Rain race through the Ardennes

by Sidney van den Boogaard

Rain lashes through the pine forest as a dark green race car with number 7 slides through the bend, fanning water out behind it. Along the track a few spectators shelter under their umbrellas, collars turned up. This is racing as it once was in the Ardennes: long, fast roads through the woods, mist between the trees and weather that could change from one kilometre to the next. The cool greys and greens make the work calm and dramatic at once. The wet tarmac gleams in loose, broad strokes, as if the paint itself were still wet.

This work is part of the Golden Racing Years series: ten painterly scenes from the days of leather helmets, roaring engines and crowds lining the track. All the works share the same warm, muted colours and loose brushwork, so they combine easily as a pair, a triptych or a full gallery wall.

The work was created digitally, based on my own concept, composition and colour choices. I then finished it myself: removed badges and logos, refined the crop and added a fine grain and a print-ready colour profile. The cars, drivers and places are fictional and do not refer to real people or brands.

A lovely gift for anyone who smiles at the sound of an old engine: for the study, the garage or above the desk.