I'm still here....................

And yes, I've been working hard all summer, too!

I'm still very much embroiled in a large scale 15th Army Air Force piece, probably the biggest painting I've ever done to date.

I reckon it’s around 75% complete, although I'll admit, despite the countless hours of eye-straining work that I’ve already invested, my painting still seems to never end! I don’t know, maybe I'm just a slow worker…………..

The thing with me is this: I tend set myself daily art goals, then work like mad for hours on end to reach them, the result being, it burns me out for the next few days, so while great in theory, the reality is that I achieve nothing at all in the long run. I'm now learning to try and limit my time on each piece, step back, take a break, or if still feeling creative, work on another piece. I usually have 2 or 3 paintings or drawings on the go at any one time, so it's never a question of thinking of something to do.

Anyway, enough for now, and expect some new work from me very soon.

Until next time..............au revoir :)

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski Portrait

At last I've finished this portrait.

It depicts American WWII fighter ace, "Gabby" Gabreski, who achieved 28 kills while flying P-47s with the 56th Fighter Group in the European Theatre of Operations.

On 20 July 1944, he was shot down and became a prisoner of war.

'Gabby' survived this ordeal, and later went on to serve in the Korean conflict, where once again, he reached 'ace' status.

Drawing is rendered on A4 size Britsol paper.

The original drawing is available for 125.00 GBP + P&P Contact Artist

Battle of Britain era Spitfire Mk II drawing, 603 Squadron

Pencil on a cream, acid-free paper. Approx: 16'' x 10'' without mount/matting.

Here's my Spitfire Mk II drawing. The aircraft depicted is flown by 603 Squadron pilot, Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton DFC. I'm pretty happy the way it turned out. Unfortunately the great detailing and overall quality of the finish doesn't do my art justice in the scan. The art itself is a lot bigger but my scanner is only an A4 size, thus there is a lot more grass field to the left and especially right which gives a feeling of the Spit's movement.

This piece is now part of a private UK collection.

Sopwith Pup Drawing, 1917

Just finished my Sopwith Pup drawing.

I lost count of how many hours it took, but when I thought I was almost finished, I still managed to spend at least another 6 hours on it!

Drawing is A4 size on acid free paper.

The original drawing is available for 125.00 GBP + P&P Contact Artist

'Pappy' Boyington (U.S.M.C.) sketch

'Pappy' Boyington was the Commanding Officer of VMF-214, better known as the 'Blacksheep Squadron,' and flew the famed FU4, gull-winged Corsair during WWII.

He personally shot down 26 Japanese aircraft. It was for this and his outstanding leadership, he was been awarded the Medal of Honor.

This drawing is now part of an American private collection.

Art Commissions Welcome

Just a little reminder of commission rates :)

If you are interested in commissioning a painting / drawing, or maybe just have an art project you would like to discuss, please feel free to email me with the details.

Contact Artist

The approximate prices below are based on the customer supplying the relevant research material; if you require me to carry out additional research, then the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Below is a price guide for some of the more popular sizes of boards and canvases. I have many sizes available that are not shown, so please don’t hesitate to email for details.

Commission an original acrylic painting : (canvas or canvas panel)

30’’ x 24’’ price unframed from: 495.00 GBP
30’’ x 20’’ price unframed from: 465.00 GBP
20’’ x 16’’ price unframed from: 375.00 GBP
12’’ x 8’’ price unframed from: 250.00 GBP

Commission an original pencil drawing:

Prices from: 125.00 GBP

Email for prices regarding illustrative work and shipping costs.

Thanks for looking

Tribute Painting to William F. Draper

My tribute painting after William F. Draper's fantastic painting entitled "Sub and Yippy Tie Up."

This is an acrylic painting I created depicting an American S-boat (the submarine to the left) moored somewhere in the Aleutian Islands during 1942. I cannot take any credit for this composition and the inspiration Draper's original oil painting gave to me, my only small part was to try and capture the atmosphere of his original painting to the best of my ability, in acrylic and my own style.

William F. Draper, one of my favourite 1940s artists, served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. His official job was that of an actual combat artist; recording the events he saw first-hand as a historical record. He created some outstanding work and I can recommend viewing his paintings.

