"The King of Cool" Steve McQueen celebrity portrait by Chris Tutty

Title: The King of Cool
Artist: Chris Tutty
Dimensions: 40 x 60 inches

The King of Cool is a striking 40 x 60-inch painting by Chris Tutty that immortalizes the iconic Steve McQueen in a relaxed yet commanding pose. Seated on a coach, McQueen effortlessly embodies style in a pink polo shirt, white jeans, and his signature pale canvas kicks. As light on his feet as he was around the track, McQueen’s footwear collection was functional, fashionable, and incredibly hard-wearing, with his favorite pair of canvas sneakers transitioning from his motorbike to the film set and the poolside.

In this portrayal, McQueen holds his H&R Model 939 “Ultra Sidekick” 22 LR 9-shot revolver with a 6” heavy barrel, pointing it at a wall, embodying the iconic cool that defined his legacy. His favorite pair of sunglasses, the legendary Persol 714 folding frames, are also part of the ensemble, completing his laid-back yet commanding look.

One of the standout features of the painting is McQueen’s Hanhart 417 military chronograph watch. Before his love affair with the Rolex Submariner, McQueen was regularly seen wearing this iconic watch, which was designed during World War II for use by the German air force. Its black dial with white accents made it highly legible at a glance, perfectly suiting McQueen’s precision and style. The Hanhart 417 is a subtle nod to McQueen’s rugged and refined taste, enhancing the aura of "cool" that surrounded him.

Adding to the relaxed vibe of the scene is a Coors Banquet beer, also known as the "Yellow Jacket," casually placed on the couch beside McQueen. A nod to one of his favorite drinks, the Coors Banquet complements the easygoing yet stylish atmosphere of this portrait, further encapsulating McQueen’s signature cool.

The background evokes the spirit of Palm Springs, subtly referencing McQueen’s iconic love for the desert landscapes and mid-century modern architecture. Soft, muted tones accentuate McQueen’s effortless cool, capturing the tension and ease of the moment in equal measure.

The King of Cool isn’t just a portrait of Steve McQueen—it’s a testament to the man behind the legend. This painting captures not only his undeniable style but the essence of what made McQueen a true cultural icon: a man of action, fashion, and grace under pressure.

ORIGINAL WORKS (SOLD)

Each Original painting is unique and a one of a kind creation. A great amount of time and detail goes into each piece of art from hand painted brush strokes in acrylic and oil medium, to the unique art of airbrushing done with only the best of paints, Createx Auto -Air Colors and House of Kolors Automotive Paint. Aspects of geological layering almost like sedimentary rock are imparted with mixed mediums such as metallics, gold and silver flaking, the introduction of coppers and iron magnesium’s in fine powder as well as glass resins, pearls and industrial candy coats as seen on high end automobiles. Certain master pieces also use elements of sculpture with molding paste, crackling and organic material to highlight low and high points in the picture creating a dimensional embossed image which leaps off the canvas.

 ARTIST PROOFS 

With the addition of all these materials and techniques in the Original, you may ask, what does an Artist Proof look like and how does it differ from the Original painting? Due to this unique style of artwork, normal prints are no even an option. An Artist Proof is painted in the same manner as an Original and all of the above techniques mentioned in the Original are imparted in the Artist Proofs with one exception. Artist proofs are derived from the original image. The original is professionally photographed by Rob Ryan of Render DC prior to its completion. The artist proof file is digitally remastered with a spectrometer and color balanced to lead to the next step. It is then printed and stretched on canvas providing a mapping for the new proof. This is called a archial pigment print. The stretched canvas is then re-airbrushed in order to retain the true vibrant colors of the original. Molding paste, pearls, metal flakes, candies, and neon paints are incorporated, and then sealed with glass resins. The Artist Proof equals the Original. The Proof is of the same quality but has expressive variations. Essentially it is a new painting based on the Original. The price point of the Artist Proof can be marketed with substantial savings, thus provides the consumer access to a truly unique piece of art.