Wednesday, February 12, 2014

A Car for All seasons.

As a retiree living on a pretty modest income, you might think it odd that this afternoon I headed to the local Mercedes Benz dealership. 


What drew me there, was not some shiny, new, way-out-of-my-league car, but a 1980 Mercedes-Benz sedan with an unusual paint job.

Last fall's news release read:

TORONTONov. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Mercedes-Benz Canada today announced that the company is undertaking a unique and creative initiative with highly respected and world-renowned Canadian realist painter Tom Forrestall. This innovative project will convert an iconic Mercedes-Benz sedan into a thought-provoking and transportable work of art. A loyal Mercedes-Benz customer for several decades, Forrestall owns a 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD that has become the canvas for this large scale work that he has entitled "A Car for All seasons."

I hadn't known anything about this car when I popped into the dealership a couple of weeks ago, after succumbing to curiosity and test-driving a SMART car.

On my way out, I stumbled across a very pleasant man painting the passing seasons on a car. Without having a clue who he was,  I stopped to ask about his work.  He was charming and more than pleased to share the details of what he was up to.


I returned today, less ignorant of the importance of seeing Tom Forrestall working on this marvellous piece, and realizing how fortunate I was to be able to chat with him about his art.

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On the hood of the car, Spring burst into bloom with Ferns and Trilliums drifting seamlessly into the roses and Queen Anne's Lace of summer.

I believe the woman is "Mercedes" of Mercedes Benz fame ...
On the car's roof, summer melts into autumn.  A lost spoon had just been painted into the long grass of summer, and the "model" spoon still lay nearby.

Yep, it has a sun roof.
With delicious simplicity the green oak leaves of summer gave way to acorns and the withered, brown leaves of fall.


Lovely little details, like these downy feathers were hidden amongst the blowing leaves..


Winter had the trunk and rear of the car in its icy grip. 


The artist had worked a Canadian flag into the snow over the rear tire.  While I was there, he was chatting with a couple of other admirers about his plans to add the flag of Nova Scotia into the design on the other side.


He estimates that he'll be working on it for another two or three weeks.

Needless to say  I'll be going back in a couple of weeks to see the finished product before it leaves for parts unknown.

Sorry.  I couldn't resist. Me and the artist.  What a thrill !


12 comments:

  1. What an artist! The car will be priceless once it is finished, you wouldn't want to take it on the road! Just imagine trying to insure it.... ~ Joanne.

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    1. I suspect the Mercedes folk could afford the premiums. If they can monopolize a great painter's time for three months then I suspect they could afford a few grand for that. lol. Can't imagine it actually being driven anywhere ... too much of a head-turner

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  2. Well done Sybil. Thanks for sharing your close encounter with the artist and his wonderful work.

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    1. Thanks kiddo. Happy to take you with me when I go back ...

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    2. This is just the coolest! Who'd a thunk? Course, I agree about it being a head-turner on the road! I can just see a raft of accidents in its wake.

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    3. Thanks Linda. I love making discoveries like this.

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  3. How neat is this, Sybil? What a lovely rendition on that car. I like the smiles on both of your faces, too.

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  4. Kathy, I was thrilled to have my photo taken with the artist and he was just a real gentleman, hence his smile too.

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    1. Changing the subject 180 degrees, guess what we saw in town today? A woman with four (mind you FOUR) pit bulls in her car. She was lovin' them up a lot. I thought of you.

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  5. Hi Kathy, Blogger is not letting me reply directly to your comment. Four pitties in a car. Wow. So glad to hear they are not banned in Michigan !

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  6. What an amazing artist! His work looks like photographs, so detailed and realistic. (The lost spoon made me think of Tim's brother - we're still finding the spoons he lost all over our house.) Looking forward to your pictures of the finished car!

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    1. I am sure you have such mixed feelings upon finding those spoons ... I hope I get the timing right and don't miss the car's departure ...

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Thanks for stopping by. I really do love to read your comments.