Sailboats: Acrlyic painting

Here's a little painting I did early this year but totally forgot to add to my blog.

13'' x 9.5 '' acrylic on a canvas board.

It's for sale as are all my works, so email me using the contact button at the top right of the blog if you're interested.

Today's arty adventures........

I think every artist has paintings, that for one reason or another, get put to the side and either stay that way forever where they gather dust, or sometimes, if they're very lucky, are revisited with a fresh vigour.

Today I picked up just such a painting, an old landscape started earlier this year, and began once more to rework it. Hopefully I'll have something worth showing by the weekend. Mind you, if it sucks, you'll never see or hear of it again....ha-ha.

I’m also working on another little study for my own enjoyment.... a painting in tribute of a great 1940s combat-artist who's been a great inspiration to my work; more about that later though.

Inspiration............

I've been thinking of a new urban piece yet am undecided as to what it will actually involve. I often have no ideas for weeks, then at 3 in the morning while unable to sleep, am suddenly bombarded with exciting ideas! I must learn to leave the warmth of my duvet, run down the stairs and start immediately!
Anyway, over on my other blog I'm currently working on a WW2 Japanese fighter plane sketch, so check that project out by clicking HERE, but also watch this space too! :)

'Urban Decay' - Loco Shunter

A4 graphite on acid-free paper.

Just finished my little drawing tonight. This is very different for me and makes a change from the rural scenery I'm often depicting. Anything vintage fascinates me, and equally, large machinery that once led a busy 'life' yet now stands derelict, rusting and maybe vandalised, is also alluring. You can just imagine during the winter, the howling wind blowing through this rusty, behemoth hulk.

This drawing is available to buy. Please contact me for details.

Shunting loco drawing in progress...............

Managed to get some drawing done today. Wanted to do something a little urban, something rusting and abandoned, so chose an old shunting loco.
Just to keep you in suspense a little longer, I'll show you the piece later in the week once it's more presentable.

Until next time...................

Any new work?

Yes, there will be, of course.

I've been working on some vintage aircraft drawings but won't talk about them here; check out my WW2artist blog if you're curious.

But what about new non-aviation work? Well, I'm currently planning some new pieces and will let you know very soon.

Peace!

'Afternoon Haul'

Original acrylic painting available.

'The Wood Shack'

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Refuge from the Storm'

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Dawn Harvest'

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Time's Past' acrylic painting complete with frame

Now part of a private collection.

Toucan

Original acrylic painting on a quality canvas rendered in acrylic.

Chat Noir

Sold

This piece is now part of a private collection.

House Paintings/Drawings Art Commissions

Hello and long time no write.......

Well, I'm back now, and having finished an S-boat commission, am working on something quite different! Coming up to Christmas I have been asked to create some house commissions as gifts.
If you're interested in commissioning a piece, please email me for a absolutely no obligation quote, and type 'house commission' in the email title bar, so my spam remover doesn't zap it.... I can do these in any size or medium!

Contact me on:
ww2artist (at) yahoo.co.uk (replace 'at' with '@')

E30 M3 BMW graphite drawing

Here's an E30 BMW M3 I've just completed. It took a long time with much fine detail you can't really see on the scan, but believe me, this drawing even shows the drilled brake discs!

If you'd like a portrait of your car, contact me for a friendly, no obligation quote.

''Upon Foreign Soils'' (A war poem by Alexandre Jay (c))

Upon Foreign Soils

Until I met my untimely end,
I was once like you, my friend:
Hopes for the future and steel-like nerves,
Desires to caress sweet female curves,
And warmth within my heart for those held dear,
It’s maybe tragic I ended up here.

You see something happened, something big,
And like other young men, I’d done as they did,
Before I knew it, service, adventure in a foreign land,
And also King and country helped me hold up my hand,
With vigour I’d marched to the cheer of a crowd,
My family, my friends, everyone proud.

Back then this land was a living hell,
As with wave upon wave, our numbers fell,
War hadn’t been, as I’d first thought,
The greens had turned brown, bodies, skin stretched taut,
With the rats in our trenches, is where I lay,
Praying the sniper’s next shot wasn’t coming my way.

