Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/artist-imagines-eerie-world-where-cars-have-no-wheels/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/artist-imagines-eerie-world-where-cars-have-no-wheels/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/artist-imagines-eerie-world-where-cars-have-no-wheels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The wheel ranks right up there with the telescope and four-slice toaster in the pantheon of inventions that have moved humankind forward. But what if a circle in three dimensions had never occurred to anyone, and we all had just moved on without it? Perhaps we'd be driving around in Lucas Motors Landspeeders with anti-gravity engines. Or maybe we'd have the same cars we do today, just without wheels.

That's the thought experiment that seems to have led French photographer Renaud Marion to create his six-image series called Air Drive. The shots depict cars throughout many eras of motoring that look normal except for one thing: they have no wheels. The models used include a Jaguar XK120, Cadillac DeVille (shown above), Chevrolet El Camino and Camaro, and Mercedes-Benz SL and 300 roadsters.

Perhaps one day when our future becomes our past, you'll be able to walk the street and see with your own eyes the rust and patina of age on our nation's fleet of floating cars. Until then, Monsieur Marion's photographs will have to do.

Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air driveautomotive artcadillaccar artcars without wheelschevroletfloating carshover carhovercraftjaguarmercedes-benzrenaud marionThu, 24 Jan 2013 14:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20437815/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/24/artist-imagines-eerie-world-where-cars-have-no-wheels/20437815/article-detail.xml 20437815 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/air-drive-3-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/air-drive-3-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Holiday Giveaway 2/5: Win the art of Arvind Ramkrishna!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/18/autoblog-holiday-giveaway-2-5-win-the-art-of-arvind-ramkrishna/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/18/autoblog-holiday-giveaway-2-5-win-the-art-of-arvind-ramkrishna/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/18/autoblog-holiday-giveaway-2-5-win-the-art-of-arvind-ramkrishna/#comments

Enter SweepstakesWe like to highlight a new automotive artist each year in our holiday giveaways. We met Arvind Ramkrishna late last year when he launched a Kickstarter project to fund his How To Draw Cars Now DVD tutorial. Having once harbored dreams of being a car designer myself, I felt an affinity for Arvind's project and got to know the man himself a little better. Turns out, Arvind is a fantastic artist and sells metallic prints of his work on drivenmavens.com.

Fortunately for us, Arvind jumped at the chance to participate in this year's series of holiday giveaways, so our second prize of the series is the automotive art of Arvind Ramkrishna.

The prize package includes a 10x30-inch signed Porsche GT3 photo print, an 8x10-inch framed metallic print, a 12X18-inch unframed metallic print and a 5X7-inch signed original watercolor painting. And that's just the artwork you'll be getting. The prize package also included the DVD set of How To Draw Cars Now, as well as digital download versions of the tutorial for iPad and Android, and the book Introduction to Perspective. This is an excellent prize for the aspirational car designer; you'll not only get the tools to start your journey, but also the inspiration to keep you going.

Click here to enter and make sure to read the rules below.

The Rules:
  • Click here to enter. Requires that you Like the Autoblog Facebook page. Additional entries can be earned if your friends use a unique URL given to you to enter.
  • Sweepstakes is open to residents of the United States (excluding Hawaii and Alaska), the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older!
  • The winner will be chosen randomly. One winner will win a 10x30-inch signed Porsche GT3 photo print, an 8x10-inch framed metallic print, a 12X18-inch unframed metallic print, a 5X7-inch signed original watercolor painting, the DVD set of How To Draw Cars Now, digital download versions of How To Draw Cars Now for iPad and Android, and the book Introduction to Perspective, all valued at $295.00.
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within five days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
  • The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
  • Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST.

Autoblog Holiday Giveaway 2/5: Win the art of Arvind Ramkrishna! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arvind ramkrishnaautoblog holiday giveawaysautomotive artTue, 18 Dec 2012 12:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20400219/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/18/autoblog-holiday-giveaway-2-5-win-the-art-of-arvind-ramkrishna/20400219/article-detail.xml 20400219 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/autoblogholidaygiveawayarvindramkrishna-opt_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/autoblogholidaygiveawayarvindramkrishna-opt.png <![CDATA[You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz art car covered in flies

The intersection of automobiles and art is always an interesting locale, and one french sculptor has spiced things up a bit with a Mercedes-Benz covered in flies. The premise sounds a bit shaky to be sure, but artist Natacha Mercier says the concept was inspired by something she witnessed back in 2007. While standing on a side street, she saw a BMW owner drive up, park and get out of the car. Clad all in white and with plenty of gold chains around his neck, the driver then proceeded to spit-polish a spot on his chrome wheels. According to Mercier, the girls around him (including herself) were "dropping like flies" while he strutted around like a peacock.

