It’s hard for me to comprehend that eighteen years have quietly slipped away since the untimely death of Ayrton Senna, May 1, 1994.

That tragic day will eternally be burned into my conscious. I’ll never forget my trip to Sao Paolo the following week and the monumental sense of loss that gripped his homeland. Standing in the shadow of his painted portrait at the Interlagos kart track just days after his passing was a bittersweet milestone in my life. I only wish I could have seen him race in person.

He was an inspiration to many and never will be forgotten.

Sergio Scaglietti was one of the legendary artists who inspired me to become an automotive sculptor.  His skillful craftsmanship and Italian masterpieces bearing the cavallino rampante were my inspiration for learning the art of coachbuilding.  Although he is no longer with us, his timeless works of automotive sculpture will live on forever.

Just when I thought the 458 Italia couldn’t get any better.

This video is EXACTLY how I dream of enjoying this rolling work of art. What could be better than taking delivery of your new 458 Spider in Italy? Que bella!!!

A simple time lapse video showing the first stage of roughing in the oak block form of my new Ferrari 250 LM sculpture for the Cavallino Classic.

Once I stack the oak blanks together securely I use a chainsaw and a grinder to block in the basic shape and proportion.  With each additional step I begin to add more detail until I arrive at the final shape.  In the next video you’ll see the process as it refines and the different tools I use to sculpt the more intricate detail.

More to come…

Maybe it’s just the subconscious correlation between carbon fiber and all things cool.  F1 cars, experimental airplanes, hydro-planes, you name it.  If it’s fast and light I’ll give you dollars to donuts it is made out of carbon fiber.  No matter the reason, it’s inarguably mesmerizing to behold.

I’ve also discovered it’s a blast to work with.  During the past few months I’ve found that carbon fiber can be temperamental requiring a minute attention to detail and finesse.  Nevertheless it’s a fascinating, intriguing medium.  So much so that I’ve decided to add carbon fiber to my sculpture repertoire.  Vintage cars and hand-forming aluminum will always be my first love but what better way to expand and compliment my past sculptures than to create their modern brethren out of carbon fiber?  Expanding my sculpture media broadens my possibilities and opens a whole new world of incredible cars to pay tribute to.

If my new foray into the world of carbon fiber goes according to plan I will have two sculptures this year for Cavallino.  Two stunning icons of Ferrari that represent the lineage, and evolution of manufacturing and design in one grand gesture.  The stage is set and the plan is in motion.  If everything goes well I hope to share these new sculptures with you less than six months from today.

I’ve finally decided to stop ignoring the mountain of unedited video tapes and discs of photos accumulating in my office and do something about it.  I started by editing some of the video and images I have from my first sculpture “Heritage of Speed”.  Here’s a simple slideshow I made from still photos to give you a behind the scenes peek at the progression of the sculpture from start to finish.

I know it’s no academy award winner but it’s a start.  I’ll try to have more as soon as possible.  Stay tuned for more!

Yet another Cavallino Classic has come and gone.  I am still trying to catch my breath and collect my thoughts after an exhilarating four days of non-stop Ferrari fun.  This year’s 20th anniversary of the world renown concours once again exceeded all expections.  My admiration and respect for John and Alicia Barnes grows exponentially each year as they somehow manage to continually out do themselves with every event.  Bravo!

I am honored to be included in the Cavallino Classic Galleria d’Arte  and offer my most sincere gratitude to everyone involved.  Thank you to those who visited the art tent to offer words of encouragement and to share in the debut of my most recent sculpture “Sempre Avanti”.  This year’s show surpassed my wildest expectations due to the generosity  of several kind patrons.  It is only through their support that I am able to pursue my artistic dreams.  I hope to honor their kindness by continuing to create sculptures that reflect their passion for the marque.

Needless to say I took a few pictures of the event.  Here is a small sample for those of who who weren’t able to make it.  I’ll try to follow up shortly with more shots from the concours and track.  Make sure to mark your calendar for next year’s Cavallino Classic XXI.  It is something every tifoso should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Just 13 lucky days now remain to the Cavallino Classic XX in Palm Beach, FL where I will debut my next sculpture.

Things are looking great as I approach the final phase.  There are the usual final details that seem to take longer than expected but I can see the checkered flag as I exit the last turn.  Let’s hope I don’t have the proverbial tire go down!

The metal is shaped, the oak is stained, and the clearcoat is ready for its’ final buffing.  These last few days are the ones I really cherish.  After many months of hard work the satisfaction of seeing it all come together is quite a rush.  Unfortunately you’ll have to settle for just a small teaser image of the finished piece.  In the meantime, be sure to get your tickets and mark your calendar.  The Cavallino Classic XX concours and art show takes place on Saturday, January 22, 2011.  Don’t forget you can get a sneak peek of all the art on Wednesday, January 19th, 2011 in the Gold Room of the Breakers.  It’s not unusual for some of the coveted artwork to sell that night before the event so don’t miss it.

I hope to see you there!

Back on track!  Had a slight delay due to a family wedding.  Time to get moving again, the clock is ticking.

I decided to start shaping the front fender.  Pretty simple process really.  You just take the compound shape of the fender and break it down into a few forms to ease shaping just like you would on the full size car.  You then gas weld the pieces together and voila!  All of this is done with various age old tools such as the wheel, slapper, shot bag, hammers, dollies, etc.  Heck, I start a lot of shapes off by bending them over my thigh!

At this point I leave my pieces a little oversized to help dissipate some of the heat when I weld and to have a margin of error for fitment.  The front section will consist of more complex parts due to the shape.  Doesn’t make for pretty pictures but it’s all part of the process.

More to come…