Ian Cook (artist)
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (June 2017) |
Ian Cook | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 April 1983[1] Birmingham, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Website | PopbangColour |
Ian Cook is a contemporary British artist who makes art with radio-controlled cars, actual car tyres, and toy car wheels. He operates under the corporate name 'PopbangColour'.
Cook became a car enthusiast at an early age and combined his passions of cars, toys and art to create his artworks. In order achieve a specific feeling of movement, he uses a fleet of remote-controlled cars as his brushes.
Early life[edit]
Ian Cook was born in Birmingham, England in 1983. Cook studied at Langley Secondary School, Solihull from 1994 to 1999, then went to Sutton Coldfield College to study a BTEC National Diploma for Illustration. Finally, he attended Winchester School of Art for Fine Art where he received a first-class BA Honours degree for painting.[2] He then studied at the Latvian art academy in Riga, Latvia, and it was there that he started employing vehicles in his works. Whilst in Latvia he produced photography and collected merchandise in regards to Range Rover.[1]
For a short period, he became a lecturer in fine art and visual studies at Sutton Coldfield College's design centre.[3]
Work[edit]
To create his art, Cook spoons acrylic paint and ink onto large 2.5 x 1.5-metre Fabriano Paper and drives the radio-controlled cars over the canvas in short bursts to create the 'brush strokes'.[4] He also uses full-size car tyres for large blocks of colour and small toy car wheels for different prints and textures.[5] He first began this artwork style when Cook's ex-ex-girlfriend bought him a radio-controlled Lightning McQueen from the film Cars, quote: "And she told me, 'Don't take it down to your studio, and don't get paint on it.' "[6] This inspired Cook to take a large canvas, place it on the floor and apply some paint to a toy car.[7] Cook also uses a large truck to create the larger solid lines.
Cook creates his artworks in his studio, at Fargo Village, Coventry, where he is one of the artists in residence. Cook has been seen creating in public places across the United Kingdom for shows or promotions, including Goodwood Festival of Speed, Autosport International, Salon Privé and Britcar[8]
Cook's artwork has been featured on Blue Peter, Top Gear, The One Show with Chris Evans and Jessie J and painted with Lewis Hamilton on Sky Sports F1.
In October 2008, Cook made a portrait of Formula 1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton the size of "two London double-decker buses", which was unveiled by Tower Bridge, London.[4][9]
In March 2011, Cook featured on the ITV breakfast show Daybreak, where he created a portrait of Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley as well as the Daybreak logo.[10]
Cook broke a Guinness World Record in March 2015 for creating the world's largest glow-in-the-dark painting (207 sq. m) [11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Artist Profile Page". myartspace. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Ian Cook". LinkedIn. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ Suart, Paul. "Birmingham teacher Ian Cook paints a winning F1 picture – Birmingham News". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Lewis Hamilton Painting, Artist Ian Cook Uses Cars Instead of Brushes". Sky News. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ John Mahoney (25 July 2008). "British Artist Paints Using RC Cars As His Brushes". Gizmodo.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ Moye, David (22 November 2013). "Ian Cook Uses Remote Controlled Cars For His Paintings". Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Artist Ian Cook paints the cars". Yellowwheels.com. 23 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ UK (31 May 2008). "Solihull Council – Popbang@solihull – Artist Ian Cook". Government of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Pop art with Popbang Colour". motormorph.com. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Ian Cook – Popbang Colour". Heritage Motor Centre. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Nissan LEAF car used as a paintbrush to create largest glow-in-the-dark painting ever". 14 April 2015.