Texas Artist Creates His Work the Dirty Way

By Sam Shaw

Dust is one of those inevitabilities. If you do not wash your car, it accumulates. At some point, most people wash their cars; but other people just let it build and build on their cars.

A lot of people just cannot resist the temptation to write messages in the dirt and dust on cars (most often "wash me" or some variant on the phrase). There is more that can be done than simply scrawling a message in the dust, however and these dust-covered windshields can become a canvas for artists to create pieces that delight even the most hardened skeptics.

San Marcos, TX artist Scott Wade saw the potential that existed in every dirty windshield and began using these canvases to create art which is stirring up a lot of buzz.

Scotts area of residence is on the Roadrunner Road, on the northern part of the town of San Marcos. The area is hilly and dusty, which is an added advantage to him as his car accumulates dirt within no time and provides a canvas, which he soon puts to good use.

Of course he cannot make art with his own dirty car all the time; his wife and his neighbours have generously offered the use of their vehicles as the raw material for his art. Scott Wade does not use all of the equipment which many other artists need to make their work.

The Texan artist uses standard brushes along with his fingers and even Popsicle sticks! Wade makes use of brushes to create the fine details on his ever more popular work. His work is as unique and visually striking as it is ephemeral; dirty windshield art will last only so long " after all, rain will eventually wash his pieces away. The artist welcomes light rains however, since these can add some interesting streaks and naturally created patterns to his work. Wade creates windshield art using a variety of subject matter, including reproductions of famous works by Van Gogh, Da Vinci and others. He has even drawn the presidents on Mt. Rushmore in the dust of his windshield. He also does portrait work, both of people and animals.

One of the things which make Scott Wade's windshield art so unique is that they acquire more dust as the car is driven, adding more effects to the work. Dew makes streaks and dots in the images and through these natural processes, his work evolves over time ... Until a heavy rain, that is " but the transitory nature of his art is what makes it something truly special.

Scott Wade has an online gallery where you can view his previous work and if you are lucky, you may even have the opportunity to see him in person. The artist occasionally tours the country exhibiting his work and demonstrating how it is created to always-eager audiences. His work is becoming increasingly popular and there is a national level of buzz about this Texas artist and his work. - 21392

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Protecting your investment in your art car is just as important as the design work. Make sure you purchase the proper insurance if you are thinking of putting your car in the car art gallery!