FireFly

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Moments in a Lifetime of Illustration and Aviation Art
A Portrait of the Artist
Putting It All Together

Mission Regensburg
Night of Nights
We Guide to Strike
Eyes of the Eighth

The Galleries
Bibliography
Acknowledgments

Introduction

After a long career spanning five decades as an artist and illustrator, I am often asked about the process that I go through to create a painting. With that in mind, in addition to offering a gallery of finished paintings, I thought that it would be appropriate to devote a portion of this book to the creative process: the metamorphosis that begins with the nucleus of an idea, followed by sometimes painful trial-and-error compositional sketching and the completed painting.

I can honestly say that after all this time, creating art does not get any easier. I don't think of this as a negative aspect of the process. I believe that if the process gets too easy, a glib, hackneyed feeling can creep into the finished art. I once heard it said that, in terms of creativity, the journey is more important than the destination. In other words, the act of thinking, sketching and painting -- all that an artist must go through to create a painting -- is a learning sequence that is more important than the final result.

The type of artwork that I do can best be described as narrative art. It is representational in style and its content suggests some kind of scenario or the telling of a story. If the painting has been commissioned, the client will most likely have a subject matter and concept in mind. At other times, the idea is self-generated -- a vision that originates within myself alone.

The paintings and drawings shown on these pages are reproduced as faithfully as current state-of-the-art book printing will allow, but tonal and color shifts are bound to occur. In cases where I have committed technical errors (and I have), I decided not to "correct" them by modern wonders such as Photoshop or any other means.

What I wish to convey in this book are my thoughts on picture-making and how I attempt to arrive at the most effective composition, including the use of tone, lighting and color in order to produce a work that captures the emotion of a specific moment in time.

 

Col. Donald J.M. Blakeselee penned the foreword to this book shortly before he died in September 2008. This is a mark of the regard in which Gil is held, not just in his native USA, but worldwide. This impressive homage to a great military artist comprises a collection of notes, rough sketches, immaculate pencil images, details from finished images and lots of wonderfully reproduced examples of his paintings, mostly in oil, but acrylics, pastel and charcoal also feature. The gestations of some of his most famous works - "After the Mission" remains an all-time classic for the reviewer - are revealed. This is a wonderful tribute.
-   Flypast Magazine  2010 01

Gil Cohen's paintings are collected worldwide, and this book shows why. Although a professional illustrator for magazines since the 1950s, he admits aviation--from the flimsy biplanes of the First World War to the hulking aircraft that flew in supplies to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans--is his passion. Gil Cohen: Aviation Artists features paintings uncannily realistic paintings that not only show aircraft at their best but also the men and women who fly and service them. The Second World War paintings are superb, a real treat for history buffs.
-   Gift Books Feature, The Globe and Mail  2009 12 11

All artists of this genre pride themselves on accurate depictions of flying machines in action, and Cohen is no exception. What sets him apart from other masters, however, is his focus on the human element.... At his best, Cohen brings history to life.... Cohen is a master illustrator. This is a volume that will find a place on my bookshelf.
- Tom Crouch, Curator, Aviation and Space Art, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian  Air and Space  2009 12

Gil Cohen's life revolves around illustration and the graphic elements of life, especially as it relates to aircraft--and as one reads this book and learns a little about the U.S. artist it is easy to see why... This book is an unusual addition to the genre because it shows, through photographs, both the artist at work in his studio and the steps that Cohen takes to prepare his pieces.... As a result, this book is a good read for those who want to know more about the artistic process.
- Gavin Crutchley  Waterloo Region Record  2009 10 31