American in London, 1963 Painting

This painting, available through Foolproof Gallery in Denver, shows "The King of Cool," Steve McQueen, riding his Triumph Trophy motorcycle through the streets of London in 1963. At the time, McQueen was on the brink of superstardom with the release of The Great Escape, a film which showcased his skills riding a motorcycle. In his off time, he loved to race cars and motorcycles and shoot guns. "I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth," he told Life Magazine. In this acrylic painting I hoped to capture some of the swagger and confidence Steve McQueen manifested exploring the earth at that time. Note the blurry Mini Cooper in the background.