Editor’s note: For an update on Jedrejuk’s art, visit his website.
Sometimes, it takes someone from another country to remind us of the beauty here at home. For example, consider Piotr Jedrzejuk, a Polish artist whose Grand Touring Art series features “The American Dream Roadside” with classic cars in classic American settings. Jedrzejuk is using the Indiegogo website to fund the production and distribution of his collection of more than 50 illustrations.
The son of diplomats, Jedrzejuk spent part of his childhood in Washington, D.C., and recalls a grade school teacher discouraging his interest in becoming an artist.
“I would love to come back to America and stay there forever,” he said in an email exchange with the ClassicCars.com Journal. Jedrzejuk’s day job involved designing websites.
“I have enjoyed every single day of my childhood there I really miss it, and I guess that’s one of the things that fueled my motivation to complete this project.”
However, he admits, “I was never a big fan of American cars before I started this project. However, through this 18-month journey, I have discovered so many beautiful cars from America… especially the ones from the 1930s, the art deco era, or as some call them, ‘the rolling sculptures,’ literally moving pieces of art which were flamboyant cars back in their days driving by wealthy individuals or socialites.”
While living in Washington, D.C., Jedrzejuk did travel to New York City and to Florida, so much of his work on the project involved research into cars and locations even before he could start creating his vintage-style artwork.
First, he discovered locations and cars, and then decide how to match them. He also worked with and compensated photographers and others to obtain images he would use for inspiration, even including their names on the posters.
While he knew of places such as Mount Rushmore and the Golden Gate Bridge, “I did not know the other 30+ locations. I wanted to diversify the landscapes the landmarks, so that’s why I went for smaller towns which were more visually appealing than skyscrapers.
“I have tried to combine the best of both worlds, the location and the car which will present itself at it’s best with a given location.
“I looked at every project from an artistic point of view. Some illustrations have a regional connection with the automotive images. In fact, I originally wanted to do all of the illustrations like that, so that they had a ‘spirit.’ However, this was not possible in many cases. This series is all about the looks and may not appeal to the purists.”
But then again, it very well may. Consider images such as the Mormon Meteor on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible at the Golden Gate Bridge, a Corvette and ‘50s Chevy convertible on Ocean Drive in Florida, a ’59 Cadillac amid the neon of Las Vegas, or even the humor of a pair of classic, big-winged Dodge Daytona Chargers matched in a gun-fight style setting in Dodge City, Kansas.
Jedrzejuk said he selected “happy” colors for the Grand Touring Art series because “they reflect my personality, my mood when I think of the things I enjoy the most.”
“I love cars, and travel,” he said. “I also wanted people to experience nothing but positive emotions when they view these projects.”
Prints of the Grand Touring Art series are available in various sizes. According to his Indiegogo page, Jedrzejuk hopes to being making deliveries in September.
