Paintings re-create WWII flights in detail

Paintings re-create WWII flights in detail

(EXCERPT), by Linda McIntosh COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER

March 20, 2004

CAMP PENDLETON – Brian Bateman likes to tell the story of World War II
aces. He does it on canvas.

But before he takes out his paintbrush, Bateman talks with the pilots.

He wants the story of their missions, first-hand.

Shelves and shelves of WWII books line the walls of Bateman's home,
but that is only a starting point.

The aviation artist is set on painting a mood.

The ghostly dark purple silhouettes of a lone plane flying at night
over a blanket of clouds.

The orange-red sky behind a black Hellcat flying at dusk from Okinawa.

"I want to grab someone's attention, so they'll want to learn more
about the history, and it'll stay out there in the future," he said.

Bateman puts hours of research into setting the scene.

"The sunsets in the Pacific are truly things with soul. The violence
of their color is incredible," he wrote in the description of his
painting, "Topaz One at Twilight."

The pai...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com