Nikki Douthwaite
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JENSON BUTTON
F1 Racing Magazine Articles on wood
Size 244cm by 165cm
June 2009-present (As Jenson is still racing in F1 I am still adding articles)

 

Me with Giant Jenson Head.

Me with my Jenson Button Portrait
Manchester Metropolitan University - The Link Gallery October 09

My favourite driver has since moved to my favourite team, so that makes choosing what to wear at the Grand Prix a little easier!

This was the first Racing Driver Portrait out of F1 Racing Magazine that I made. It was a challenge as I had not worked in this way before, and I stared of ripping up the articles small so that I could use them the same way I had used the dots, but as my confidence grew, I left the articles bigger.

When Jenson first set out as an F1 racing driver I was not a huge fan, although he did impress me in his first year, when he drove for Williams. Sure he was fast, but there was far too much media hype about him, the same thing happened when Lewis came on the scene. Watching the F1 coverage for the first few years was like watching the Jenson Button show ("Hello, what about the other 19 drivers? And D.C. is British too, you know!"), and it started to get on my nerves, not Jenson's fault, but it just did.

Once he went to what was then B.A.R , then Honda before becoming Brawn, I watched the boy Button turn into a man. In the six seasons before this years world championship I watched him suffer as his car just got worse and worse. Of course there were some highlights, they had a good car in 2004, and he got a few podiums, but not the win he needed. Then he got his win in 2006, to which I cried with relief, but in general it got worse with each passing year. Did he complain? Rarely. He often beat his team mate, always gave interviews for his fans, always took the time to sign autographs for Joe Public. He drove like a hero in some races for very few if no points, and he grew and grew on me. Just an all round good guy/great driver with a crappy car.

Each year that his car got worse, my heart went out to him more and more, rounding up in 2008 as Lewis was busy collecting his world title at Brazil, Jenson was climbing out of his flaming (literally!) Honda. This pretty much summed up the way his time with Honda had been. Despite genius Ross Brawn joining the Honda team that year, it had been to late to do anything with the 2008 car. With Honda pulling out of F1, it was not looking good for our Jenson, a talent wasted in the wrong cars at the wrong time.

To my joy, Ross Brawn threw the Honda team and Jenson a lifeline. He then got to drive the car that Brawn had been developing all the previous season, whilst the other big teams were concentrating on their 2008 cars. Brawn had a year head start on the 2009 spec, and in testing it looked quick, so I held my breath and prayed, and finally Jenson had the Car he deserved. I mean, the boy Button had certainly paid his dues! It was obvious that McLaren and the "F" word team would sort out their troubles by mid season, spend their way out of trouble, and when I attended the British Grand Prix I started to fear for Jenson's title. The previous year, after the British Grand Prix, I started to make Lewis, and he won. So being a little superstitious, I decided to pay homage to Jenson too, hoping it would bring him luck and in turn the title that he so deserves.

I know about paying your dues; not being able to get to Art School until my thirties, having always wanting to go, giving up a well paid job and my home to spend nights on your friend's sofa, and working 18 hour days on art that you don't know if anyone will ever see, for 6 years. I know about having to wait, being patient and believing in yourself, even when it looks like their is no hope, and you feel like you are working your ass off for nothing. That is why my passion for Jenson grew; I felt his pain, and found him inspiring, he helped me keep going. That is why I sobbed my heart out when things finally started going his way. He never gave up, and neither will I, hopefully my dream will come true one day just has Jenson's has.

Nikki douthwaite with Jenson button Collage

Jenson Button Collage from F1 Racing magazines. July 09 - present

I am still adding bits to his portrait, currently waiting for this month's edition, to add the fact he won the title to the other articles you can read on his face.

 


Silverstone 2009

After Race party. 3 days of camping with 6 boys and I spend most of my time, me explaining stuff to them!
I wouldn't part with my Brawn hat despite a disappointing day, coupled with a McLaren t shirt.




Hey Jenson, hold still will you I'm trying to sketch you!