Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings has put out a call for the finest aircraft paint schemes and exterior finishes in the sky.
Whether it’s a newly painted business jet, single or twin engine, kit plane, sport plane, or helicopter, the company is looking to feature the finest looking aircraft in its 2021 Aerospace Coatings Calendar.
“Every year our calendar program grows more and more popular, as we search for and provide a platform to highlight outstanding examples of true design and paint production excellence,” says Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams Global Marketing Manager for Aerospace Coatings. “Our Marketing Team is excited our annual calendar program celebrates the scheme designers and paint craftsman of the aviation industry and their incredible works of art.”
Any aircraft submitted to the calendar must be exclusively finished in Sherwin-Williams brand topcoats, no exceptions. Entries must also include professional photography of the aircraft showing multiple angles and any custom details as judging is based on finish quality, technical difficulty, design originality and artistic merit, according to company officials.
Submissions will be accepted through Sept. 14, 2020. Winners will be notified in November 2020.
The as-of-late “any set of swoopy lines” paint schemes are just awful. When will this tacky trend finally die off? It’s as if any set of curving lines thrown down on a shape is something to admire. Equally as bad are the ones with “pictures” airbrushed on. An airplane is not an art canvas and its shape and looks are easily ruined by plastering pictures onto the side and/or tail. Many owners actually LOWER the value of their airplanes by trying to be graphic designers when they have no talent whatsoever in this regard.
The classic paint schemes found on Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft airplanes of the 60’s through the 80’s were professionally designed and beautifully executed. Look to these for inspiration and ideas.
Paint scheme design should be left to professional graphic designers. The good schemes are not that way by accident, nor are they “personal expressions” of anything. They are designed by people who are educated and knowledgeable in what works and what doesn’t, given the shape and size of the subject.
When it comes to paint designs on airplanes, as they say.. “don’t try this at home”.