Artist's description:
From a limited edition of 10 archival photographs
Signed and numbered by artist A K Nicholas
The combination of a female personality and an automobile appears in pin-ups and advertisements throughout the decades. Our subject sits on the headlamp of a 1951 Jaguar XK120SE open two-seater (convertible). Barely visible behind her hip is a rejuvenated engine. The cold luster of colors on the floor are reminiscent of the patina of aged metal. The luxurious, sweeping lines of the car simultaneously remind us of the opulence, prosperity, and beauty of the female form. The smooth glow of warm light that fades into cold shadows, sets a quiet mood, anticipating an impending outpouring of power and passion.
As a teenager, I saw an exhibit of Jaguar e-types at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Initially skeptical, I learned to appreciate product design as an art form. With a new-found respect for automobile designers, I was inspired to include car bodies in my artwork.
Image size: 30x20 inches, 76x51 cm
Paper size: 32x22 inches, 81x56 cm
This limited edition archival photograph is made with the best quality inks on heavyweight museum-grade paper. Beautiful and long-lasting, this premium process produces exceptional contrast and crisp images. Properly displayed, this artwork will last without noticeable fading or change in color for generations (well over 100 years). A certificate of authenticity, signed by the artist, is included.
This is part of a strictly limited edition. The rarity of your artwork is assured. The image will never be reissued in a different size or as an open edition. A certificate of authenticity is included which attests to the number of impressions. The front of the certificate and the back of photograph are affixed with matching holographic serial numbers.
I call this technique a false-color image, restrained to a particular subset of colors. The method is inspired by oil painting, where the artist chooses a palette and also pays homage to the classic technique of hand-colored photography. Although the colors are conceivable, they deviate from reality. The process shares other aspects with painting, being applied selectively to areas on the image. Painters will often tint shadows and highlights differently in order to give a greater illusion of depth as well as evoking an emotional response. Additionally a warm-toned subject appears to protrude from cool-toned surroundings.
Materials used:
archival pigmented inks on 100% cotton acid-free artist paper.
