Customer Reviews

The Classic Car Paintings of Alan Fearnley

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Fearnley's paintings are "Car Paintings" inasmuch as they happen to contain cars but they are not portraits "of" cars per se. Rather, the cars are embedded in fully articulated, fleshed-out scenes of great scope and detail. In other words, in terms of artistic vision and technique, his paintings would have no less merit and appeal if they didn't contain cars. These fabulous oils, even in book format where they are reduced to a fraction of their original size, invite slow and repeated perusal. They are not merely of objects but of moods. Everything, be it props such as Fearnley's personal wicker chair or a pair cufflinks, or flora and fauna, or the cars themselves are rendered with enormous accuracy and realism. In most pictures there are a dozen things happening and you have to take your time to discover it all. There are two notable faux pas, both self-admitted: a right-hand drive Ferrari California Spyder (there is no such animal) and--just like in Terrence Cuneo's famous painting of the same scene--it's not raining in the Blue Train Bentley picture. (At least the car is, for once, not British Racing Green but looks more like the cream over brown it actually was. It is, however, still the wrong coachwork--no fault of Fearnley's as it was only in the year of the publication of his book that the true identity of that car was proven.)

Printed in landscape format, the 57 full-page color plates of oils are accompanied by the artist's notes and 65 pencil sketches or studies of alternate compositions. The notes relate the origins and circumstances of each work and give some welcome background not otherwise self-evident from just looking at the paintings. Having the artist walk the reader through his own work provides the sort of direct link no interpreter could ever achieve; even the art student or fellow artist will benefit from this guided tour. This section is preceded by an 8-page biographical essay that covers the author's interests, career and modus operandi and describes the commissioning process. He has raced cars himself, at the amateur level, and surely this experience, as much as his background in landscape painting, sharpened his eye for many of the technical and life-style layers of his racing pictures. All the scenes, even the fictitious ones, are rendered completely convincing and historically plausible.

Full review at <speedreaders.info>.

Having just acquired this book, I continue to be impressed with both the depth and sensitivity of Fearnley's paintings and the absolute printing QUALITY of this book.
Some of the paintings were familiar from visiting auto art websites which sell rather expensive prints of Fearnleys works, but many of the paintings were VERY pleasant surprises. The black & white "pencil" sketches are also amazing well done and printed. At the current price, this book is a TRUE BARGAIN and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who has a warm spot in their heart for vintage cars and auto racing history. I am looking forward to acquiring the newer (2008) second volume, which hopefully will not duplicate the works presented in the earlier addition.

this is one of the nicest car books in my collection. it is packed full of very beautiful full page automobile prints and commentary by alan fearnley. it has prints of vintage cars as well of vintage car races. simply stunning and a real bargain. dont wait....buy it now.