Starting Saturday, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is hosting “The Art of Cars” — an exhibition of artwork that was created while Pixar Animation Studios was producing the “Cars” movie.
According to the museum:
“When we started working on Cars, I knew that getting the details right would be essential to the story,” says Lasseter. “The spirit of Route 66 is in every scratch on a fender and every curl of paint on a weathered billboard. Pixar is honored to partner with the Petersen Automotive Museum on the ‘The Art of Cars’ exhibit, so that the public can experience firsthand our passion for the movie through our artists’ eyes.”
“The Art of Cars” exhibit includes more than 60 watercolor and pastel drawings, pencil and marker sketches, and a variety of three-dimensional pieces, including:
- Life-size replicas of the movie’s main characters: Lightning McQueen and his tow-truck buddy, Mater
- Three-dimensional maquettes of Mater, Doc Hudson, Sally, and The King, which were used as reference to guide animators when drawing their characters
- Illustrated character studies that illuminate the development of supporting characters Flo and Ramone, Luigi and Guido, Fillmore, Sarge, DJ, and Wingo
- Digital, pencil, and marker sketches interpreting the cars’ eyes, gestures, and expressions
- Pencil and marker drawings of the fictional Los Angeles Motor Speedway, Sally’s “Cozy Cone” motel (Editor’s note: seen above), and iconic diners, curio shops, and service stations based on actual locations along “The Mother Road”
- Pastels, watercolors, and pencil sketches of such scenic vistas as Ornament Valley, Cadillac Range, and Radiator Cap Butte, based on familiar landmarks as Arizona’s Monument Valley rock formations and the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
A few samples of artwork can be seen at the Petersen Museum’s site. “The Art of Cars” will be on display there through Nov. 2.
If you can’t make it to L.A., you can buy “The Art of Cars” book (reviewed here).
(Hat tip: Jim Hill Media)