Original artwork description:

Ayrton Senna, The Morning Of Mourning 1994
594mm x 420mm
Professor Sid Watkins said in his autobiography that Senna had been deeply affected by the death of Roland Ratzenberger, the day before, and cried during the drivers’ meeting on the morning of the San Marino Grand Prix. Professor Watkins suggested to him not to race, but the pressures of his contract and his drive to compete overpowered his sombre mood. Sadly, he was to meet the same tragic fate as Ratzenberger just a few hours later.

Having read and watched a lot about him, I’ve painted this portrait of Senna, deep in thought as he prepares to get into his Williams for the last time on that fateful Sunday in 1994. What I have always found fascinating was that with all the mental turmoil going on in his head that day, his final few laps while leading the race, appeared some of his most determined, committed, and precise that he ever raced.

Thankfully, his legend lives on through all of the amazing stories and footage of him.

Materials used:

Acrylic paint on 300gsm acid free paper

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