Aviation Art Collection and Appreciation
Have you ever wondered how to appreciate and start an aviation art collection?
One day I found an essay published in US Centennial of Flight Commission entitled Aviation and Space Art in the 20th Century. The writer, Anne Simmons, gave a good summary on the history and development of Aviation Art which I thought is worth citing here.
This is a particularly informative essay for anyone who like to have a good introduction and appreciation to aviation art works. Hopefully after reading it, it may stir up in you some appreciation of aviation art.
Popularity and Beauty of Aviation Art
"The popular press of the late 19th and early 20th centuries drove the demand for aviation art. Stories of World War I dogfights, which were more exciting when illustrated, increased aviation art's popularity even more."
"Unlike early 20th-century photography (without
colors), illustrations were done in color. Artists could paint imaginary situations, depict scenes
that would be difficult or dangerous to photograph, embellish a situation, change the landscape, or
add dramatic lighting.".
The Big Tailed Beast by Stan Stokes illustrates the abovementioned.
Role of Aviation Art in early 20th Century
Besides making history alive with their amazing colors and depictions, aviation art
also played a significant role during the World War II.
"Artists became an invaluable part of the domestic war effort during World War II. Photography documented the war, but it was artists who rallied people through patriotic magazine covers, ads, and posters. ... 'Keep Em Flying,' painted in 1942 by, featured a formation of bombers set against pastel clouds and a rippling U.S. flag. Warm, muted colors emphasized the seriousness of the subject matter ...".
Some Characteristics of WWII Aviation Art and Artists
"Despite the changes that
aviation has gone through in the intervening decades, World War II airplanes and combat continue to be the
mainstay of aviation art."
"Stan Stokes (one of the famous aviation artist) prefers bolder colors, but like aviation artists since the 1940s, composes his paintings on the diagonal, creating dynamic movement by pointing the airplane's cross shape, wings running perpendicular to the body, toward one of the canvas' corners." (eg. Stokes' Scratch One Flat Top)
"Keith Woodcock favors subdued colors and golden-hued sunsets reminiscent of the color pallets popular during the 1940s."
Today's Aviation Art
"Today's aviation art even tends to follow
the look created by World War II artists. Paintings of modern aircraft even follow old-fashioned style
conventions."
"In Woodcock's Woodland Predator, a Harrier hovers above the ground in a mist-shrouded forest."
Can you tell if this is an art piece or a photograph ? Well, if you can't, that is the beauty of art work!
"Ferris' Boeing E-6 jet - The Vital Link
stealthily blends with the clouds, its wings echoing the rectangular shape of the canvas. In these artists'
hands, flight technology is poetry in motion and the lethal shape of a fighter becomes beautiful."
Collection Ideas : Knowing The Value of Aviation Art Print
If you are new but serious about aviation art collection, here is one good place where you can learn about aviation art collection values before you start shopping for the art prints. It is a FAQ page about Lithographic Prints
Below are some of the common questions which are answered in the FAQ page.
- What are Lithographic Prints?
- What are Certificates of Authenticity?
- What is the Difference between Edition Types and Proofs?
- What are Limited Edition Prints?
- What are Artist Proofs?
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"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute." - G. B. Stern
