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Overview
Chronicling the work of world-renowned artist, Harold Cleworth, this book takes us on a captivating visual journey though the illustrious career of a man called the “painter laureate of the car”. With a profession that started at Decca Records, creating album covers for then newcomers Rolling Stones and The Who, Cleworth has had two incredibly successful careers, this book focuses on the second – that of an automobile portrait artist.
Original automobile paintings that use his trademark technique of “super-realism” decorate the walls of celebrity’s homes such as Jay Leno, Nicolas Cage, and John Schneider. With such photo-like quality to his pieces, it is no surprise that he was commissioned by automotive giants Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Isuzu, and Saab to paint originals of their newest models. In addition to corporations, Cleworth has been commissioned by international private collectors to paint portraits of their automobiles. As a result of the high demand for his paintings, he typically only paints six or seven a year!
CLEWORTH: An ARTFULLlife is the first publication to feature Harold Cleworth’s collection of highly coveted artwork to date, and is a must have for collectors of both art and automobiles.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781624650246 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Design Studio Press |
| Publication date: | 02/15/2021 |
| Pages: | 168 |
| Product dimensions: | 12.00(w) x 12.00(h) x (d) |
About the Author
Called the “painter laureate of the car”, Harold Cleworth’s original paintings adorn the homes, garages, and offices of both car collectors and celebrities. Among his list of clients are Jay Leno and Nicolas Cage. John Schneider, the original “Dukes of Hazzard” Bo Duke, owns a stunning portrait of a Lamborghini Countach, and automotive icon John DeLorean once commissioned a Cleworth original as a gift for his former wife Christina Ferrari.
Of English descent, Cleworth wasn’t always a painter of cars. Born in Leigh, Lancaster, in the industrial area of northern England, he grew up drawing and painting the heavy machinery and industrial neighborhoods of England. Because of his impressive work, he was accepted at the famous Manchester College of Art.
This path led to the first of artist Harold Cleworth’s amazing careers. After his graduation from Manchester, he worked for Decca Records. His artwork graced the covers of such newcomers as the Rolling Stones, The Who, and others. For many people, this would be the pinnacle of a successful career; but Harold Cleworth isn’t ordinary and neither is his career!
After a chance meeting with Americans travelling in London, Harold Cleworth decided to change course and go to America to follow his lifelong passion for automobiles. Cleworth moved to San Francisco and began a new career as an automobile artist. In the beginning, he traded his artwork for rent; his landlord valued one of his early pieces highly enough that she accepted it in exchange for an entire year’s lodging!
When San Francisco car dealer Richard Rubin commissioned the now famous Mercedes Gullwing, with signature gull wing doors wide open, original Harold Cleworth art would never be the same. Soon after, private collectors around the world wanted Cleworth originals. Commissions to paint exacting portraits followed: Duesenbergs, Ferraris, Packards and Bugattis. Corporate commissions were next, with requests from automotive giants such as Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Isuzu and Saab. Each of these companies wanted Cleworth originals of their newest models.
Thus a second career, and a second success was born. And this one too would be special; his trademark techniques of “super-realism” give Harold Cleworth originals a photo-like quality. Because of his world-wide fame, Cleworth originals are rarely on the open market and when sold, obtain incredible sums of money.
Such a rare artist with such amazing talent is, of course, in great demand. There are typically only six or seven Harold Cleworth originals produced each year and these are all commissioned works. With the prices of Cleworth auto art climbing, any original work by Cleworth can be considered a prize investment piece as well. Many of his limited edition prints have increased by 800% or more since their introduction.
Harold Cleworth has a talent and career that have transcended the normal idea of success. CLEWORTH: An ARTFULLlife will give all of us an opportunity to visually ride along on an amazing journey that has travelled from the Rolling Stones to rolling thunder.