I have been drawing automobiles since I was in the third grade. I guess my interest in cars started when I was about seven years old. As I grew up I had teachers in school who told me that my drawing was wasting paper. I had others who questioned the subject material for my drawings. Some said I would never get a job drawing cars and I needed to pursue other subjects. Some of these comments were a discouragement yet I was stubborn and drew my heart’s desire, CARS! I have been drawing vehicles for 40 years now. I remember some of the cars we had while I was growing up as a child. Oldsmobiles, Fords, Ramblers (now there’s a car!) Chevys, pick-ups, and I could go on and on. The first car I remember was a ’59 Olds 4 door. I remember it as a pink and bronze tank with huge fins. I would lay on the back dash and look up at the stars as we drove through the Kansas countryside on our way home after spending time with Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. I remember walking passed the Ford garage on my way to school and peering in at the new Mustang on display in the showroom. Most times I would stop and gaze longingly at that shiny red convertible. Automobiles were and are an American icon. I’m sure we all have wonderful memories of automobiles from our childhoods.

 It is for this reason I began this series called “PEDAL PUSHERS”. I have never owned a pedal car but at one time my great-grandfather and grandfather sold MM (Minneapolis Moline) tractors and had a MM pedal tractor. We would go to his home and there would be that bright yellow tractor. Red wheels and lettering, mini tractor tires on the rear and a shiny red seat. That was a well used toy. I believe it‘s still in the family.

While all of us had bicycles, some of the “luckier” children from that time period had real pedal cars. Whether they were coupes, sedans, trucks, or any other body style; the pedal cars were a child’s dream. My dream. The bright colors, shiny wheels and steering wheel, rubber pedals and “cool” grillwork all fascinated our generation. I also remember the freedom we had to ride through our small town neighborhoods and is something all but forgotten. We could leave our home after breakfast and not come in till dark during the summer months. I actually believe the neighborhood was our babysitter. We had complete reign from one end of town to the other and even though those days are long gone, we will never forget small town life and pedaling through it as we grew up. Pedal cars were a completion to the picture for that era.

 As I complete this series, culminating in a total of seven pencil drawings; five of which will be colored pencil and two will be black and white. The next work to be printed is the pedal fire truck displayed on the bottom right of this page. Please continue to check this site periodically for further updates and new works in progress.

 Thank you for your interest in one of the most important toys to impact our American heritage; the automobile.

 Greg