@CTMPOfficial • @IMSA • @HawkPerformance • (BOWMANVILLE, ON – June 17, 2015) Canadian Tire Motorsport Park unveiled the event poster for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix presented by Hawk Performance today, designed by Ivan Novotny, featuring the dynamic artwork of Doug Garrison.
The final poster design and artwork – which features the #10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP for Wayne Taylor Racing - exemplifies the artists passion for speed while paying homage to the great race art of the past.
"We're thrilled with the finished product and believe our partners and our fans will be as well – many have fond memories of the posters from our rich history," said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
"It's been a pleasure working with such talented artists like Doug and Ivan, both of whom have an understanding and a deep passion for motorsports. Their hard work has resulted in a great piece of art."
Garrison, who was born and raised in Indianapolis and now resides near St. Augustine, Florida, caught the "racing bug" early and by age 10 knew he would someday find a way to capture the sense of speed and glory found at the famous Speedway.
These days, his artwork is well known and sought after throughout the paddocks of North America. Many drivers, team owners, sponsors and fans have his work in their collections. His art is created with a mixture of innovative digital techniques and old-school watercolour abstracts, mixed to produce vibrant pieces that capture the essence and passion of the sport.
For Novotny, a visit to the Canadian Grand Prix in 1973 sparked his love of motorsports as he was instantly intoxicated by the sights, sounds and smells of the race track.
An artist in his own right, graphic designer and photographer, Novotny has spent the better part of three decades working on his craft. A choice project in his portfolio was developing the new brand logo for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The native of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has also collaborated closely with hall of fame Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows to create 'The Colour of Victory', a dynamic limited edition print that celebrates and captures Fellows' legacy with the Corvette Racing program.
The two met on Facebook through a mutual friend, track photographer John Walker. Quickly realizing their shared interests and mutual respect for each other's work, they saw an opportunity to work together on something special.
Their journey through the design process began by looking back at vintage race posters from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and other classic posters from the golden age of auto racing. They all shared similar characteristics, simple and refined in their design, supporting the main image – an expressionistic "work of art" depicting the race and venue.
"I believe these new pieces of collateral will have great impact and will be sought after by collectors," stated Novotny. "We are thrilled to be working closely with the team at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on this project. Doug's prolific body of work, with visceral bold style and acute colour sense has earned him the top spot, most influential artist in motorsports today."
"Ivan's design sense and keen eye is very special," added Garrison. "It's incredibly apparent when one views top photography from an event, it's quite easy to spot Ivan's work. With today's technology, collaborating across borders and being thousands of miles apart isn't an issue."
The Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix presented by Hawk Performance, the only Canadian appearance for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, runs from July 9-12.
Event posters, which are 24" x 36", are available for purchase online at www.store.ctmpark.com for just $10 while supplies last or email info@ctmpark.com
For further information: Ryan Chalmers/ ryan@ctmpark.com 800-866-1072 (office) (905) 260-1711 (cell)
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