Mercier decided to turn the situation on its ear with this project. Mercier coated an old Merc in fly paper, parked it a greenhouse and released 100,000 flies. When the body was fully coated in insects, the artist, her brother and two friends piled in to drive around the streets of Toulouse, France. The mixed media artist is no stranger to working on auto-related subjects - she previously dressed up a Mercedes in a wedding gown and is now working on a new piece involving an Opel Corsa.

Check out the bizarre scene in the videos below.

Continue reading You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz

You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart carartist natacha mercierautomotive artbugscar artfliesflyinsectinsectsmercedes-benz covered in fliesnatacha mercierWed, 01 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20291034/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/20291034/article-detail.xml 20291034 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/mercedes-flies-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/mercedes-flies-628.jpg <![CDATA[Pierre Arpin turns metal into "immortal" art]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/21/pierre-arpin-turns-metal-into-immortal-art/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/21/pierre-arpin-turns-metal-into-immortal-art/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/21/pierre-arpin-turns-metal-into-immortal-art/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pierre Arpin's automotive art

We've all heard the argument that cars can't be art. As a commodity, vehicles are slaves to parameters of functionality, manufacturing and economics that simply have no bearing on traditional works, but Canadian sculptor Pierre Arpin believes that shouldn't stop car parts from ascending beyond their usual lot in life. While waiting in a repair shop, Arpin spotted a trashed hood and asked to take it home. The shop obliged, starting the artist down a lengthy path of creation. While he typically favors hoods, doors and radiators have also received his unique touch.

Arpin uses heat to remove the orignial paint before taking a grinder to the metal to create his unique designs. Depending on the work, paint may be reapplied afterward. The artist calls the process a type of "alchemy," and says that the technique gives the pieces a certain level of "immortality." We don't know about that, but as people with various car body parts strewn about our offices, we can see the appeal.

Pierre Arpin turns metal into "immortal" art originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artautomotive artcar artpierre arpinSat, 21 Apr 2012 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20219262/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/21/pierre-arpin-turns-metal-into-immortal-art/20219262/article-detail.xml 20219262 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-pierre-arpin-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-pierre-arpin-628.jpg <![CDATA[Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/lexus-lfa-transparent-tokyo-2009-architect/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/lexus-lfa-transparent-tokyo-2009-architect/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/lexus-lfa-transparent-tokyo-2009-architect/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Transparent Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Next to the Lexus LFA display at this week's Tokyo Motor Show is a separate room displaying brand-themed art. At first, we didn't bother going in, but we went back here on day two, and we're sure glad we did.

Inside, we found this amazing full-size transparent sculpture of Lexus' new $375,000 LFA supercar that was constructed by Scu Fujimoto, a noted Japanese architect. The sculpture was first displayed at the Milan Design Week earlier this year and is simply stunning to look at. What's most impressive is that details like the seats, instrument panel, engine, suspension, and transaxle can all be seen.

According to Lexus, the sculpture is constructed from transparent acrylic boards that have been sanded and polished. You can learn more about this unique piece of automotive art at Lexus' L-Finesse web site, but make sure to check out its stunning icy hotness in our high-res gallery below.


Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Transparent Lexus LFA


Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Tokyo Motor Show2009TokyoMotorShow2011 Lexus LFA2011LexusLfaauto artAutoArtautomotive artAutomotiveArtcar artCarArtLexusLexus LF-ALexus LFALexus LFA Transparent SculptureLexusLf-aLexusLfaLexusLfaTransparentSculptureLF-ALFAScu FujimotoScuFujimotosculptureTokyo 2009Tokyo Motor ShowTokyo2009TokyoMotorShowTransparent Lexus LFATransparentLexusLfaThu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19204953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/22/lexus-lfa-transparent-tokyo-2009-architect/19204953/article-detail.xml 19204953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/transparentlfa_lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/transparentlfa_lead.jpg <![CDATA[BMW's Art Cars start North American tour in Los Angeles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/bmws-art-cars-start-north-american-tour-in-los-angeles/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/bmws-art-cars-start-north-american-tour-in-los-angeles/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/bmws-art-cars-start-north-american-tour-in-los-angeles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view Warhol, Stella, Lichtenstein, and Rauschenberg's BMW Art Cars in high resolution

BMW's world famous Art Cars have been an interesting project since their inception in 1975, attracting some of the world's most notable artists to leave their mark on the Bavarian automobiles. But while the collection of sixteen rolling works of art is permanently housed in BMW's museum in Munich, they've also traveled the world on various tours. The next one has already arrived in North America, with an exhibit opening today at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Four of the project's most famous works, those of Andy Warhol, Frank Stella (pictured above), Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg, will be on display, free of charge, in the BP Grand Entrance, from February 12-24, before they head off to New York's Grand Central Terminal from March 24-April 6, en route to three locations in Mexico thereafter.

