Those of us who are unable to put our recognition of automotive excellence down on canvas will always envy the great car artists, because to put together a fine painting depicting a classic car takes a level of talent and aesthetic appreciation that is just outside the reach of most of us. This envy is a normal reaction because, looking at the pieces that adorn the sites of major car artists, we would all love to be able to do what they do.

Car artists, however, are cut from the same cloth as the rest of us. They love cars just like we do, they want to celebrate the excellence that they see, and they go for it. They have that surplus of talent that means their efforts are consistently excellent, but the likelihood is that, just like many of us, they gained their appreciation of the aesthetics of automobiles from the same sources as we did – the movies, motor sport and past generations.

There are certain iconic pictures – photographs, movies and music videos – which showcase the car in its most eye-catching settings. Whether it be on a race track, a desert road or – surprisingly often – at a car wash, the look of a car can enhance the “cool” of the film, its characters and even an entire movement. And though times change and values go in and out of fashion, it is unquestionable that car artists will continue to be influenced by the power and the style that the automobile retains in the eyes of us all.