CAT & MOUSE (August 11, 1998):
In the very early
stages of work comes Cat & Mouse. This painting features the TBM Avenger in
pursuit of a Japanese Zero, the two dodging clouds in a futile effort to gain a
superior striking position. Whenever I see the Avenger, I am reminded of the
infamous Flight 19, the Navy squadron that, while on routine training mission,
disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle. Big, powerful, the Avenger
is an enjoyable subject for me to paint.
HAUCK RIDES AGAIN: (August 11, 1998):
Discovery
rises on twin pillars of flame in my depiction of America's return to space
after nearly three years on the ground following the Challenger accident. The
STS-26 mission was commanded by Astronaut Frederick "Rick" Hauck. I
had the privilege of corresponding with Astronaut Hauck after his successful
flight. This painting is my tribute to Rick and crew who flew Discovery off the
pad into the unknown, carried aloft on redesigned solid rocket motors, the
failure of which, caused the Challenger disaster.
FLORENCE (August 11, 1998):
The Mitchell B-25 is another of
my favorite WWII aircraft. It was in a B-25 similar to this one that Jimmy
Doolittle and his group of brave pilots launched from a carrier in the South
Pacific to fly a direct attack on Tokyo. One especially fun aspect of painting
aircraft is that I get to name them. This perhaps bends history just a bit, but
that's what I call artistic license. I often name planes after friends and
family. The B-25 in this work carries the name of my Grandmother, "Florence"
J. Tubbs.
ARNIE'S BABE
PAINTING IN PROGRESS --Fall '98
"This is one of the paintings I'm currently working on in the
studio. It's for my big brother Arnold. He thinks the F-86 was perhaps the
greatest thing made with wings. He could be right." -- RLN Please check
back to this site for current information on ARNIE'S BABE.