94th BG B-17G oil study & final art ...

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:56 pm

Hi guys,

Hopscotching around a couple of projects, I put the final glazes on this one this morning. I didn't intend to get too detailed with this small oil study, but the little sucker (the B-17 is 7.25" long from tip of the nose perspex to the tail guns) just looked so cool that I made sure to hint at everything, if not actually rendered. I'll be working on the final 20 x 40 inch canvas soon as I get a long-neglected B-25 piece finished. I think the client has hit men looking for me ... :shock:

I've included the final pencil study next to the painting for comparison's sake. I stuck pretty much to that study for my tonal structure, but as you'll notice I left off the Mustangs to avoid burnout at this stage. As usual, I overcame a few 'obstacles' with this study, which lessons learned will be applied to big brother to follow ...

These are all hand-held shots, but the final one is pretty close. Have to wait until it's mo-dry before I can scan it properly.

Background complete, fuselage tones underway. Notice the paintbrush at bottom right for relative size comparison of this 8.5" x 17" canvas -

Closer wing laid in. Happy with the aluminum effect. Darker parts of the background glazed a little darker -

Complete -

Wade

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:13 pm

Nice work Wade...

I was tempted to start a new thread titled...
You know you might be working on WARBIRDS too long when you eagerly open a WIX thread about 94th BG B17 oil studies expecting a treatise on suspended particulates in Curtis-Wright 1820s engine oil... :oops:

but i figured it wouldn't all fit!

SPANNER

sgt hawk · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:39 pm

Nice Wade! My dad was 331st squadron 94th group, Burry St Edmonds. Always thought the engine cowls were maroon too! "The big square A". The Tail gunner named the airplane "Limey Lifesaver" but Dad said they never painted the name on.

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:44 pm

I really like your paintings Wade, but I absolutely love your pencil drawings! Nice piece...

Zack

Django · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:23 pm

Sorry Wade, but that is completely unworthy of the title "study". :lol:

Great job.

Have you ever tried to do something with more active perspectives? Like say with your fine art style combined with graphic novel action shots?

vg-photo · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:39 pm

Django wrote:

Sorry Wade, but that is completely unworthy of the title "study".

I couldn't agree more. Fabulous!

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 6:05 pm

Thanks fellas!

Django wrote:

. . . Have you ever tried to do something with more active perspectives?

Good question/observation. Those types of "looks" at the scene tend more with my spec art. My One-Man Air Force being one such example.

I'd say almost all of the work I've done for the last 4-5 years has been commissioned, that is, the piece(s) wouldn't have been done without the commission request. Those pieces are usually done to 'favor' a certain aspect of an aircraft, with the final view usually picked by the client - sometimes the 'art direction' is pretty tightly controlled indeed. That was more in my 'early' days, though - but any commission will have a set of "requirements", no way around that!

I have some ideas that I hope to get to within the next couple of years that will be 'outside the box'. Stand by for news! :wink:

Wade

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:02 pm

A little update on this project -

Just added the pilot yesterday. After the paint sets up, I'll come back in and glaze some darks and light touches to show some sunlight falling across him. Hard to do wet-in-wet -

For comparison's sake, the final outline drawing before transfer to canvas -

Two 353rd FG Mustangs, Mascara Maggie and Beautiful Dope, ride herd on this wounded Fort over the North Sea -

Wade

6trn4brn · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:22 am

Very nice!

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:37 am

That is really coming along nicely! The Fort has so many bits to trip one up, the chin turret, the windscreen, the tail, the engine nacelles....so many opportunities to trip up. She is going to be a lovely girl! Stay inside and paint, it's too cold outside! Can you paint and watch the Superbowl at the same time?! I'm trying to figure out where I can go to shoot the flyover but not too close to the madness at the stadium! Sooo many closed streets and traffic jams!

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:56 pm

Holedigger wrote:

. . . The Fort has so many bits to trip one up, the chin turret, the windscreen, the tail, the engine nacelles....so many opportunities to trip up.

My normal fare is from the fighter side of the house - the Fortress is definitely more complicated to depict, but the payoff is awesome! This is a commission piece, but she will be submitted for the ASAA juried exhibition which will hang this year at the 8th AF Museum in Savannah. Hope she makes it - I think the story behind the scene makes this one a contender for the 8th AF theme award.

Holedigger wrote:

. . . Can you paint and watch the Superbowl at the same time?!

You kidding me? Go Cards!

Wade

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:24 pm

Just for Wade!

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:34 pm

...and to be an equal opportunity offender!

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:00 pm

Sorry your Cards lost, but that 4th quarter was REAL football!

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:37 pm

Great work Wade!! I really like what you've done to the prop on the #2 engine, compared to the others!

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94th BG B-17G oil study & final art ...

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