My USS Enterprise CV-6 painting

Well, it didn't win anything at the state fair this year, but I thought I would post my USS Enterprise painting anyway.

It was done with oil on a 16 x 20 inch canvas, and I worked on it from last October to early February this year. After waiting about six months, I was finally able to put the finishing coat of varnish on it.

Although I found the ship a challenge to paint, I am fairly happy with the results. I based the angle of the ship off a photograph of the ship in port back in the thirties, well before all of its refittings. Therefore, it was a challenge to find details of the ship based off of models and grainy photographs. I decided to paint it with the "sapphire blue" MS1B paint scheme, since there seemed to be little artwork with that specific one.

The background is based off a photograph I took years ago, of low hanging clouds hanging over our mountains here in Albuquerque at dusk.

So here it is, the "Big E" in all her glory, retrieving her Hellcat fighters after another successful day!
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Great painting Darren!!!

Regards

Ulrich

 

That's excellent. Every bit as good as the "pros".

 

Wonderful job Darren, I wish I had that skill. I can make your old vehicle run and look good but I couldn't paint my way out of a tight corner.

I'm not too bad with body work and a spray job on a car or pickup, but nothing like your work!

 

The first WWII book that I can remember reading was "The Big E" by Edward Stafford. Nice painting.

 

Thank you all again very much for the salutes and the kind words. It's nice to show it to people who actually appreciate the subject matter!

 

Wow nice painting I'm not a very good arts not every one can paint that well.

 

One nice painting! Hope you do two others of the Yorktown and Hornet!

 

excellent work. The "Big E" makes for a classic subject....

may i suggest a painting of the USS Franklin in action?

 

Thanks syscom! I did think about doing one of Hornet during the Doolittle Raid. I would think that she and the Yorktown would be easier now to paint since the Enterprise had many of the same characteristics as them.

I might just put them on my waiting list.

 

Thanks Volga. The Franklin, eh? Thats a good idea! Maybe I could paint her damaged and listing, just to point out to people how much of a licking carriers like her could take.

I would like to paint an Essex class. I did try painting the Essex class carriers at Ulithi Atoll earlier this year, but it didn't come out the way I wanted it too. I'll try that again some other time.

 

Indeed Lou, I do need to get around to organizing my stuff better. I just need to get around to it.
Also, Taffy 3 is a good idea as well. Currently, I have a painting of the Yamato started where she is fireing her forward guns (maybe at Taffy 3?)
What I really need to do is start to research more if I do battle scenes, so I can get the sunlight and ships in the right position. As I'm getting older, the thought of missing little details is starting to keep me up at night!

 

That divides the amateur from the real artist Darren!!! Can you please make me an painting of an dogfight between a He 219 and a Black Widow before you´re getting famous and to expensive for me?

Regards

Ulrich

 

I'll tell you what Ulrich, when you and Erich publish your thread here as a book on the subject, I will use that to help me paint it!

 

Darren, maybe that you Erich and my one will be famous after that! Good idea tell it to Erich!

Regards

Ulrich

 

It is a cool plane Ulrich! If I painted one, it might be cool to put an actual black widow spider in the background.

 

Good! Than we should find a good booktitle and do the job!!!
What would you do with your first million of $ from the book?

Regards

Ulrich