Not every Foxwood project begins with a client request. Sometimes it begins with an idea and an opportunity to create something that belongs in a particular place.
For a car show in downtown Renton, we wanted to develop an original artwork that would capture the energy, nostalgia and visual character of a classic automobile. That idea became a dimensional turquoise Chevrolet built through drawing, painting, layered construction and patterned woodwork.
The Original Idea
The downtown car show provided the setting, but the creative direction was open.
Rather than making a conventional event sign or engraving a stock image onto a plaque, Foxwood developed an original classic-car composition designed to stand on its own as artwork.
The turquoise Chevrolet became the focal point because its distinctive shape, chrome details and bold color offered an opportunity to work across several materials and techniques.
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Beginning With the Drawing
The piece began with understanding the vehicle’s proportions and most recognizable features.
Its body lines, windshield, headlights, grille, trim and wheels all contributed to its identity. Those details had to be interpreted before deciding which elements would be cut, painted, layered or visually emphasized.
The drawing became the foundation for translating a three-dimensional vehicle into dimensional wall art.
Built in Layers
The Chevrolet was constructed as a layered focal point rather than reproduced as a flat printed image.
Individual components created depth through the body, windows, trim, wheels and front details. Painted color brought the turquoise vehicle to life, while the layered construction introduced shadows and dimension that change according to the viewing angle.
The combination made the car feel visually separate from the background instead of simply resting on its surface.
A Background With Movement
The wood background was designed as part of the artwork.
Angled wood sections create a geometric pattern that draws attention toward the vehicle while suggesting movement. Differences in grain and tone provide natural texture and warmth against the smooth turquoise paint.
The frame, background and vehicle were developed as one composition rather than unrelated elements assembled afterward.
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Traditional Craft Meets Modern Equipment
The piece brought together artistic skills and modern fabrication methods.
Depending on the component, the process drew from:
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Original drawing and illustration
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Painting and hand finishing
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Layered wood construction
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Intarsia-inspired techniques
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Precision cutting
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Engraving and dimensional detailing
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Material selection and composition
The equipment helped produce the individual elements, but the concept, drawing, color and construction decisions shaped the finished artwork.
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Created for Downtown Renton
Making the piece for a downtown Renton car show gave the project a clear sense of place.
Classic vehicles already carry stories of design, craftsmanship and personal connection. Creating an original Chevrolet artwork allowed Foxwood to participate in that atmosphere while showing another side of what can be designed and produced in our downtown studio and woodshop.
The project was not commissioned and was not based on a customer’s supplied design. It began as a Foxwood idea created specifically for the occasion.
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What the Project Made Possible
The Chevrolet demonstrated how a single original concept can become a larger dimensional artwork.
The same approach could be developed around:
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A vehicle connected to a family memory
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An aircraft honoring a pilot’s career
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A firehouse or department recognition piece
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A military retirement or service display
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A landmark associated with a community
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A shadow box preserving meaningful objects
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Artwork based on a profession, achievement or legacy
Each future piece would begin with its own subject and story rather than reproducing this design.
The Result
The completed Chevrolet artwork combined illustration, bold color, dimensional construction and geometric woodwork in one cohesive composition.
It captured the recognizable character of a classic car while demonstrating Foxwood’s ability to take a project from an original idea through artistic development and physical construction.
It was created for a local car show, but it also became an example of what is possible when art comes first and the materials are selected to support it.
Original Art and Custom Commissions From Foxwood
Foxwood develops original artwork and one-of-a-kind commissions from our studio and woodshop in Renton, Washington.
Some pieces begin with an original Foxwood concept. Others begin with a client’s photographs, meaningful objects, story or idea. From there, we explore the composition, materials, scale and techniques that can bring the subject to life.
Projects may incorporate wood, paint, glass, stained glass, resin, engraving, sandblasting, intarsia and layered dimensional elements.
Have an idea that deserves to become something completely original? Tell us what inspired it, and we’ll help you explore what it could become.
