Artistic Style on the Open Road

This morning I was driving to a meeting and, while stopped at a stoplight, took a minute to take a look at all the different cars on the road. So many colors. So many styles. Some old. Some new. Some high-end labels. Some practical purchases.

For many of us, our cars are nothing more than a necessity – a way to get from point A to point B. However, for some, the car is an outlet for self-expression – an extension of personal style.

As an artist, I find two things very interesting about cars. The first is the evolution of body styles that have occurred over the last century. While engineering, aerodynamics and fuel economy have had a lot to do with this evolution, so too have the preferences and personal styles of the consumers. The second item I find interesting – the item I find most interesting, actually – is personal style itself. This is the style that is revealed not in the mini-vans used to cart the kids to soccer, but in the “dream car.”

When people escape the confines of practicality and cost, personal style and artistic preference become glaringly apparent. Whether someone dreams of fast car or simply a pricy label, a red car or a neutral beige, through their preference they reveal a lot about who they are as a person. After all, to a certain extent, even the most expensive of accessory is an extension of our own artistic taste.

Here’s to the cars that we drive and those we dream about. Here’s to art.