Membership in AFAS

We receive many, many inquiries about membership in the Society. So we asked 2016 AFAS Membership Committe Chairman Tom Fritz to definitively and concisely outline the process that leads to potential AFAS membership:

How does an artist become a member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society?

Membership in AFAS is by invitation only. The Automotive Fine Arts Society has an obligation to itself, to the public, and to Automotive art to annually hold the best international exhibit of Automotive art. To meet this obligation, the standards for membership are necessarily high.

Here is the process by which those who aspire to become members are selected:

First, the prospective member submits their application to the Membership Committee. If the Committee refers the applicant for consideration, they will be invited to be a Guest Artist at the yearly exhibition at Pebble Beach in August.

After having shown as a Guest, the artist will then be voted on by the full membership to become an Associate Member at the annual meeting immediately following the exhibition.

Associate Members will have the right to exhibit at AFAS exhibitions other than the annual Pebble Beach exhibition. They would be eligible to exhibit at the Pebble Beach show if there is sufficient space after the invitation of a maximum of two Guest Artists.

When a full membership position becomes available through the retirement, dismissal, or demise of a present member, the Associate Artist may be recommended for full membership by the Membership Committee to the Board of Directors. If approved, the artist will then become a Full Member. This recommendation by the Membership Committee is entirely at the Committee’s discretion and selection is not based on the chronological order in which an Associate Member was added to the Associate Member list.

How do I prepare my application?

By November 1st in the year preceding the event, prepare an email with 2-3 images of your strongest works attached to the email. Be sure to include a link to your website and your CV (Curriculum Vitæ). Finally, submit this email to Membership Committee Chairman.

Please refer to the following guidelines when preparing your images:
• The dimensions of each image should be no more than 800 pixels wide.
• Make the image resolution 72 to 96 PPI (pixels per inch).
• The file size of each image should not exceed 500Kb.
• Make the file type a jpg (jpeg).
• Higher definition images may be requested at a later date.

Applicants will be notified of their success or otherwise early in the New Year.

AFAS Overview

In 1983, six individuals established an organization designed to help them share their passion for automobiles through art. Now called the Automotive Fine Arts Society, this elite group of artists has flourished and garners a reputation as the central organization for those who use automobiles as the primary subject of their works. AFAS symbolizes the highest levels of professionalism and talent in the world.

AFAS membership features international painters and sculptors from across Europe and North America. The group and its members participates in select shows across the country including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Carmel, CA, USA). The Pebble Beach show takes place on the 18th fairway of the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and includes depictions of automotive subjects in a variety of mediums including watercolors, acrylics, oils, wood and various metals.

AFAS’s objectives are to exhibit, promote and publicize fine works of automotive art by its members. AFAS also strives to raise the standards of automotive art to a level that will be accepted as serious works of art by collectors and critics.

In addition, AFAS provides a practical means to form enduring friendships, exchange ideas and build fellowship among automotive fine artists. Members are involved in charitable endeavors supporting the Pebble Beach Concours Charitable Foundation. AFAS also helped create a Children’s Art Competition to benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation™. Additional information about AFAS and its members is available by contacting Scott Black at (214) 520-3430 or at www.autoartgallery.com/afas

Members

+ Paul Bracq
Larry Braun
*Melbourne Brindle
Dennis Brown
*John W. Burgess, Sr.
David Chapple
Ken Dallison
*Carlo Demand
Jim Dietz
Ken Eberts
Art Fitzpatrick
Tom Fritz
*Walter Gotschke
Tom Hale
Peter Hearsey
*Peter Helck
Dennis A. Hoyt
Jack Juratovic

Members

Jay Koka
*Phyllis Krim
#David Lord
Charles Maher
John Marsh
Bill Motta
Niles Nakaoka
Bill Neale
Richard Pietruska
Stanley Rose
Barry Rowe
Tony Sikorski
Klaus Wagger
#Stanley Wanlass
Bruce Wheeler
Gary Whinn

+inactive
*deceased
#emeritus

Associate Members

Sandrine Blondel

Automotive Fine Arts Society LLC Officers

Ken Eberts – President Ken Eberts is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. He has won numerous awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Richard Teague Award at the Meadow Brook Hall Concours d’Elegance. His posters, limited edition prints and Christmas card images have remained a favorite for almost 40 years. Eberts has been AFAS president since its inception.

