AVIATION ART IN ACTION

[Ian Warren]

Available one my website aviation-art-in-action.com/index.html or on Trademe, which is cheaper due no website costing.
WASP WAIKATO WELLINGTON

[Ian Warren]

Arr that is better !

[Ian Warren]

I put the Vampire theme aside, this one I started back in May, always got side-tract'd

[Dave Homewood]

Cool! Marauders were very cool aircraft.

[Ian Warren]

Dave .. I can agree with you whole heartily, something about B-26 for that time was impressive, strap a couple of P-47 motors on and away you go, I've love this aircraft .. the design/shape is still looks modern for today

[komata]

Ian

Thank you for posting your art work. Very impressive.

As an artist who works in another field (but who is always on the look out for alternative methods of achieving the intended result), I am interested in your method of using computer databases to create a work. Is there a 'step-by-step process that you would care to share?

Thanks.

[Ian Warren]

Hi Komata, Thank You for your comments ,  yeah I'd be more than happy to go thru with it for you , the computer is only one tool and of course Adobe CS5.5, I picked up a special at $1100NZ which also has illustrator and indesign for magazine work and also comes with a paint program and many other tools I don't even know how to use ... time to learn tho .

This is a post from another forum asking for almost the same thing, the second paragraph I'm working on a gradual build to complement a simple graphite pencil drawing but on a difficult material - glossy cereal box card is the best way to describe it  , I'll post that here very shortly, next couple off days .. but the below describes how I use the PC for editing. 

Nick, its a mixture - the Wasp/Frigate painting went thru five stages , I do a general sketch of what is in from my brain case and very carefully paint in watercolour this keeping the detail, the handy tools are those 'Staedtler' colour pencils with a mix of the standard graphite art pencil on standard A3 art paper, I then redraw it again to enhance the detail, adding shadow and primary features ... when happy with the beginning I then scan it onto the PC and edit it with CS5.5 ... then I get it laser printed onto photo paper (SRA3) again hit it with 'Staedtler' pencil and ink if required then back to the print shop for the final print, what surprises a lot of people is they look like photo's .

This maybe the reason I started out with 'Battle of Midway' as a completed work and go in with a build simply 'Battle of the Coral Sea' with graphite pencil as a sort off a lesson and to show people as it grows without anything else used - simply draw and rub if required, as pointed out on very difficult material but it is very durable and able to take a lot of editing without using the PC ... now that is a serious lot of fun ... just in the research alone

Any other questions fire away, strangely I was brought up on drawing with BIC black ball point pen , I should post these up here as well just for the interest sake , they date back 30/40 years.  

[komata]

Ian Warren

Thank you; a lot to think about. To summarise, is the following correct?

1. Basic 'concept' sketch (pencil) on A3 paper.

2. Concept sketch has water-colour added.

3. (Second?) Concept sketch drawn, detail and shadow added.

4. (Second) Concept sketch scanned onto PC.

5. (Second) Concept sketch printed-off using laser printer.

6. Detail / shadow added to printed-off image.

7. Modified' image taken to commercial printer for 'final' print to appropriate size (onto canvas?)

8. Paint added to 'final' print.

9. Painted work completed.

Thanks.

[Ian Warren]

Komata, you have pretty much nailed it , I consider the 300gsm photo paper as my canvas , the great thing with this material is it is also very durable to go back and redraw or paint in/out little imperfections then it is scanned again and the - No.8 'final' print.

7. Modified' image taken to commercial printer for 'final' print to appropriate size (onto canvas?)
It would be interesting to see some off my work on those box framed canvas material, for me that would an extra expense but I guess if a customer asked for that style/format I would have to research that or the person/printer who may do it.

[komata]

Ian

Thank you. It would seem to be a somewhat less-complicated process than I had anticipated. Unfortunately, after reading your reply, I have several additional questions which I hope you will be able to answer :

1. (Relating to my No.8): What type (and brand) of paint  do you use for this stage? Oil or acrylic?

2. What (if any) medium (Matt, Satin), do you do apply to the final print (copy) to remove the (reflective)  gloss / sheen from the surface?  

3. How do you present / classify your work when presenting it for sale: As an 'Original Mixed Media'; 'Original Acrylic'; 'Original Oil' work; or do you sell them as 'prints' and number them accordingly?

4. Do you in fact use the term 'original' in this context? I ask this, as you still retain the 'original' on your computer, and could theoretically turn out large numbers of 'identical' copies should you feel so-inclined (hence my question about 'prints' in Q.3).

5. (A crucial question IMHO): How are your works received by other members of the 'arts' community? I ask this as some can become very 'precious' about what (to them) constitutes 'real' art (which they believe can only be done with 'real' tools such as brush and pallette knife)?  I have had some very 'interesting' conversations with such individuals over the years, especially in respect of whether 'computer-based' works are actually even worthy of being termed 'art'. (I personally believe they can, but have found that not everyone agrees). 

Again, thank you;  this is a very interesting topic.

[Ian Warren]

Komata , Its a great subject and especially what suits me is aircraft war and history. .... Answers to the above below .

1. I currently only use water-base acrylic , brand name 'Fas' readily available in Paper Plus or Whitcoulls stores.

2. I simply do not or add , currently working on a drawing, 'The IJN Aoba Battle of Coral Sea' this is in black and white on this specific card , this has a gloss sheen which makes it difficult but the end result in graphite pencil is impressive. This one I could start posting the development very shortly to show the gradual creation.

