Aviation Art

Aviation Art ~ Preface

Wayne Snyder

I was first introduced to the world of man-made 'things that fly' when I was three years old. My dad had made a simple rubber band powered toy airplane for me (and I think himself as well) to fly in the meadow by our home in rural Lolo, Montana. That day remains a very fond memory for me. My dad wound it up, and let it go. It went gracefully out and up, and began to fly in expanding circles as it continued to fly higher, even after the rubber band had stopped powering the propeller. Cumulous clouds were in the "The Big Sky" country, and mountains bordered the little valley where we stood. The little plane continued upwards until it disappeared from our sight!

I asked him - "Dad . . . Where did it go?" To his credit in considering the thinking of a little boy (and making for a happy ending to the situation), he replied - "Well, it's flown way up into the mountains, and has probably landed gently on a high cliff where it can now look down on the valley". The magical image of that little toy plane at rest on a high mountain cliff, a breeze gently blowing making it's wings move side to side a little, perhaps pine needles now covering a part of it, and it's paint faded (but still ready to fly if a strong wind should pick it up) -- is such a happy and treasured thought even still!

I have yet to acquire a pilot's license and get to fly myself, but still . . . maybe someday. I remain as one of those guys who, at the sound of any airplane overhead, will still look up, never ceasing to enjoy the marvel of it.

I've never specialized in only producing aviation art. My interest in painting the subject is considerable, but I also have the same for other things. As such, my inventory of aviation art isn't extensive. I produce new ones from time to time, as the desire or opportunity arises. One shown here on the site is "Day Of The Liberator". I finally got to see the airplane my dad flew in WW2! What a great day it was. The B-24 arrived as one of the aircraft on display at the Arlington Fly-In and air show here in Washington State. Wonderful to watch and listen to when it departed. I love the sounds of jets, but those big piston driven engines are something special as well!

Air Force Art

After college and starting my career in art, I was very fortunate to have become involved in what is called the 'Air Force Art Program'. This is a program through which the U.S. Air Force has built a major collection of art over many years, and which pertains to almost every facet of the Air Force, including historical events and people. Professional artists from around the country (primarily free-lance illustrators) were (and perhaps still are) from time to time sent to various AF bases to gather reference material and/or do preliminary sketches, and research a given event or theme the artist had been asked to document by way of finished artwork. The formal orders for these trips came directly from the Secretary of The Air Force, and the participating artists were assigned a GS-15 rating (to give them a degree of freedom to move about the bases while collecting their research material). The program had no monetary compensation for the art involved -- the artwork was 'given' to the Air Force in exchange for the trips and the joy of the experience to the artists in their participation. After the research trips, and completion of the finished paintings later on, the art was presented at a yearly event in Washington, D.C.

I produced three paintings for the Air Force, resulting from three trips to different bases in the late 1970's. The first trip was to Nellis AFB in Nevada, for the purpose of documenting 'Red Flag Day' (part of the Air Force's fighter pilot training program)... what an exciting trip that was! The second was to Mather AFB in California to document the first five women in the Air Force receiving their 'wings' as navigators after their training. These women were a real pleasure to meet, and so modest about their accomplishment. The third was to Hill AFB in Utah for the roll-out of the F-16. On the Hill AFB trip, unfortunately there was a mix-up in arrival timing and I missed the roll-out ceremony of the F-16. So I painted "Hot n' Cold" instead, which was thankfully well received by the AF. While wandering around the base one day, I was out there on the flight line area when an F-4 Phantom came in and taxied by. Quite a dramatic contrast between a very cold winter day and the heat waves of the jet's engines radiating into the air as it rolled by.

For a guy who'd loved airplanes since boyhood, the joyful experiences of these trips were a real treasure. I have to say too, that along with the aircraft and interesting atmosphere of AF bases, all the Air Force people that I met were great!
-Wayne

I can do commissioned art such as aircraft portraits, or a person (s) with an aircraft. All that is needed is adequate photographic reference sent. Prices start at $500. for a drawing, and go up from there depending on other mediums chosen, complexity and size. They can make great mementos or gifts. Email me with your inquiry, and I will reply with details.