Inspired by the VW
Getting out on the open road and leaving everything behind is what we all long for when setting out on a road trip, and artist Samuel Thomas has captured this hedonistic feeling in his series of original paintings inspired by the VW.
The artist shares his thoughts with us:
Escapism is a unifying theme that runs throughout most of my paintings – and many of my paintings could be likened to a day-dream played out on canvas; not quite in touch with reality. So the excitement and magic experienced on a road trip seemed like the perfect subject matter to paint…..
‘Sun drenched road trip’ captures my experience of a road trip through the south of France. I remember how I deliberately left my watch at home, this holiday was not about worrying about the time, it was simply about getting away from it all. Something I’ve learnt along the way is that life is so much better when you just learn to enjoy the journey to wherever it is you are going and you forget the end goal or the destination. This is a notion I have captured within this painting.
‘Road trip through France’ I later painted inspire by rural France when I decided to open up the expanse of the road ahead by removing the VW campervan so it feels as if we (the viewer) are sat inside our vehicle looking out onto the open road from behind the wind shield.
‘Take Me There’ is all about our fascination with discovering and celebrating a by-gone era by the way I have incorporated a 1950’s wallpaper pattern to mimic a field of psychedelic flowers in the foreground as a VW beetle discovers the countryside. Many of us take incredible pride and attention to detail in how we restore VW campervans back to their former glory, something I’ve seen my cousin with her husband who both run retrocampers.co.uk beautifully restoring VW campers ready for holiday hire at Sheringham, Norfolk.
‘In our dreams’ takes influence from pop art and psychedelic styles and captures a journey that is surreal and more like something envisaged within a dream. As an artist you have the right to run away with your imagination: Why can’t a tree flourish into love hearts beneath the moonlight?!
‘Open road’ is a painting I have been working on over the dark winter months when I have been locked away in the studio getting ready for a busy year ahead. So naturally the anticipation and the excitement of looking forward to the summer ahead has been captured in the atmosphere of this painting.
The gallery section of this website shows you paintings that are inspired by my travels around Norfolk, Suffolk, France and further afield. All original paintings are available to order as unframed limited edition prints from £95 each to hang on your walls so that even during the dark depths of winter you can look forward to holidays and road trips that lay ahead! I also undertake commissioned original paintings that can be based on your photographs of your holidays away including your beloved VW campervan.