William A. Motta – Vice President Bill Motta works with artists around the world to elevate the quality of automotive art and further promote its appreciation. He retired from Road & Track after 40 years as the Art Director/Art Editor. Motta still contributes artwork as an independent consultant.

Jay Koka – Sec/Treasurer Following a successful marketing management career, Canadian Jay Koka opened his studio near Toronto in 1985. Koka has been the featured artist and poster artist for many international automotive events and his work has been extensively reproduced. Koka is the publisher of this online publication afasJournal.com - autoArtReview.com

AFAS Board of Directors

Tom Hale – Board of Directors Tom is a full time artist - nearly 30 years and is the recipient of numerous awards including the AWS Gold Medal of Honor. His approach with his automotive paintings is that of fine art and not just pictures of automobiles.

Bill Neale – Board of Directors From Ferraris to Cobra and Aston Martin, Bill Neale has created masterful paintings that serve as treasured centerpieces in many private and corporate art collections around the world.

Richard Pietruska – Board of Directors As a professor at the Art Center College of Design, Richard Pietruska has taught many of the top automotive designers in the world. He has been a member of the AFAS since 1996 and his sculptures have been featured in magazines, art shows and collections around the globe. Using a variety of media, he captures the essence of automotive form and beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Automotive Fine Arts Society? AFAS is a group of world-class fine artists whose pieces are sought by art connoisseurs and auto enthusiasts around the globe.

When was AFAS established? AFAS was established in 1983 by six individuals who aspired to organize the world’s most prolific group of automotive fine artists.

How many active members does AFAS have? AFAS currently has 24 active members living around the globe who are dedicated to making automotive fine art a genre that appeals to the wide range of fine art connoisseurs.

What are the objectives of AFAS? AFAS’s objectives are to exhibit, promote and publicize fine works of automotive art by its members. AFAS also strives to raise the standards of automotive art to a level that will be accepted as serious works of art by both art collectors and art critics. In addition, AFAS provides a practical means to form enduring friendships, exchange ideas and build a fellowship among automotive fine artists.

Are AFAS works limited to paintings? AFAS members are not strictly limited to oil, watercolors and acrylics. In fact, many AFAS artists are known for work in a variety of mediums including plastics, wood and various metals.

Are AFAS members limited to the automotive genre? While AFAS members focus primarily on the automotive industry, many of the artists are widely recognized for their works depicting aviation, naval and various fine art subjects.

Is AFAS sponsored? Interest in the fine arts has attracted sponsorship of AFAS shows by high profile companies such as Aston Martin, Ford Motor Company, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti.

What type of backgrounds do AFAS members have? The experience and background of each artist is as diverse as their artistic style. From automotive design and advertising illustration to professional art instructors and general fine artists, each member has developed a talent of creatively expressing their artistic passions.

Does AFAS regularly participate in automotive concours? AFAS produces the annual Premiere Exhibition at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. However, most member artists participate in additional shows, exhibits and galleries during the year.

How is AFAS involved in the community? Members are deeply involved in charitable endeavors. In addition to supporting the Pebble Beach Concours Charitable Foundation and Amelia Island Hospice, AFAS helped create a Children’s Art Competition to benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation™.

How does an artist become a member of AFAS? Membership is by invitation only. The AFAS accepts applications and pieces for membership review. Please refer to the website at www.autoartgallery.com for details.

What is the future of the automotive fine arts industry? Automotive fine art is becoming a desired genre among fine art connoisseurs in every field. Because of its ability to capture the nostalgic past and potential of the future, automotive fine art is destined to serve as the definitive art of our time.

What awards does AFAS bestow? AFAS has award competitions during its exhibition at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance among exhibiting members. The group bestows five Equal Awards of Excellence, the Lincoln Award, the Art Fitzpatrick Award and the Peter Helck Award to its members. The Peter Helck Award is won by peer votes among AFAS members. All other awards are judged by outside fine art critics and professionals.

Does AFAS create a publication of their artwork? AFAS published Automotive Fine Art: A Journal of the Automotive Fine Arts Society, which was published annually to coincide with its Pebble Beach show. This online magazine: afasJournal.com is its successor.

Where can I go for more information regarding AFAS? Additional information about AFAS members, their publication and organization is available by contacting Scott Black at (214) 520-3430 or www.autoartgallery.com/