Commissions/ Paintings "In the works"

The Commission Process 
   My 24x30(ish) originals are usually commissioned by units/pilots for anywhere from $800-$1000 depending on complexity, but usually it's $1.50 per square inch. I'll coordinate with you to create 8.5x11 pencil drawings to get the picture right (see above) so I can then "blow up" the drawing and transfer the final selection onto the painting surface. Originals are on canvas or masonite and can take up to three to four weeks to finish not including research time so "lead time available" is important if you have a deadline to meet for something like a change of command or farewell for a leaving pilot. Contact me on the "Contact the Artist" page if interested in an original painting for yourself or your unit.
   Once completed, digital "re-painting" on Adobe Photoshop allows me to personalize any prints you may want. I can change key items from the original painting such as pilot names on the canopy rail, tail numbers, even certain markings such as tail codes and squadron patches. The integrity of the original painting is retained and you can have "your" jet portrayed in your own personalized print. 
   As an example, "Nomad Knife Fight" is a change of the original "Nantucket Knife Fight" to represent the 59th Fighter Squadron from Eglin AFB,Fl. I digitally "painted out" Nantucket Island from the original and changed tail codes and patches so it would now show two 59th F-15s fighting over the Gulf of Mexico south of Eglin. 
   The certificate of authenticity that comes with all of my Giclees will say if the print has slightly been modified from the original. 
   If you like one of my paintings but don't want a jet from another base, e-mail me on the "Contact the Artist" page and ask me if it's possible to change it to your desired unit - I'll see what I can do!!
 
Available Soon  On tap is a 24x30 oil painting of a JetBlue A320 passing a JetBlue E190 at altitude in an early evening sky, it'll be called "Company Traffic." It's a departure for me but I figured a dramatic presentation of my current steed,  "The Mighty Airbus", was in order. If you'd like a painting and/or prints of your aircraft or for your unit, drop me an e-mail thru the "Contact the Artist " page or give me a ring at 774 368-0416.

"The Last Flight of VEGA 31"  COMPLETED DEC '09 - GO TO "PRINTS AVAILABLE" TO ORDER! 
18x24 My first oil painting!! Lt Col Dale Zelko, an A-10 squadron mate of mine, is depicted in his F-117 on the fourth night of Operation Allied Force with a Serbian SA-3 rocketing just feet over the top of his canopy...with another SAM seconds away and turning into him on it's final course correction. Combat experience from as far back as Desert Storm told him that this second missile was heading right for him and that this could be the beginning of a very long night...seconds later he was hanging in a chute coming down just 25 miles northwest of Belgrade. Lt Col Zelko successfully evaded Serb patrols for 8 hours before he was plucked out of enemy territory by a massive and daring USAF/Allied Combat SAR effort in the dead of night and in lousy weather to boot.

"The Logical Conclusion"  COMPLETED AUG '09 - GO TO "PRINTS AVAILABLE" TO ORDER! 
20x30 Acrylic on masonite scene of the Skipper of VFC-12 in his "AMBUSH 1" getting the better of a Luftwaffe MiG-29A from the Luftwaffe’s famed Jagdgescwhader 74 “Molders” near old Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas some 75 miles west of Key West Naval Air Station. “AMBUSH 1 “ calls a kill on the dejected German and prepares to lead him back to Key  West where they’ll debrief  the fight.  The resulting kill is of course, for an “AMBUSH” fighter pilot, the Logical Conclusion. The original will hang proudly in VFC-12's squadron spaces at NAS Oceana. Signed/Limited edition of 200 prints. Congrats to new Skipper Cmdr "Skid" Henry and outgoing Skipper Cmdr Doug "CUZ" Cochran!!!

"What Our Enemies Have Begun...We Will Finish" - COMPLETED MAY '09 - GO TO "PRINTS AVAILABLE" TO ORDER!  20x30 Acrylic on masonite scene of the Skipper of VFA-146, Cmdr Jeffrey "Caesar" Czerewko beating up some ground targets in an F/A-18C Hornet in Afghanistan with the good old 20mm Vulcan cannon.  The painting was commissioned by the officers of VFA-146 as a gift for their outgoing skipper.  Signed/Limited edition of 146 prints. Congrats to new Skipper Cmdr "Cherry" Marzano!!!!.

"Battle of New Orleans" - COMPLETED FEB '09 - GO TO "PRINTS AVAILABLE" TO ORDER!
Acrylic on masonite scene of a US Navy Reserve F/A-18A+ Hornet from the New Orleans based VFA-204 "River Rattlers" engaged in Dissimilar Air Combat Training against an Air National Guard F-15C of the 122nd Fighter Squadron from the same base. It's a mini "Battle of New Orleans." This painting was commissioned as a gift from the officers of VFA-204 for their outgoing skipper CDR J.A. "Fish" Baumgarten. Congrats to CDR Paul "Stork" Laube on assuming command and thanks for picking such a great gift for "Fish"!

"Sundowner Fresco" - COMPLETED NOV '08- GO TO "PRINTS AVAILABLE" TO ORDER
(See initial drawing above) 24x30 acrylic canvas depicting the 6 March 1972 engagement and subsequent kill of a MiG-17 "Fresco" by Navy F-4B Phantom driver Lt Garry "Greyhound" Weigand and his R.I.O. Lt.Jg. Bill "Farkle" Freckleton. Commissioned by current VFC-111 skipper, Cmdr Rob "Rudy" McGregor , to commemorate a proud day in this storied fighter squadron's history. Original to be displayed in the "Sundowner" NAS Key West ready room.  Signed/Limited giclee edition of 201. Completed with correspondence and interviews from the MiG killers themselves to capture a specific moment in US Naval Aviation history.

"Summit Battle" - This one's been drawn and on a painting board for over a year but paying clients have kept it from getting done thus far - sorry Doley, i'll get to it eventually!! Hope Delta is treating you well. Working title for an 18x24 acrylic on board scene of two 102nd Fighter Wing F-15s engaging in a 1 v 1 dogfight with New Hampshire`s famous snowy Mt Washington in the background. This painting depicts the final or "Fini flight" of a squadron mate of mine , Lt Col Michael "Doley" Dolan, after a distinguished 20 year career flying Eagles and OV-10 Broncos on active duty and in the Air National Guard. Completion date TBD. Signed/Limited giclee edition is planned. I plan a Barnes Field 104th Fighter Wing version of it as well.