The Mars Bomber
I have a love for planes
I've always dreamed of getting my licence one day and explore the mountains with a float plane.... but I need to sell a lot more paintings before that EVER happens. Having family on beautiful Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island I've been fortunate to see the incredible Mars Bombers. The Mars Bombers are 1945 US Navy Transport planes converted into the worlds largest flying waterbombers. My cousin Steve worked on the bombers and one Christmas when Joni was just a baby we got a tour.
Back in 2013, which feels like SOOOO long ago, I had a solo exhibition at the Port Alberni Public Art Gallery and I wanted to create a painting with a bomber in it. At that time I hadn't painted a plane before but was excited because I knew how much these planes meant to the town. Below is the first Mars Bomber painting I did
Title: The Bomber, 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas - SOLD
Since then I've had requests to create commission paintings featuring the bomber and I've been so thrilled. Painting them makes me feel like my two year old son when he plays with planes. I can't help but say 'VRRRROOOOOOOOOOM' under my breathe. My husband usual catches me doing it while I'm painting away and laughs but I think we all feel that way when we see one of these enormous planes flying overhead?? There was a fire at Dog Mountain right on Sproat Lake and to the delight of, well everyone, the Mars Bomber was signed, after years of sitting idle, to fly again. Below is a video of the Mars Bomber flying, taken by my cousin!
The other paintings I've done for my lovely collectors are below and I'm going to be sketching away another commission of the bomber pretty soon. Up Up and Away!
My first triangle painting includes all the features of Sproat Lake that this beautiful family loves. Size 68" x 68" x 96" acrylic on canvas. SOLD - Commission
Title: Sproat Lake Cabin & The Bomber. 24"x36" acrylic on canvas. SOLD - commission
My latest but not last commission that was given as a gift for a family with a cabin on Sproat Lake. 36" x 18" acrylic on canvas. SOLD - commission
So what do you think? If you could add something to a landscape painting that would make it more personal what would it be?