The Most Exciting Builds on Instagram Aren't Even Real Cars

Boof, boof. (car engines revving) These are renders, outrageous machines built with 3-D modeling software. Social media posts of these cars have exploded in the past two years with new artists posting every day. And it's got me wondering, how can this art change the automotive industry?

Before I talk about Instagram, we need to talk about the history of automotive design in the context of the automotive industry. That way we'll see how Instagram car art is so different from the formal stuff. Then we'll meet some artists and talk about their processes and influences. Then we'll take a look at one production car that I think was directly influenced by these artists. After that, I'll give you a short list of artists you should follow right now. Finally, I'll get sappy and talk about why I think fusing art and cars is so cool.

Automotive design is an art form steeped in tradition. Most concepts for any car you've ever seen started as a sketch on a piece of paper, penned by an automotive designer with formal training. These people went to school to design cars. I went to school to learn how to party, and guess what? I got my Master's degree, with a focus on keg stands.

Generally, these designers can't just design whatever they want and the factory will make it. Company leadership decides what to build based off of market demand and the designers have to ride the fine line between sketching a car that looks amazing but also conforms to parameters like safety, practicality, and desirability.

After a car is drawn out and approved, then the designers have to bring that idea into the real world by modeling the car in clay. You've probably seen this before, right? Slick B-roll of designers scraping away at a car, getting the shape just right. There's probably a guy with glasses, and since the clay is the same color as my skin, it kinda looks like they're building some horrific human-car hybrid, kinda like that episode of Full Metal Alchemist with the chimera.

These clay models are actually still very valuable in the industry, despite the fact that VR exists. That's because you can actually walk up and touch these things and see them in the real world. You can tell that a real-life person worked on it, and that's why they still use this old-school technique.

The end result of that OEM pipeline is usually a concept car, the kind that you see unveiled at an auto show when they pull a shiny cover off the car and people go, "Wow!"

