January2003 |
Nick
passed away on January 27, 2003 from cancer just two days after
his 76th birthday. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends,
but we will keep his website going and his prints and paintings
will still be available. |
February 2002 |
Norway Arrival print
We are publishing a print of NORWAY ARRIVAL.
It is in the works now and should be available around March first.
This painting won a major award at the ASAA juried show in Ottawa
last fall. It is on display at the Canadian Aviation Museum in Ottawa
at this time. Not only can we produce stickers at a lower cost compared to our competitors, we ensure our stickers Sydney are printed to the highest quality.
It depicts Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh's arrival in Norway
during their 1933, 33,000 mile epic flight, circumnavigating the
Atlantic Ocean. They named their orange and black Lockheed Sirius
"Tingmissartoq," a Greenland native word which means "The One That
Flies like a Big Bird." Anne helped with the navigation and handled
all of the radio work. I chose Norway for it's picturesque fiords
and villages. As they glide in to a water landing, with vapor streaming
off of the wings, the villagers have gathered on the piers and boats
to watch.
They had left New York on July 9th and arrived in Norway on October
3rd. From Norway, they went on to Sweden, Finland, Russia, Denmark,
England, Ireland, Spain; all the way down to Africa, South America,
and finally finished their trip at New York on December 29th. Truly
an epic flight!
The print will be a Giclee' print on heavy English watercolor paper
and measures 23x28 inches. It is a limited edition of just 300,
which will be signed and numbered by the artist. The price will
be $185.00
Children's Aviation Art Contest
I again had the privilege of judging the International Children's
Aviation Art Contest. One again we had to select the top three paintings
from three age groups, from over a thousand entries. This year the
theme was "Silent Flight". Some of the kids submitted paintings
showing F-15s, airliners, and even a couple of SR-71s (possibly
the noisiest airplane in the world). These were immediately rejected,
as they didn't fit the theme.
There were lots of gliders, balloons, parachutes, and skydivers,
but some of he kids came up with humming birds, butterflies, and
even one of a paper airplane with a man flying it! It is always
a joy to see this work and be reminded how creative kids can be.
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October 2001 |
We just got back from two significant trips. One was to France for
almost a month, and the other was to Ottawa for the American Society
of Aviation Artist's Forum and exhibit. I lugged my paint box all
over France and did get a chance to paint in Provence and Normandy.
The little town of Honfluer in Normandy is an artist's paradise!
The photo shown here was taken from the spot I spent most of a day
painting an oil. Six other artists were painting from the same location.
(All local Frenchmen) It was a terrific experience! I also added
a lot of sketches in my sketchbook throughout Provence, on the canal
where we spent a week on a chartered boat, and in Normandy and Paris.
We were on our boat on September 11, when we heard the terrible
news of the terrorist attack. The French and Brits we met after
that were all very caring, sympathetic, and supportive.
The ASAA Forum in Ottawa was well attended and the exhibit was outstanding.
It was a joint show of the Canadian Aviation artists and the Americans.
I was fortunate to win a Merit award for my painting NORWAY ARRIVAL
that can be seen elsewhere on this web site. It will also used as
a cover for Woman Pilot Magazine, honoring Ann Morrow Lindbergh
for her skills and contribution to that epic flight. |
May 2001 |
Last month a terrific new aviation book arrived in the bookstores.
It is titled "BOMBER MISSIONS, Aviation Art of World War II." The
author is G. E. Patrick Murray and Friedman/Fairfax published it.
Many of the top aviation artists in England and the United States
are represented. I have had several calls regarding one of my paintings
in the book, requesting a print. The painting is entitled "Milk
Run" and appears on page 82. This painting was commissioned by the
navigator of the B-17 featured in the work and, unfortunately, never
did go into print.
I have had several 20 x 24 custom photo prints made of it for those
that have called, and I have a few left. These are indeed beautiful
prints and they sell for $100.00 plus $6.00 shipping. Any orders
for this print will include an account of this mission written by
the Navigator, Mr. Stirling Blakeman of "The Bloody 100th Bomb Group". |
March 2001 |
Researching material for a painting is sometimes a major effort,
and several times I have spent more time doing the research than
it took to do he painting. In my painting of the battle of Midway,
I read six books on the battle before I even picked up a pencil.
I had an assignment recently that required me to show Langley Air
Force Base from 5,000 feet as it appeared in 1929. That could have
been a real problem, but for the fact that I had visited the base
on a NASA assignment in 1987. While browsing through books in the
gift shop, I happened to find a soft bound book entitled "Langley,
the Early Years," and for some reason, I bought it. While it didn't
contain an aerial view of he base in 1929, it did have several taken
in 1925 and 1932. Armed with these photographs, I was able to make
a fairly accurate rendition of how Langely Field must have looked
at that time. Sometimes you just luck out! |
�2001
NIXON GALLOWAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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