Great Western AutoJumble and Mini Show

On the 9th of Feburary I traveled down to Shepton Mallet Showground to visit the Great Western Autojumble and car show. For the last few years it has been a Ford show, which in my honest opinion made it a more varied and interesting show. This year the organisers changed it to a Mini show which limited the variety. I picked out two of my personal favourites to sketch, but how much longevity there is in a mini only show I'm not sure. 

For more information on the show please visit the Bristol Classic Car Show website:

www.bccsl.co.uk

Riley Elf

(ink sketch)

 Mini Panel Van

 (ink sketch)

Here are my highlights of the show:

Co-Built Workshop Visit

Last Thursday I packed up my sketchbook and pen and headed to sunny Oxford to visit Geoff at Co - Built. If you don't know who Co-Built are then head over to their website to find out more about the duo of Anthony and Geoff who build fantastic Flat Track bikes and components. 

www.co-built.net

CO-Built Flat Tracker

(Ink and Watercolour)

On my arrival Geoff welcomed me into his workshop where he was busy fabricating a Moto GP exhaust, fascinating and complicated stuff compared to a lot of older bikes that I'm used to. Unfortunately I can't post any photos of the fabrication itself as I don't want to get Geoff into trouble now do I.

Once we'd had a little natter and a poke round the workshop Geoff's Co-Built flat tracker was wheeled into the garden so I could get some photos and a sketch whilst Geoff carried on fabricating.

Specs:

Co Built Frame & Swinging Arm

Engine taken from an Aprillia Tuarag 560

Bored to 600 with a Wiesco Piston and an 860 cam & bigger valves

Exhaust made from iconel with titanium silencer

19" Wheels with Maxxis Flat Track Tires

Yolks with adjustable off set

Thanks again to Anthony and Geoff for letting me visit. I had a great day sketching and eating cheese and chuckney on toast.

Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor Show 2013

Well the first sketching outing of the year was last weekend at the Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor Show. There is always a great range of machinery at this show, and I definitely had fun sketching. As well as having a great range of tractors on display the show also raises a lot of money for various good causes. To find out more about the show please visit their website:

www.somersettractorshow.co.uk

The eagle eyed of you may notice that I'm now blurring out sections of my scans. This is done to stop people being able to save a clear image of my work. I hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment of my work.

1919 International Harvester Titan

(ink & watercolour)

Owned and restored over 4 years by Mark Harris.

1972 Oliver 1250

 (ink & watercolour)

V8 Diesel Caterpillar producing 167hp. All original farm condition giving it tons of character.

Owned by Jason Smith and family

Love the chunky grill on this.

Here's some of my highlights of the show:

 1955 Lanz Bulldog
This has a Hot Bulb engine which is heated up by a flame under the front end. Hence the propane gas tank. It makes a great thumping sound as the single cylinder fires up, and the tractor shakes into life.

 1939 Le percheron
(essentially a Lanz Bullldog licensed under a different name)

 1940ish British Anzani Iron Horse

"Major Madness"
A Tractor Puller powered by 380ci Ford Cargo engine, turbo charged with over size injectors!

 1973 MSW 550

 1917 International Mogul 10/20

 1965 Eicher Puma 201

 1941 John Deere AR

1956 Massey Harris 555

1962 Lanz 4090

Spotted this on the way out.

Board Track Heroes...

Dakar Rally 2013 Colour Studies

In the excitement of following the Dakar Rally I've been inspired to try a few quick digitally painted colour studies based on photographs from the Dakar website:

www.dakar.com

Andre Karginov, 4326 4x4 Kamaz

Ruben Faria (Prt) KTM

Cyril Despres (Fra) KTM

  

 Cyril Despres (Fra) KTM

 Lopez Contardo Francisco Chaleco on Stage 5

 Stage 8 River Crossing

Christian LaVieille (FRA) & Jean-Michel Polato (FRA)

Proto Dessoude on Stage 11 

Flores Seminario Ignacio (Peru) on Stage 2

New Work in Progress

The new year is always a good time for me to progress my own work as its cold and not many people are putting on events. For those of you who aren't following me on Facebook or Instagram here are some photos of my current work in progress.

To Follow me on Facebook Click the link on the right side of my blog.
To Follow me on Instagram search for MRTNSQUIRES

OIL PAINTINGS

 WORK ON PAPER

 

 

Sketchbook Selections Vol 3: Tractors and Machines

CLICK HERE TO BUY

The 3rd in my series of Sketchbook Selections is now available from my Big Cartel Store. It features 24 pages of ink sketches from various 2012 tractor shows and steam rallies. All books come signed and numbered as an edition of 100.