Indy 500 Winner Shows Talent for Pencils & Pad
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWith three Indy 500 championships to his name, IMS racing legend Johnny Rutherford was a verified artist behind the wheel as he cruised the famed oval at about 200 miles an hour.
These days, more than 25 years since he retired from racing, Rutherford is still an artist, but with pencils and colors in his hand.
His work has recently appeared in a very visible format: the cover of this year’s Indy 500 souvenir program.
In an interview with Around INdiana reporter Mary-Rachel Redman, the driver-turned-drawer shared what his keen eyes see.
“I like to do pencil, soft lead pencil drawings and smear them. Shade them, make them look like a black and white photograph,” said Rutherford. “You’d like to make sure you get the proportions right and everything in perspective and looking like it was and that’s what came out on the cover of the program.”
Rutherford jumped at the chance to show his artistry to the racing fans. He focused on three former competitors for the sketch, including A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Sr., and Rick Mears.
All three have four Indy wins to their name.
“The fans love J.R,” said IMS graphic designer Amiah Mims, who oversaw the project. Mims says Rutherford sketched the cars and then she took it across the finish line.
“Once they were in my possession, I beefed them up a little bit, enhanced the colors, added a little bit of touches of my own stuff with the speed blurs,” said Mims. “I added the legendary yard of bricks and the track and kind of put together the concept.”
Rutherford says he wishes he had a little more time, but he is happy with how the cover turned out. He is now planning to get back into his art, including oil painting.