accomplished artists. While we talked about driving strategy, I sketched his portrait.

(Video link) In this video, you can ride along in the cockpit with Alex in one of last year's races as he passes Brawn, Luhr, Dalziel in last few minutes of the Detroit Grand Am 2012. 

Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty won the Grand-Am Rolex Series Championship in 2007 and 2009, and they achieved a third-place finish overall in this year's championships.

Finally, check out Sam Posey's poetic teaser for the 24 hours of LeMans. (video link)