January 11, 2022 - The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in association with the Bill Neale family is pleased to announce the winner of the inaugural 2021 Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award Invitational. The award, open to both TAWA and non-TAWA members, honors the world-renowned talent and legacy of automotive artistic icon Bill Neale. The 2021 Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award award goes to Austin, Texas-based realist vehicle painter Shan Fannin, for her entry titled “1932 Ford Highboy Roadster."
Photo Used with Permission from Shan Fannin.
"The Texas Auto Writers Association is honored to celebrate the legacy of Bill Neale while highlighting the power and beauty of automotive art in the inaugural year of the Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award Invitational. Thank you to all of the entrants, and congratulations to this year's outstanding winner,” said TAWA President Teia Collier.
“The Neale Family is pleased to award the inaugural TAWA Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award to Shan Fannin for her painting, ‘1932 Ford Highboy Roadster’”, said judge Leslie Neale. “Her bold close-up style, bright colors and unique use of reflections create the emotion true car enthusiasts feel for their rides. It was our father’s passion to further automotive fine art as a legitimate form in the art world and we believe Shan Fannin’s work and her winning painting carries on that mission.”
Fannin’s winning artwork stems from a photograph of a 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster. The original car owner is car collector/seller Charles Herman.
"To have my painting receive this award means more to me than you know. At six years in my profession, I am a relative newcomer to the automotive fine art industry. I regret never having the chance to meet Bill, and wish I could have gotten his feedback on my work,” said Shan Fannin. “It would have been a thrill to learn from him personally. He was truly one of a kind, and is dearly missed. I am so grateful to follow in Bill's footsteps. He was one of the finest automotive artists this world has ever known."
TAWA and the Bill Neale family wish to thank all entrants for their interest and participation in the award. TAWA also thanks the Bill Neale family for its support in developing and launching this prestigious award and collectively we look forward to launching the 2022 competition later this year.
ABOUT BILL NEALE
Photo Courtesy of the Neale family.
To learn more about Bill Neale visit the Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award page: https://www.texasautowriters.org/2021-Bill-Neale-Automotive-Award
Additional Quotes from Shan Fannin
Question: Why paint cars?
"To me, cars are ART. Wouldn’t you agree? They are rolling works of sculpture. A team of highly creative people collaborated to bring what we drive or one day dream of driving to reality. It is an honor to capture these amazing vehicles in acrylic paint, and take them from the road into our living spaces to enjoy." - Shan Fannin
Question: What are the best responses you have had to your work?
I love it when I give my business card to someone and say that I'm a realist vehicle painter. They will look at the card and say: “Wait! That is a PAINTING?! No way! I thought it was a photograph of a car (motorcycle, etc.)!” - Shan Fannin
Visit Shan Fannin’s website here.
Media Credits:
Please credit Shan Fannin’s winning artwork photos:
Used With Permission From Shan Fannin.
Please credit the photo of Bill Neale:
Courtesy of the Neale family.
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