When I painted Michael Schumacher, I used pictures from the 1998 "Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro" Formula 1 calendar. I really liked the position of the car on one page of the calendar, but I had to create another background. So I added a checkered flag and the Ferrari flag and used a light gray to create the checkerboard effect.

To prepare my canvas, I used three layers of Liquitex acrylic gesso, and I sanded between each layer. I used 220-grit sandpaper on the first and second layers, and 400-grit for the third. Most of the drawing is done with a 2H pencil. For the car (and everything red), I used a Prismacolor pencil.

I place the masking film on the canvas, cut it, and then peel it off. Using Liquitex blackmars, I paint the background and the back. Then, to create a granite-like texture for the road, I remove the nozzle cap of my airbrush and drop the pressure to 7psi.

To protect the car from inevitable oversprays when I'm painting the checkered and Ferrari flags, I use a combination of tape and paper. I place masking film on the background, then cut out and shoot the checked flag with blackmars.

Now it's time to paint the Ferrari flag with some naphthol crimson. Once that's done, I use blackmars and a paintbrush for the points of the checkered flag.

To create the effect of pleats on the red flag, I use Com-art opaque ultramarine and Com-art transparent violet. Using my airbrush and a template, I add the pleats freehand.

When the suspension bars and front wheel are done, I draw (on a large piece of paper) a checkerboard to use as a stencil. With my airbrush, I paint the squares with Golden carbon black.

It's time to mask the suspension bars, and the Marlboro, Ferrari, Shell and other logos. To get the effect of a shine on the car, I use naphthol crimson. When I want to create a certain light intensity, I use naphthol red light. For a darker effect, I use ultramarine and violet from Com-art.

To protect the back aileron of the car, I use a piece of paper. I emphasize the shading with a naphthol clear red, and I use an opaque white to brighten some areas. Then I peel off the masking paper. For the Shell logo, I spray with a medium hansa yellow. Then, using a naphthol clear red, I spray over the yellow paint, shading it.

For Schumacher's helmet, I spray phthalo blue after applying "liquid mask" for the light areas. Next, I apply the side of the helmet with carbon black, using a shading method to produce a shiny effect. Then I use naphthol crimson red and medium hanso yellow. To paint the logos and "M. Schumacher," I use a brush. For the stars on top of the helmet, I mask with 2-inch masking tape, cut out the outlines, and spray the surface with ultramarine blue. I accentuate the shadows with phtalo blue and opaque white; I do the same with the light areas.

With a paintbrush, I use a carbon black to outline the "Asprey." I mask the Pioneer logo with frisket and cut out the letters. Peeling the masking from around the letters, I use masking paper to protect the Shell and Asprey logos and the bottom of the car. I spray the blue-tinted Pioneer logo with shiny cobalt blue/purple. When the paint has dried, I spray a carbon black shading.

I peel off the masking film and spray a thin layer of satiny mat black Liquitex on the entire canvas. To protect the work when it's dry, I apply a second and thicker layer. Once that dries, I spray a third and final layer.