These hood ornaments are archetypal 'birds' to me, cutting through the literal and figurative atmosphere that was a rare time in automotive design...evoking a brief, triumphal age when the audacity of style was perfectly matched with the bravado of invention. Let's hope...in a beautiful, energy-conscious future, such synchronicity (of a different sort) may again be reached.
The inspiration for the drawing of these ornaments came from a client/designer/friend, David H. The top figure is the 'Cormorant' figurehead of the mid-20th Century Packard. The bottom one is found on a 1930's Cadillac Fleetwood...sweet.
13 comments:
I've been enjoying your work a lot. I recently read DG's Creative License, too and considered his recommendation to spend a year working only in ink. I think it's really good advice, but color beckons so strongly, I resist it. Yet it is always my frustration with color which causes me to put away my art supplies. As a compromise, I'm keeping a journal of ink only drawings, which I try to add to every day and don't show to anyone. We'll see what happens. The Tumbo brushes are sure nice for shading - a new discovery I like a lot. I particularly like your use of it in the bell drawing. I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Great take on the theme! Love those old hood ornaments!
"audacity of style...bravado of invention" - that's brilliant writing! I totally enjoyed this post, and the drawings are fabulous.
How creative! I hadn't thought about hood ornaments.. Nice job on it... and I think that the black and white lends itself very well to the context of the drawing...
Thanks for the comment about my sponge.. and please... tell me that you were only joking about the next challenge being "smudge".... :)
Karin
Rah, thanks for your comment on my blog and for catching my comment on another. I had to come and check out you "bird" challenge. Very creative and nice work. Your first "ornament" looked very much like one my husband has that we have not been able to identify. But ours is more swan like. I will have to post on my flicker site some of the pictures I have taken of such things for you and the others who find beauty in these ornaments.
Oh, I forgot your question about the id of the second ornament. To tell you the truth I have no idea. I really don't know much about these things except I love the beauty of them. Sorry.
I guess it's a guy thing to decorate a car with these. I don't even notice the make of a car, elt alone the status symbols!
w.
Thankyou for your lovely comments about my drawings.I know I am going to love being part of this group. My pencil drawings are probably "me" feeling at my most confident, I will post more soon .I found your site yesterday and admired your great pencil work, so I feel pleased you like my work. I loved your steel gate, the sort of colours and textures I am attracted to. Eileen
Thank you for your lovely comment to my blog - I think there is no shortage of creativity in yours either. This is a great interpretation of this challenge, and I too love these old hood ornaments. I've never seen one like the second. Hope someone figures it out. I'm very curious now.
I think the second one looks like a phoenix. After a little research I found a similar one from a 1933 Chevy.
Great drawing, whatever it is. In fact, I like all your work. You have quite a way with words too!
-Sue (aka icemoosey)
This might have already been covered but I couldnt help let you know that the 2nd hood ornament is infact from a 1931 Cadillac 452A Pininfarina X4518.
Here is a photo:
http://www.digital-images.net/Images/Concours_dElegance/Cadillac31_452A_Pininfarina_X4518.jpg
I didnt take this photo but I did take another of the same ornament on another Cadillac in Pennsylvania.
I have to correct my post... to be accurate... this is the Cadillac "Heron" Hood Mascot... it was a popular option to be included on Cadillacs from 1930 thru 1933. If you google Cadillac and Heron you will find pictures.
Well I'll be damned...Thanks, Todd! Proper attribution to both ornaments is now satisfied.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! I know you just 'happened' to drop in, so it is esp. gratifying to have gotten the mystery solved with such a random act of sharing.
It is also particularly satisfying because I live in a place where I see herons regularly; so, I will never look at this drawing the same again.
Thanks again.
(...more serendipity!)
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