It's not always what goes into the artwork that makes it work, but what you choose to edit out.
Twenty years ago, one of approximately 45 flyable WWII B-25 Mitchell Warbirds flew into the CAF in Camarillo. After a varied post-war history (including being designated a corporate aircraft), Our goal was to restore this plane back to flying condition, and contribute to the education and memory of what sacrifices were made by the Greatest Generation. I am happy to say we are less than two years out from that dream being realized.
We bought her (critically corroded) off the ramp in Florida, from Big Brew Brewing Company; her nose art, though not authentic, depicted it.
By Consensus we decided we were going to rename her "Pride of the Yanks", so hoping I would be the artist to paint the new name I had created a mock up of what the new nose art could look like. For this to happen we had to remove the existing artwork from the plane's fuselage.
As much as I hated to do it, it had to be done... "BIG 'OLE BREW 'n little 'ole you", is now preserved in photographs, and as a memory in the minds of a few. But everything works out for a reason...
A few years later we would discover this specific aircraft was the last one of it's kind. It seemed there was an alignment of the stars; our whole focus, intention and inspiration would be ignited and magnified by this revelation, and a new spirit would come to life.