I’d cried, ‘Oh mother dear, why did I come!’
An execution I’d faced, if I’d tried to run,
So many had yearned for the uniform and gun,
And the chance to say they’d killed one of the hun,
By the time I’d realised, it was just too late,
My naivety and romantic notions had sealed my fate,
With puddles that had turned a crimson red,
Bodies lay rotting, uncovered, stone-dead.

As you gaze down upon me now,
Don’t pity my loss or wonder how,
I came to rest upon this soil,
Upon foreign lands on which I’d bitterly toiled,
For it little matters, I came of my own accord,
Not for the promise of glory, gold or bigger reward,
I’d thought eternal youth could never fade,
But it was with my life this soldier paid.

And now I’m here forever more,
So many years have passed since that hellish war,
A land so beautiful and green,
You tread those same fields where in body, I’d once been,
Such sights as I’d seen, no eyes should see again,
I beg of you, don’t let my efforts have been in vain,
Next time you see a poppy blowing in the breeze,
Please think of us, me and my brothers, please.

A poem by Alexandre Jay, (c) 2007
Dedicated to those who lost their lives during two world wars.

(The image and poem have been copy written, and may in no way be reproduced or used in anyway, without the written permission of the author)

French Beetle

Here's my newest piece of photoghraphy. It's a rather cool-looking bug that took flight just after working it for the camera!

Artist's own collection

B-17 Ball Turret Gunner WW2 Portrait (381st Bomb Group)

''S/Sgt. Robert Gilbert''

Bob Gilbert served with the 381st Bomb Group, 533rd Bomb Squadron, flying as ball turret gunner aboard B-17s. He and his crew successfully completed 35 combat missions, including notorious targets such as Schweinfurt and Big B(Berlin).

Robert Gilbert kindly gave me permission to use his photo as a reference for my graphite artwork, and tells me it was taken in approx. October of 1944.

I would also like to mention the original photo is featured in Mr. Gilbert’s wartime memoir, "The View From The Bottom Up.

Collection of the artist.

Persian Cat WIP

''The Screaming Tree''

From time to time I get into a photographic mood; this piece was created this afternoon. As with all my photographic works, also found on my website, this one is available as a high quality print, mounted/matted and ready to frame.

Tuskegee Airman Portrait

A graphite drawing of, Howard A. Wooten, who graduated on December of 1944 from the Air Corps School at Tuskegee, Alabama.

(I would like to credit NARA for the use of one their photos for my reference).

This piece is NOT for sale and is for my own Tuskegee collection.

However, if you require any portraits of family members, relatives, or maybe friends,
please drop me an email for a no obligation quote.

''French Window Garden'' ACEO

SOLD
An ACEO rendered in acrylic on 220g/m acid free paper. This is not unlike the window of my own studio. (Please contact me for price)

''A Romantic Interlude''

This time thought I'd share some of my photography with you. Here's a local scene that really inspired me.

''Thomas'' Tabby Cat ACEO

Here's Thomas thinking he's maybe heard his food dish.............(SOLD)

''Poppy'' Weimaraner ACEO

Here's, Poppy; she's a Weimaraner and inspired me with her elegant features and noble pose.

''Lucy'' Tabby Cat ACEO

Here's another piece based on one of my cats (I have many feline friends); at the title suggests, she's called, Lucy. SOLD

''Let Sleeping Cats Lie'' ACEO

This piece is modeled on one of my own cats, and is a typical pose he strikes for what seems most of the time...........(SOLD)

''Buster'' Boxer Dog ACEO

Now part of a private collection.

Welcome To My New Blog!

Just opened this new blog, mainly to separate my historical aviation subjects from my landscapes, wildlife, domestic pets and generally, what has become a very varied portfolio. Within this blog I plan to submit my latest artwork on a regular basis, giving viewers a chance to enjoy my work, make a purchase, or perhaps indulge themselves in commissioning an artwork.

Within the links section you will find my website and also any other blogs or sites hosted by myself.

Anyway, enough chat; on with the show.

Alexandre Jay.