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February 22, 2009
Looking under the bonnet
It’s something about potential, about possibility. Some people seem to get a thrill looking at a Chevrolet engine.
For me it’s the body and its bones and muscles and skin.
To draw the body, and indeed paint it, you need to know how it works. You can’t make a car without knowing how the engine goes together. So you need to know about anatomy and then, when you look at the figure, you can begin to make sense of the minute differences of tone that signal the presence of the bones and muscles beneath the surface.
Leonardo would strip down an entire engine, at night, in the mortuary, to find out what went on, the better that he could draw.
Time was I could strip out the air filter, change the oil and oil filter, adjust the points and tap the business end of a spark plug with a blunt hammer until the required thin strip of metal, it what was charmingly called the Feeler Gauge, would fit snugly in the gap. Even replace a radiator hose or HT lead twixt plug and distributor cap.
But that was in the days when, lifting the bonnet, you were presented with something that looked like an engine, like the one above, recognisable for all its internal combustiveness.
And today? Well, having lifted the bonnet of my Mercedes Vito, I guess I’ll stick to drawing.
Posted by john at February 22, 2009 09:50 AM
Comments
.......Its a good job you don't live in Cuba then,without the knowledge of how to amend a car an old american car at that,you are walking,its a full time occupation for the Cubans mending cars......well and the two part time jobs thay do ont he side, smoking fat cigars & drinking Rum.
Posted by: paula at February 23, 2009 12:24 PM