Yet another WIP - Rickenbacker & #1

[ONEALM]

Russ -

Nice atmospheric piece - looks like there's lots of space and light....

-Mike

[Russell Smith]

Thanks Mike.

[tcrean7828]

Russ,
Outstanding as usual - you got the atmosphere just right.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

[Russell Smith]

Thanks Tom. I'm really eager to get started on this one. However this piece isn't a commissioned work, so for now it has to take a back burner to those that are. Hopefully in a week or so I'll be able to start blocking in some of the underpainting.

(know anybody that wants to buy a BIG Rickenbacker painting )

[Terrencejones]

Hi Russ,
Every egg's a bird. Your studies are masterpieces in their own right. Your ground scenes are superb. Looking forward to seeing this one.

Terry

[Russell Smith]

Back to working on this one. The monotone base coat is done in Raw Umber. This establishes a reference for values and hues as I add in successive layers.

Rickenbacker's face isn't painted in yet. I originally drew him with his goggles down, but someone suggested that I raise his goggles so that his face is visible. I kind of like the idea, so I may re-draw him with the goggles up.



The canvas is 50" x 23" - one of my largest yet. To give you a sense of scale:

Smile for the camera!

[USAWWI]

Russell,
I came across this thread when looking for more information on Old Number 1.

Whatever happened to the plane? I am assuming that the plane was lost for some reason, which would have been an incredible travesty.

In an old issue of C&C (Volume 9, No. 3), it looks like it ended up in the hands of the 138th Aero Squadron, perhaps. But what happened to it after that?

BTW, if you need reference photos of Saints, then please let me know. My family is from there. Mike O'Neal and I took some photos at the aerodrome last summer.

In the mean time, the painting looks terrific.

Narayan

[Russell Smith]

Thanks Narayan. I have no idea what became of S'4523. Perhaps one of our more knowledgeable members - Alan Toelle or Greg van Wyngarden - might know.

Russ

[USAWWI]

Russ,
Sounds good!
Keep up the nice work!
Also is that you in the last photo holding the camera?
Narayan

[Russell Smith]

Originally Posted by USAWWI

Also is that you in the last photo holding the camera?

Yes indeed. That would be me. Shot in the mirror and then flipped back to the correct orientation in Photoshop.