2005 Silver Ford GT Wheel by Shan Fannin

2005 Silver Ford
GT Wheel
Shan Fannin
Acrylic on canvas
12”h x 12”w x 1.5”d

We met the wonderful GT owners during a car show a few cities away from where we live. It was a cloudy day where the sun would peek out every few minutes, so it was tough to get the glimmer of the silver with my camera. I loved the design of the wheel, and the owner was kind enough to pull the car forward so the Ford GT was upright. This painting is more subdued than my chrome pieces. It isn’t about the reflection, but more about the shape. A nod to the Ford designers and their marvelous design.

Get to Know the Austin Artist:
Who are we when no one is looking? What is our history? Most of us go about our lives often concealing our inner selves from the world. One indication of our true personality, is the vehicle we drive and/or dream of someday owning.​

To me, what we drive are more than appliances to get us from Point A to B – they are mobile sculptures that reflect who we truly are. They give a hint of our cultural background, financial status, and personality. By interviewing owners, photographing, and then painting these vehicles, I capture a bit of these personalities onto canvas. I create visual stories of: that first motorcycle in high school, the classic family car that was driven on vacations, or the Italian sports car that we dream of owning. Vehicles are a subject that we can all relate to. No matter our differences, we all have a story that revolves around a car, motorcycle, or airplane.​

My paintings marry nostalgia for cars/motorcycles/airplanes with the love of art. I live for the moment when my work brings forth an emotional connection with my viewer. The greatest compliment I can receive is when a viewer not only appreciates the subject depicted, but shares memories of why the painting resonates with them on a personal level.