The Story Behind The Paintings :
A series of interesting and informal insights from the artist about the creation of his paintings from their inception to their completion.
The concept for this painting came to me when I was living in Petaluma, California for fifteen years from the early Eighties. At that time, the town had a very rural feel to it and quite different to its present day counterpart. When I lived in England I was an avid follower of Formula One motor racing but media coverage in those days was very limited and almost non existent in California for that type of racing. I craved watching a race and would go to nearby Sears Point racetrack when I could. To add a little interest to my painting of downtown Petaluma I came up with a fictitious Race Of Champions from a previous generation of race cars and drivers, namely that of an early 1960s’ event with American Phil Hill in his shark-nosed Ferrari 156, Graham Hill in his BRM and Jim Clark in his period Lotus. To add the rural feel of the town, I added a chicken sitting at a vantage point by the crash barrier within a straw lined racing tyre.
I found that this era of racing was some of the most exciting for watching as a spectator at the Silverstone racing circuit in England with such pioneers of the sport on the grid.
The racing cars have just passed the well known Clocktower and heading south past McNears Theatre and Bar on Petaluma Boulevard South.