An automotive aftermarket manufacturer required a diagram illustration to show how a new type of cellulose fiber could filter automotive oil better than previous competitive products. This is a sepia line art drawing on D’Arches watercolor paper, with Windsor & Newton watercolor washes added by hand.
Oil Filter Diagram
Randal Birkey illustrated this Aiwa car stereo unit for an ad agency in the early 1980’s.
Aiwa Car Stereo - Technical Line Illustration
As a part of developing a technical illustration business in the 1980′s, Randal Birkey did many illustrations as “self-promotion.” These projects were designed to push skills and abilities further, and to show prospective customers what could be done.
This pen and ink line art illustration of a Renault Elf Formula One racing car was carefully constructed by the illustrator using a scale model as a reference. The right front and rear tires were shown transparently to reveal the brake systems. The top body panel was rendered transparent to reveal the driver cockpit area. The top rear body panels were also shown transparently to reveal engine intake and exhaust components.
Randal went on to finish this illustration in color and it was used on a number of his self-promotion ads during the 1980′s and early 1990′s.
Renault Elf Racing Car - line art
Renault Elf Racing Car - Color
Randal enjoys automotive illustration, especially of racing and hot rod automobiles. This illustration is of a 1972 Datsun 240z racing car modified and driven by Bob Sharp Racing team in the IMSA circuit. These early Datsun’s (now Nissan) were very popular in the early 1970′s, and Randal owned and restored one himself.
Bob Sharp Racing - Datsun 240z
Photo of 1975 Datsun - Bob Sharp Racing
Mercedes Benz Prototype C-111 Gullwing
Randal did this drawing of a Mercedez Benz Prototype Model C-111 in the 1980′s. Based upon a photo of this experimental, Wankel-powered automobile, the illustration was done by hand with ink lines and black wax pencil shading on croquill board. Croquill board has a bumpy surface that when certain types of dark pencils are rubbed across, it creates a “stipple” effect.
Photo of a similar model to one in the illustration