It's been a good week. The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, where I volunteer, is once again open for business, with some Covid restrictions in place. Visitor numbers have been quite low, so I've been passing some of the time sketching various aircraft and exhibits on the iPad. I use Procreate with an Apple Pencil, which is proving to be quite a learning curve, but certainly has value as a convenient tool for quick sketches, something I haven't used it for previously. I have used it to compose and develop preliminary ideas for paintings, but never really considered it for producing finished works. Time will tell. An example of the sort of quick sketches I've managed so far is below: Our Hunter F5 on display in one of our hangars. Don't know if this will evolve into a full fledged painting in the fulness of time, but it's certainly proving to be a fun way to pass the time when the museum is not crowded.
I've used the software in a couple of cases already as a means to compose scenes: one that I'm working on at the moment is an idea for a painting with a Horsa Glider and a Royal Enfield Flying Flea. As I've flown gliders (not military ones though) and currently ride an Enfield, Combining the two seems reasonable to me. Composing the picture on the tablet gives me a chance to work out the various possibilities before I commit to canvas. When I've finished with the iPad, I'll do a pencil sketch as well at the actual size of the proposed painting just to work up the "muscle memory" and firm up the idea in my mind's eye. Before I'm done, there will be little left of the original photographs, but they serve to give me an idea of what I'm looking for. There will no doubt be some troops in there too. Here's what I have so far:
On another note, this Monday the 31st of May is Memorial Day in the US. This is our equivalent to Remembrance Day here in the UK. Not sure why they chose May for this, probably because the US participation in the First World War only lasted 2 years. As a rule, I celebrate both with equal solemnity. I certainly feel that it's necessary for us to remember the sacrifices made by so many young men and women that have resulted in us having the freedom to bitch and moan on twitter etc. In many cases we owe our very existence to those who fought, so it's (in my opinion) essential that we not only remember, but communicate through our artwork the effort and pain that was suffered by those heroic generations in order that we are able to enjoy the life we now have. As a Vietnam Veteran, with the names of quite a few friends and colleagues on the memorial wall in Washington, I am reminded every time I thumb through my photo album. Notwithstanding the insanity and ultimate futility of that conflict, 58,000 young members of my generation did what their country asked of them and paid the ultimate price. I don't want to go into the political justification or lack thereof for that war, but the fact remains that I am here and they are not and I owe them the courtesy of acknowledging their sacrifice. Thus endeth today's sermon. Keep painting and drawing subjects that commemorate the conflicts that resulted in our freedoms.
The painting that I'm working on for the Tangmere Museum is coming along bit by bit. I've played around with the composition somewhat and still have a long way to go, but it's starting to take shape. I'm enjoying working with acrylics for a change and am slowly getting used to handling them. I must admit that I like the quick drying aspect as I tend to rest my hand on the canvas while doing detail work. The painting will be part of an exhibit commemorating the world speed record set by Group Capt. Donaldson on 07 Sept. 1946. The exhibit will be in place this September for the 75th Anniversary of the record breaking flight, which originated at Tangmere. Here's where it stands at the moment: Softly, softly, catchee monkey, as they say.
If you're able and willing to get out and about, there are some interesting things happening at various museums and galleries.
Should you be in sunny Cornwall this Spring / Summer, you could pop in to the Tate St. Ives and check these out:
If you are staying in the UK but would like to experience a bit of France, Exhibition on Screen has a film about painting modern gardens and includes a virtual stroll through Monet's Garden: The film is available on DVD, Download or Streaming and can be found here:
Take advantage of the good weather this weekend and bank holiday. Who knows how long it will last.