Is it a scam or not ?

[Mick G Star]

Has anyone come across a person trading as "The art of Antonio Lopes, Motorsport Artist of London" We met him at Brands Hatch earlier this year when down at the Tuscan Challenge meeting. He introduced him self armed with camera and sample painting to our team offering to take pictures of the car on the circuit, then send photo's of the car to us, you select the photo you want and he produces two paintings for £45. He asks for £10 up front on the day and yes he did send one print via snail mail although not very good and the remaining balance of the account of £35 to be paid and sent back to him before he paints the pictures. He states that the paintings would take about ten days. I asked around at Silverstone if any of you had, had dealings with this person and a few of you have and have tried to contact him with no results to date. I must admit I did not notice if he had anything to show that he had signed on at the circuit to take photo's but saying that he was not flashing it about either. Is this guy bang at it or is he genuine? Mickey.

[falcemob]

He's so slow he goes backward. My mate has had a couple done by him and they took ages, same with my uncle. I think he may have more work than his brush can cope with. They are both away on hols at the moments so I can't ask what sort of problems they had, although I do know they did have hassle with him.
The other thing is that his work isn't what I would call the best in the world and looks like it is painted by a 9 YO art class student, just my opinion though.

Edited by falcemob on Monday 11th August 15:06

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

he phoned me on thursday asking for the pics to make the paintings from. I havent got round to it yet. I dont think its a scam, but equally not sure how good he is either.

[pistol pete]

Sorry for digging up a prehistoric thread. Did you guys get your paintings & are you happy with them.

Antonio spoke to me at the MGCC meeting at Brands a couple of weeks ago. I now have one photo from him & he is asking for the remaining money for the painting. Did you guys get what was promised & did you feel it was worth it?


Cheers,
Pete

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

I didnt bother

[Dave PORTER]

Don,t touch this muppet with a barge pole,I,m still waiting for painting paid for in 01....Pics were sent of myself and Ben + PRW racing at brands. I often phone his mobile as I still have his number in my toolbox but even though he remembers me ...still no painting...He also borrowed our own pics but never returned them

[TVR_owner]

[grumpy bear]

I dont know how he does his but Adobe Photoshop has a both a watercolour effect and a sketch effect than can be applied to any photograph. The results are fairly convincing. I think a panned side image with lots of motion blur would look pretty good.

I dont use Photoshop, preferring the Nikon software for editing, but having tried it I will concede that Photoshop elements is easier to get better results on portraits. I dont do that many so havent bothered beyond the trial version.

Now if there is a market for images of this type, I would make the investment and do them.

Printing costs range between £5 (A4) to £17 (A1) on 260 gsm semi matt or £15 (A4) to £27 (A1) on unstreteched canvas. So with the mucking about time addded cost would range from £10 for an A4 260 gsm to £35 for a canvas. Framing would be down to you.

Of course standard pictures are availble from George Carter or myself for around the printing costs and by this stage of the season I'm sure we have loads of potential images that you could pick from. Some of the teams already ready have arrangements in place with us. All you have to do is ask.

Mal

[darren no 7]

i had one done a few years back and it was the funniest thing i have ever seen my 5 year old could have done better dont send any money

Edited by darren no 7 on Wednesday 17th June 18:12

[Mick G Star]

The guys a crank, after many months of phoning him he sent me one painting not two like I ordered and paid for and as stated by another on here a five year old could have done better. Dont waist your money as his work is not good at all.

[Chimtastic]

He did this one for me of the Chimmy on a track day at Donnington



bloody good job I thought!