CARMEL, Calif. – August 12, 2019 – Brit Peter Hearsey, an award-winning impressionist painter and member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS), will unveil three original racing pieces of art at the group’s exhibit and reception at the New Masters Gallery in Carmel. The free exclusive art show, entitled “Old Masters at the New Masters,” runs from August 10 through August 18.
Though Hearsey is British, two of the pieces are strongly connected to the American side of the pond. The first subject, Mario Andretti piloting the Lotus 78, recognizes Andretti’s win at the 1977 U.S. Grand Prix in Long Beach. The Andretti art measures 20” X 24” and is oil on canvas.
“Andretti was a master behind the wheel of many cars at venues worldwide,” said Hearsey. “But his time piloting a Lotus and his 1969 Indy win may have been the high-water marks for the Italian-born American. Culminating in a World Championship, the partnership of Chapman and Andretti proved both viable and valuable.”
It’s a long way from the Hethel, England, home of Team Lotus to Midland, Texas, home to the All-American effort of team principal Jim Hall, who designed the Chaparral 2D and added Chevrolet power. The Chaparral competed at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, with drivers Phil Hill and Jo Bonnier sharing wheel time.
“Chaparral effort was effectively steamrolled by the depth of Ford’s racing budget and talent pool,” said Hearsey. “Their modest success doesn’t diminish in any way Hall’s influence on the sport.”
The painting perfectly captures the 2D’s dynamic beauty. The Chaparral 2D is painted in oil, and measures 22” X 18”.
Lotus and Chaparral, of course, were postwar news and, in varying degrees, represented postwar success. Prior to World War II, the motorsport world was fixated on the Germans, with Mercedes-Benz setting the pace and Germany’s relatively young Auto Union pushing that pace. Hearsey’s artwork shows Italian icon Tazio Nuvolari behind the wheel and, notably, positioned in front of the Auto Union’s 3.0 liter V12. The legend of Auto Union and Nuvolari are sized appropriately: 27” X 39”, and painted in oil.
Hearsey has been a member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society. His move to the Isle of Man, and that island’s long connection to motorsports, has served Hearsey well since transitioning to art on a full-time basis. Hearsey has been commissioned by Ford, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the Indianapolis Hall of Fame Museum, and has produced the official poster for Goodwood’s Festival of speed since the event’s inception in 1993 until 2014.
The AFAS exhibit opened at the New Masters Gallery at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10and closes at 5:30. Those hours will continue through Friday, August 16. On Saturday (August 17), the exhibit again opens at 10:00 a.m.; a reception honoring the latest AFAS works begins at 4:00 p.m. and concludes at 6:30. The gallery is located at Dolores St. between Ocean Ave. and 7th St. in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California.
About the Automotive Fine Arts Society
AFAS was first established in 1983 by a group of artists who are acknowledged by critics to be among the best in their field. Members work in diverse mediums, including oil, watercolors, acrylics, wood, gouache, pen & ink, clay and metal. AFAS and its members have participated in select shows across the country, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Dana Point Concours d’Elegance and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Additional information about the Automotive Fine Arts Society is available at www.autoartgallery.com.
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