Should a plane be painted in its natural environs – playing tag with clouds or hopping over trees and meadows? What about painting it forlorn looking, like a sad-eyed puppy dog, on the ramp waiting for its master to take it for a hop? Or maybe it should be shown perched expectantly on a catapult, […]
Art Report
Memories of a grand lady
There’s a lot of excitement at the local unit of the Commemorative Air Force. After almost two years of hard work, its C-53 Skytrooper is about ready to fly and start touring airshows. “”A C-53! What’s that?”” some of you may ask. At the beginning of World War II, commercial DC-1s, DC-2s and DC-3s were […]
‘Lindbergh’s Secret’
The Lockheed P-38 was one of the legendary fighters of World War II. Crowds are still thrilled when one flies by. The 475th Fighter Group, with 552 victories, was the top P-38 fighter group in the Second World War. America’s second highest scoring ace, with 38 victories, was Major Thomas McGuire, who flew the Lockheed […]
The Lighning’s mystery and the artist’s passion
There’s something about a P-38. A poker face turns into a smile when you start talking about the Lightning. If you have never touched one or seen one swoosh by with those turbocharged Allison engines singing their beautiful tune, then you’ve missed a great joy in life. And those who have been fortunate enough to […]
Good therapy: Airplanes — and art — help us get away from it all
Some aviation art, like some airplanes, are just good therapy. Whether it’s the nostalgic appeal they have or the mood they foster, paintings like Nixon Galloway’s “”Tiger in the Fall,”” which depicts a vintage Tiger Moth landing on a country grass strip, are very popular. Having my gallery on an airport has its advantages and […]
STORY TELLER: Artists often choose which planes to paint because they have an interesting story
Artists are always looking for interesting subject matter and are often faced with the dilemma of deciding what to paint next. Do you ever wonder why an artist chooses a particular aircraft to paint? Nixon Galloway was commissioned to do 43 paintings for United Airlines, depicting the aircraft used by the airline from its inception, […]
The corsair: Stories abound about one of the best fights to come out of World War II
The F4U Corsair was one of the best fighters to come out of World War II. Some claim it was the best. Marine Corps fighter squadrons such as Boyington’s “”Black Sheep Squadron,”” VMF-214, and the Navy’s VF-17, Blackburn’s “”Jolly Rogers,”” made the Corsair front-page news during World War II. Stories abound about its ruggedness and […]
More to the story than meets the eye
The first time I saw Sam Lyons’ print “”Shellightning,”” it got my attention. It is vividly colorful and it depicts one of the famous Lockheed planes, specifically one made notable by Jimmy Doolittle. Little did I know then the fascinating story of this plane, which was to unfold as I investigated its history. The plane, […]