The display is complemented by a behind-the-scenes video of the artists at work, which you can view along with the press release after the jump and the images in the gallery below, but if you're in the LA area, we'd suggest stopping by the LACMA to see these spectacular mobile works of art for yourself.

Gallery: BMW Art Cars


[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW's Art Cars start North American tour in Los Angeles

BMW's Art Cars start North American tour in Los Angeles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andy WarholAndyWarholart carArtCarautomotive artAutomotiveArtbmwbmw art carBmwArtCarFrank StellaFrankStellalacmalos angeles county museum of artLosAngelesCountyMuseumOfArtRobert RauschenbergRobertRauschenbergRoy LichtensteinRoyLichtensteinThu, 12 Feb 2009 12:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1458087/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/02/12/bmws-art-cars-start-north-american-tour-in-los-angeles/1458087/article-detail.xml 1458087 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/art-car-web580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/art-car-web580.jpg <![CDATA[Happy Halloween: Performance pumpkin]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/happy-halloween-performance-pumpkin/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/happy-halloween-performance-pumpkin/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/happy-halloween-performance-pumpkin/#commentsFiled under:



There are those of us who love cars, then there are those who spend hours delicately carving the likeness of an AC Cobra into an orange gourd. This jack-o-lantern was found on Flickr member Norbini's page, though it's not clear if he is the artist or just an admirer.

Anyone else seen any impressive pumpkin-based automotive tributes this Halloween?

Happy Halloween: Performance pumpkin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac cobraAcCobraautomotive artAutomotiveArtcar jack-o-lanternCarJack-o-lanterncobrahalloweenjack-o-lanternjackolanternnorbinipumpkinMon, 30 Oct 2006 12:06:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/692912/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/10/30/happy-halloween-performance-pumpkin/692912/article-detail.xml 692912 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/10/acolantern_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/10/acolantern.jpg <![CDATA[BMW components a work of art]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/13/bmw-gets-art-from-parts/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/13/bmw-gets-art-from-parts/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/13/bmw-gets-art-from-parts/#commentsFiled under: ,



Vehicle Design students at the Royal College of Art in London, England, received an interesting request from BMW. Company officials stopped by and asked them to compose works of art using parts from the German automaker's vehicles. Fourteen entries were submitted, and five winners were selected. They are:
  • Dynamism of a Wishbone
  • 1913 (pictured)
  • The Screw (pictured)
  • Out of The Frame
  • BMW Fossil

An online gallery of the winning works can be found at the link.

[Source: Auto Channel]

BMW components a work of art originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtAutomotive artAutomotiveArtcar artCar partsCarArtCarPartsRoyal College of ArtRoyalCollegeOfArtsalvageSchool projectSchoolProjectVehicle DesignVehicleDesignThu, 13 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/607840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/04/13/bmw-gets-art-from-parts/607840/article-detail.xml 607840 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/bmw-art_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/bmw-art.jpg <![CDATA[Ford promotes automotive art by opening up archives]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/13/ford-promotes-automotive-art-by-opening-up-archives/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/13/ford-promotes-automotive-art-by-opening-up-archives/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/13/ford-promotes-automotive-art-by-opening-up-archives/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To some attaching the word 'art' to pictures of cars is like inviting a biker to a debutante's ball. Still, automotive art has gained traction in the marketplace recently by riding the coattails of the booming car collecting market. That 1969 Mustang Mach 1 you just bought at auction wouldn't be complete without a framed pictorial of the car on the wall of your garage, now would it?

Ford sees a market here and has moved to open its visual archive of over 3,000,000 images to the buying public. Limited edition prints of some images, like the above shot of Dan Gurney in a Cobra cresting a hill at Turn 7 of the 1963 Riverside Race, can be purchased at www.Fordartehouse.com.

[Source: Ford]

Ford promotes automotive art by opening up archives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive artAutomotiveArtFordMon, 13 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/598928/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/03/13/ford-promotes-automotive-art-by-opening-up-archives/598928/article-detail.xml 598928 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/0001-4540_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/0001-4540.jpg -1 2