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- What if told youthe most exciting builds on Instagramaren't even real cars?Boof,boof.(car engines revving)These are renders,outrageous machines builtwith 3-D modeling software.Social media posts of these carshave exploded in the past two yearswith new artists posting every day.And it's got me wondering,how can this artchangethe automotive industry?Okay, before I talk about Instagramwe need to talk about the historyof automotive designin the context of the automotive industry.That way we'll see how Instagram car artis so different from the formal stuff.Then we'll meet some artistsand talk about theirprocesses and influences.Then we'll take a lookat one production carI think was directlyinfluenced by these artists.After that I'll give youa short list of artistsI think you should followright now.Finally I'll get sappyand talk about why Ithink fusing art and carsis so cool.(upbeat electronic music)Automotive design is an art formsteeped in tradition.Most concepts for any car you've ever seenstarted as a sketch on a piece of paper,penned by an automotive designerwith formal training.These people went toschool to design cars.I went to school to learn how to party,and guess what?I got my Master's,with a focus on keg stands.Generally these designerscan't just design whatever they wantand the factory will make it.Company leadership decides what to buildbased off of market demandand the designers haveto ride the fine linebetween sketching a car that looks amazingbut also conforms toparameters like safety,practicality,and desirability.After a car is drawn out and approved,then the designers have to bring that ideainto the real worldby modeling the car in clay.You've probably seen this before, right?Slick B-roll of designersscraping away at a car,getting the shape just right.There's probably a guy with glasses,and since the clay isthe same color as my skinit kinda looks like they're building somehorrific human car hybrid,kinda like that episodeof Full Metal Alchemistwith the,the chimera.- Can we play now?- These clay models are actually stillvery valuable in the industry,despite the fact that VR exists.That's because you can actually walk upand touch these thingsand see them in the real world.You can tell that a real life personworked on it,and that's why they still usethis old school technique.The end result of that OEM pipelineis usually a concept car,the kind that you seeunveiled at an auto showwhen they pull a shiny cover off the carand people go, "Whoa."And then inevitably the production modelis way different, which is fine, okay?Concepts are all aboutdrumming up interest in your brandand showing peoplewhere you're going.Just look at Kia'sprocess for the Stinger.First we saw the GT concept in 2011,then the GT4 Stinger in 2014,then finally the consumerversion of the Stinger in 2017.It changed a lot,but there are still a lotof elements still presentin the final form,just like that poor girl's personalitywas still in that dog chimera thing.This pipeline uses theart of automotive designto drum up a ton of hype for auto makers.These concepts get tons of exposureon auto magazine sites and social media,but it all started with a trained artistputting pencil to paper,which is a little differentthan how a lot of Instagram-based artistsgot their start.(electronic music)I was lucky enough to interviewthree of the mostwell-known render artistsin the world right now.Khyzyl Saleem,Jon Sibal,and Ash Thorp.If you're any level of car nerd,you've probably seen these guys's workon your Instagram discover page.A common theme between these guysis that they're not formally trainedin automotive design.They either started infields like graphic design,or just taught themselveshow to use rendering software.For example, Khyzyl isthe most Instagram famousof these guys.But he started doing graphic designwhen he was 17,then started working atEA Games when he was 21doing concept art in environmentsfor Need for Speed 2015.Ash Thorp was also workingin the gaming fielddoing menu design forgames like Call of Duty,as well as doing art design for movieslike Ghost in the Shell.And Jon Sibal's been doing comic book artlonger than I've been alive.These guys are artistsfirst and foremost.So we know a little bitabout these artists,but how do they actually make their art?For a long time,I thought that rendererswere just really good with Photoshopand got their work done that way,but it's actuallya lot more impressive.Take a look at this shot by Khyzyl.First, it looks like a photo, right?Well, it's not.Nothing in this shot is real.He had to model the car himself,then modify it,then give the scene color,and then on top of that,he had to take a photoin the digital space.If you wanna learn howto take good photos in the real world,check out this video right here.Larry Chen taught me.These artists are differentthan auto designers, though.And I don't mean for thatto take anything away from either side.I think they're in asymbiotic relationship.The designers make a product,then the artists make it their own.The designers probablythink it's pretty coolthey made something that inspired art.One common trend in the auto render spaceis the use of sci-fi imagery.Both Khyzyl and Ash use dystopianand cyberpunk imagery in their workwhich helps sell therealism of the renders.A tricked-out McLaren P1with Le Mans aero wheels and quad exhaustmight be hard to believewhen it's parked in asuburban neighborhood.But you bathe that sucker in neonand park it on wet asphalt,that's cyberpunk AF.I believe that carexists in that universe.Examples like this,this, and thisharken back to a retrovision of the future,one influenced by films like Blade Runner,Total Recall, and Back to the Future.And that's because these artistsare huge fans of those films.And who isn't?The whole vapor wave aestheticis based on this style.Retro futurism is huge right now.I think that guys like Khyzylhave helped bring that styleinto the car world mainstream.And one auto maker went all out with it.- So I presentto you the cybertruck.- The cybertruck.You've seen the memes,and you've seen the hate probably.But in all that noiseI don't think the cybertruckgot its full due,at least from me anyway.I said it on my Twitter,I like the Tesla truck.It's different,and if it's anything likeTesla's other models,it'll probably drive pretty well, too.Render artists were quick to put outtheir own spins on the truck,including our friend Khyzyl.The cybertruck might be controversialor even ugly,but I applaud Teslafor doing something completely differentthan everyone else in the market.That's precisely the reasonit got so much press.We've never seen an auto makerproduce something like this.- This is a truck that is notdesigned for truck owners.- You're like Thomas Edisonmade cybertruckers pretty new.- Cybertruck was cool, all right?- The ridiculous design of the new Tesla-- Cybertruck.I'm gonna get it.- This is very divisive.- We have, however, seen it in the movies.Blade Runner, Robocop,and that one withStallone in the Pizza Hutall had pointy cars.- Now all restaurants are Pizza Hut.- No way.- And here is where I'm gonna makea bold statement, okay?I think the artist we talked about earliermight have had a handin making the cybertruck a reality.Those guys are clearlyinfluenced by those filmsand use those themes in their art.That style then made its wayinto the ethereal automotive zeitgeist.Tesla is a pretty online company.Elon, he loves his memes.I don't think it's a huge stretchto imagine a Tesla designergoing through their Instagram pageand seeing Khyzyl orAsh's or Jon's work, okay?They coulda been like, "Sick."I love sci-fi."What if I made a pyramid into a truck?"Then bam!Cybertruck.If the cybertruck does well,it could change the whole industry.It'll tell other auto makers,"Hey, use your imagination."Go big, don't be afraid."C'mon guys."Maybe, just maybe,we could see some seriously crazy (beep)in the next decade,and I'm all for it, okay?(electronic music)So giving Instagram artists creditfor making the cybertruckmight be a little lofty, I'll admit it.But these artists affect the industryin other ways, too,maybe most importantlyby showing people what is possible,to either acclaim or some criticism.If you don't follow KhyzylAsh or Jon on Instagram,you should definitely do that now.It's a must do for Wheelhouse fans.I also have some smaller artistsI think you should check out,which I will list right nowwith some of their art, okay?Abimelec Design,Jaked Car Art,Adry53 Customs,Karan Adivy,WNLVD,Paul Fuentes,Aaron Beck,Rain Prisk,and Robert Designs just to name a few.I wish I could do what these guys do,but I can't.Maybe the coolest partis that it gives everyone involvedsome sort of release.The art is therapeutic, right?There's a release when the artistsfinally get to post their finished work.But there's another feelingon the viewer's end, too,that's almost like a,like a thank you.I'm a horrible artistand could never put whatI visualize in my headonto a piece of paper.So when I see someone else get close,I'm like, "Thank you,"thank you very much."Now I can see what I want."It sounds very woo woo,but I believe that.Not to mention that artists like Khyzylare designing body kits now, too,finally bringing their visionfrom the screeninto the real world,which will strengthen their influenceover the industry even more.It's freaking cool.Do you like what these guys dowith these crazy renders?Are you offended byputting a wide body kiton a Lamborghini Miura?I think it's pretty tight.Let me know on Instagram @nolanjsykes,and Twitter, same thing.Follow Donut @donutmedia, be kind.I'll see you next time.Go make some art.Nah, I'm a horrible artistbecause I never practiced.Like, I'm like, "I wish I could draw",but I never draw.Like, I get surprisedthat I can't play my guitar anymore.It's, like, I haven't touchedit in, like, 6 months.