Russell Smith Posted 31 May , 2010 Share Posted 31 May , 2010 This is both a finished work in itself and a pencil study for an upcoming commission. The painting was commissioned by a fellow GW Forum member. I'll let him reveal himself if he likes. The painting will have a couple more Camels in the background. The Camel will be on approach to Clairmarais Aerodrome, outside of St Omer. 54Sq Camel 22.5 ” x 15” pencil on vellum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericthornton Posted 31 May , 2010 Share Posted 31 May , 2010 Russell, Always a pleasure to view.....excellent as always. Et Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 31 May , 2010 Share Posted 31 May , 2010 Russell Excellent! There's even the faint aroma of burnt castor oil when one looks at it. Keep up the good work. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 2 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2010 Thanks so much gentlemen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 2 June , 2010 Share Posted 2 June , 2010 As well as the Castor oil I can smell the varnish! Superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 4 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 4 June , 2010 Well, coming back to this one a few days afterwards it was apparent how lousy my ellipses were. Yikes! I attacked it with the eraser and pencils this morning and made some adjustments. Hopefully this is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 4 June , 2010 Share Posted 4 June , 2010 I have to agree with you, Russell - the ellipses in the revised version eclipse the ellipses in the earlier sketch ... Lovely work, as ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 5 June , 2010 Share Posted 5 June , 2010 Wish you would do horses instead of planes. Your talent amazes. Cheers Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 5 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 5 June , 2010 Thanks Gunner and Ozzie. Ozzie, I could do a horse if given adequate reference material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 5 June , 2010 Share Posted 5 June , 2010 No worries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 5 June , 2010 Share Posted 5 June , 2010 If you had time for a 'flight of fancy', Russell, it would be fun to see a WW1 version of Pegasus with biplane wings ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 8 June , 2010 Share Posted 8 June , 2010 Not as good as the one drawn in the back of my old school maths book...but not bad (er ahem) Actually it makes me never want to look at a pencil again...let alone use one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 21 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 21 July , 2010 After having to push a couple of other projects through, I've finally had time to get this project moving along again (this poor guy has been waiting for months on this one). Anyway, this is more complete pencil study of the entire work. This will have a late afternoon sun coming in from the left. The layout of landscape is based on the Google Earth map of the area. There's no way of really knowing which current structures were there 90 years ago, so I took out a couple at random. I also added a couple of small buildings and clumps of trees in strategic spots to strengthen the composition. The pencil study measures 14" x 10.5". pencil on vellum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 22 July , 2010 Share Posted 22 July , 2010 My stereotype answer is: GENIUS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Connolly Posted 23 July , 2010 Share Posted 23 July , 2010 Superb stuff! I can almost identify Biggles, and Algy, and McMahon. Will you post a version of the finished oil painting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 23 July , 2010 Share Posted 23 July , 2010 On looking at that superb drawing - and it is - makes one realize how quickly aircraft design had moved on from the early days of late 1900's. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 24 July , 2010 Share Posted 24 July , 2010 Your skill never fails to impress, Russell! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 27 August , 2010 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2010 Just finished up the color study for this 54Sq Sopwith Camel. I'm pretty satisfied with where its at, so the final version will be pretty close to this in terms of hues and values. 11" x 15" oil on linen on masonite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 27 August , 2010 Share Posted 27 August , 2010 Brilliant as usual Russell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 22 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 September , 2010 A bit more done on Clairmarais Camels. The underpainting is now finished. This loose layer will provide a base for subsequent layers of transparent and opaque colors. The ground still looks a bit warm due to the fact that the initial staining color is still showing through quite heavily. This is actually intentional. I want that warmth to come through slightly, but the successive layers will tone that down to a much more pleasant and reasonable degree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 3 October , 2010 Share Posted 3 October , 2010 Very nice!!! regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tommie Ray Posted 3 October , 2010 Share Posted 3 October , 2010 Simply amazing, how much would something like this cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 10 October , 2010 Author Share Posted 10 October , 2010 I finished round 2 last night and have a couple of shots of the painting as it looks now. I made a couple of changes on this round. You'll notice that I shifted the row of poplars to the right a little. I need those verticlas on the right to thrust your eye back up, but they weren't far enough towards the right. You can still slightly see where they were originally. I also increased the size of the hangars on the left slightly. I'll let this layer dry for a couple of weeks before coming back with the final touches and adjustments. Still to be done: 1) The Camel is only partially rigged. I need to add the rest of the rigging. 2) The foreground landscape need a little more light on it. 3) the rows of Camels at the Aerodrome still need to be painted in. 4) the landscape near the horizon could use some more fields and trees indicated. The trees in the background look like little islands right now. 5) I might add a couple of figures on the ground, just to give it some life. 6) I'll probably add just a slight bit more light prop blur on this side of the prop hub. I'm sure I'll find more adjustments to make before I get back to it, but that's it for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 10 October , 2010 Share Posted 10 October , 2010 Brilliant as usual Russell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Connolly Posted 10 October , 2010 Share Posted 10 October , 2010 In the dictionary, under "Evocative", it says " - see Russell Smith Studios". Superb stuff! You can almost hear the wind whistling through the wires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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