36 > NZ HOT ROD AUGUST 2019
pencil for the outline and lighter areas.
I then work through the various pencil
grades and finish off with a 4B grade
pencil for the tyres and shadow areas,
such as under the car and in and around
the engine area. The darker areas help
contrast with the white paper, and this
creates a sense of depth and light.
It is important to capture shadows
and reflective surfaces, as these mirror
the surrounding environment, whether
it’s the sky, horizon or the ground.
Reflections also occur in chromed
wheels, bumpers and windows. Care
needs to be taken that the shadow
under the car isn’t too dark as this
can make it appear the car is floating
over a black hole. One of the main
challenges is getting the perspective
correct, along with elliptical shapes
such as wheels and headlights.
I find that one of the great things
about Meremere Dragway is I can
get very close to the cars when they
are staging. Most of my photos are
taken from a similar position, which
is why it is great to be able to wander
around the pits and take photos from
different perspectives. Each drawing
can take between 20 to 30 hours
to complete. It’s always difficult to
know when to stop working on a
piece - maybe a bit darker here or
maybe some detail needed there.
Now the kids have left home I
have acquired an extra room for my
dedicated studio where I can leave
my working drawings on my desk – a
bonus when it comes to spending time
drawing in the evenings. Sometimes I
can have two or three drawings on the
go. I work on A3-size paper (483 X 329
mm or 19x12.9 in) as, at this scale, it is
easier to highlight the engine detail.
I recently drew Karl Boniface’s Nitro
Flashback. This piece took longer than
usual due to the detailed custom paint
job, and the amount of advertisingKarl has on his car – but it is the detail
which sets each piece of work apart.
One of the great things about the drag
racing fraternity is their acceptance
of me getting up close in the pits. The
drivers and pit crews are always happy
to have a yarn about their last run, and
that helps me as an artist appreciate the
effort they put into the sport and their
cars. I have enormous admiration for
their ability to handle such powerful
race cars – so the drawings are one
way of showing my appreciation.
This September I am travelling
to the UK and while there will be
going to Santa Pod in England to
watch the Euro Finals drag racing
event. The memories of this journey
and the different cars I will see and
draw will add to my collection.
And every year, I return to my
very special place of memories – the
Meremere Dragway - to attend the
Nostalgia Drags. Peter Watson