USS Samuel B. Roberts painting

Howdy Folks!

Texson66 and Lou had suggested months ago that I do a painting of the "Sammy B" or something from Taffy 3, so here it is.

I want to thank them, as well as Takao and lwd for helping me out with some sources (such as the color of Battleship Kongo's shell splashes).

I tried to paint the Sammy B at around 8:50 AM on October 25th, 1944, where she is dueling with the Cruiser Chikuma, very shortly before battleship Kongo gets the range and finally hits her hard.

I tried to follow information from Hornfischer's book (Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors) which I checked out at the library. I tried to put the rain squalls and ships in the positions they might be in around that time frame from his maps throughout the book.

I did use a little "artist's interpretation" as well. I don't know if a ship fired a green dyed shell in the vicinity minutes before the scene takes place, or if there were any other shell splashes in the vicinity besides Kongo's. I'm not for sure if from this angle you could see Nagato, Yamato, and Kongo in the background. I don't know if any Wildcats were actually flying over.

I also forgot that her aft gun was knocked out of action at this time, but I can fix this later. I did put some of her rigging torn up from a shell flying through it.

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied it. I hope I didn't doctor it up too much artistically, as I do want to honor her and her brave crew correctly.

Anyway, I hope you all like it!

 

Here is one more pic showing Battleship Kongo on the Horizon. The last pic in the previous post shows Yamato followed by Nagato.

 

I have only one word Darren: "WOW"!

I think this is your best painting thus far, and they just keep getting better and better. l don't see anything wrong with your "artistic license". The painting gets the point across very well (I think even a novice would quickly grasp the situation) while at the same time respecting the ship and her crew.

Once again, great work

 

The colors are vibrant and express the action going on... Really nice Heavy D.... To be the fellows firing the guns in open mounts while the main gun fires surely must have been nerve wracking.

 

It is not fair that one person should have this amount of talent! Nor is it fair that I cannot borrow some.

Keep your brushes wet Darren, Great Work!

 

I think this picture really expresses the dynamics of a naval battle. Well done! My congratulations.

Regards,

 

Another excellent painting Darren, thank you for sharing it with us.

 

I recently finished "Last Stand...", now maybe you should move on to "Neptune's Inferno" for your next excellent piece.

 

Great job, Darren! Excellent! You should send a note to the Sammy B group to let them know about your painting! Go to USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413 Survivors Association

(Now if we can just get some writers together for a Taffy 3 movie! i'd love to see it done "Tora!Tora! style; i.e., from the Japanese and American POV)

 

Thanks for the compliments folk, much appreciated.Jeff, to answer your question, it's done on a 16" x 20" "panel" canvas. That's the size I like the best, but unfortunately, I might need to downsize because I'm running out of wallspace.

 

I HAVE A LOT OF EMPTY WALL SPACE !

Matter of fact I was just telling my wife I'd like to have a mural on the basement wall (8' x 26' ) and a Battle scene would fit well.

 

This is infuriating,every time I click a thumbnail the larger image pop's up,and then suddenly disappears.

 

Forgive me, I was slow getting around for a look.............but I am not sorry I looked.........also I am glad you are from New Mexico, as I find it pleasing out in the desert some scenes of the ocean are created, and I am thankful for a place to view some of your work when you post .....it would be befitting to view these in person............anything going to be in the fair this year? Not sure yet if I will get to go but I hope to.

 

It certainly does deserve a bump. I think I missed it the first time around. Thanks for the bump and thanks to Ulithi for posting it.

 

Hope u and yours are well Ulithi.
He sent me a delicious colour pencil drawing. Well worth it.
Best wishes to you, U.

 

Wow, his work really is amazing!