3. Regard to selling - This can get quite interesting , this last Sep I sent a couple of prints to MOTAT since they were so interested (they asked) for my SOLENT and SUNDERLAND works so I sent them one of each with also a few other samples, I sell as prints - No word back as yet - with the above No.2, I have the true straight out drawn from the brain case without any computer other than the final print, I'd have to totally look at pricing for the originals. Really most works are a build so it would transferred from the next sheet to be built onto again until I'm happy with it.

4. Yes 'Original' the work as again above, I have three different formats, the current as mentioned I do have real hard copies, to price those well, the price would have to follow considered time put into them but many see the print, even the other night would prefer the cheaper cost - seriously, people look at the work when they see it, the detail cannot be shown across PC media but trust me people do get impressed.

5. I think when I hit a new subject, I invited to the art forums from across the world, ABSTRACT, some questioned why I was even in this forum, I simply told them they were to abstract , One started 'Realistic Art', I would have thought I fell in this category, but when I linked my website to the group .. one chap 'European' gave it the "Whauw Factor" .. I was a little chuffed, I pointed out it was a build using 5 tools - 1. the idea - 2. the paint - 3. PC edit then print - 4. edit and redraw again - 5. double check , sometimes you do miss a few errors but I think its your mindset.

Komata , Pleased your firing away with the questions .. biggest thing if you get knocked outta action always turn to something ya love best!

[komata]

Ian

Many thanks for the detailed reply; it is appreciated. As previously noted, I work in a different media (primarily P&I) and subject /s, but do make occasional forays into acrylic painting, albeit usually to try and interpret some specific point or aspect that interests me as part of a research project or some other specific path / topic I am following. (I can assure you BTW, that you are under no threat from my competition ). Your use of the computer is along the lines of something which I have occasionally considered, but had concluded that it was 'probably unworkable'. Your efforts would seem to prove otherwise, so perhaps...

Again, thank you.

[Ian Warren]

Dec 14, 2015 15:07:17 GMT 12 komata said:

(I can assure you BTW, that you are under no threat from my competition

Competition , I study the 'Taylor's' works for example, both Robert and his son Richard and one could say how could I compare, the biggest thing is its a different style and off course they have a BA from the university of Bath in art, I wonder how I would or yourself would measure up with our raw un-educated skills, lotta people have the skill simply to draw or have that perception in depth and perspective, I'm still new at it and still after releasing a artwork find a mistake ... Classic would be my 'Strike a Lightning' on the nose wheel door - it has this stencil, 'KEEP CLEAR WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING' ... Ummm .. pointed out from a buyer .. it has 'KEEP CLEAN WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING' DOH! ... I have not changed it .. its almost my signature.  

[Ian Warren]

Just another thought my Bad day Training 1943 ! the entire landscape background, this was done entirely in black 'BIC' ball point pen, I edited the original to what you see on my website, cleaned up the Harvard, Lancaster and the FW190's ... show this in public and you do get the "whauw Factor" ... I guess this always happens, weird thing other than cosmetics .. I nailed it in black ball point pen, this is were the PC has its kick ....... gawd I have around 320 drawings like this .. maybe time to pull them out

[komata]

Ian

Thank you. Ballpoint pen!!! THAT would get the 'purists' going, since evidently one must use 'approved' materials such as pencils and charcoal sticks. For such people, Ball point is definitely beyond the pale and if you use it, you are apaprently not a 'real' artist... Been there, done that (and was told that Ballpoint wasn't quite the done thing).. I carried on using it anyway (mainly because of the convenience and also because I liked the effect it produced), although I later converted to ink 'Multiliners' as IMHO, they produced a better result, and the ink faded less-rapidly than ballpoint. In respect of the artists we compare ourselves with: While I like what the Taylor's do, I personally prefer Michael Turner's works, while some (but not all) of Frank Wooton's and Maurice Conly's efforts are also worth looking at, if only to get ideas. I would suggest however, that you may be selling yourself somewhat-short, and that what you are producing (if the Hurricane, Wasp and the B-26 are anything to go on) is on a par with their work (at least IMHO), so please continue to do what you.

Again, thanks. 

[Ian Warren]

Matey here one I did back in high school - 40 years ago - using ball point pen I'll dig up a few more up and post.

[Ian Warren]

I do have a book on Frank Wooton aviation art, Michael Turner's works, have two print/paintings hanging here and another book by Chris Mayger which has some extraordinary nautical paintings.

[Ian Warren]

I recall doing this .. Form 1 Riccarton High School Funny some drawings can place you exactly like you remember it was yesterday, I had a bunch of classmates hanging around me watching it build in the sun against E/F block, we were all late back to class by 10 so minutes and old Mr Kilty was not happy, when asked what were doing I showed him and we got let off with , I think it was ignored don't recall that part.

[komata]

Ian

Nice works- thanks for sharing them - I'm glad they have survived the years. Unfortunately all my 'early' aviation art vanished many years ago and what little I do have, is relatively recent (which is probably just as well ). However, irrespective of the age of any 'earlier' works, such pictures are always useful as it they show how far we've come - and how our styles have changed as we've grown into our skills and abilities. Hopefully we HAVE improved with time...

[Ian Warren]

That is one thing we can both show or post .. the the early works long before media was PC media, the progression and how the work has matured, off all things I only got back into it five years ago, I did doodle and still with ball point pen and all aviation or naval which has always captured my imagination ... something simply about it ... it co-insides with my want to know history and glue a theme to paper, one thing I'm going to do just for you and the rest reading is NOT stopping .. the more you do the better you get .. the old "woken a sleeping giant" maybe.

Love to check out some of your artworks, I've been holding off posting a build again because i want display it in a almost time lapse process.