Conway Rowland: Painting the Spitfire

1. The Genesis of a Spitfire Painting

An introduction to a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting.
(Part 1-In which the loose ends of research from painting Hurricanes, start pointing inexorably towards the Spitfire.) ...more

2. Getting to know the Mk. 1 Spitfire in Pencil

In which in I study the Spitfire, try to get Hurricanes out of my head and paint a small study of the aircraft of Bob Stanford Tuck.
(Part 2 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

3. About the Pilot - Sgt. Basil Whall

Where I find out more about the events surrounding a Stuka on an English golf course and understand a little more about 602 Squadron pilot, Sgt. Basil Whall
(Part 3 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

4. The Scramble Bell and a Combat Report

Seeking a composition, I hear the sound of a Scramble Bell in 1940. I find only more questions, and how studying the original Combat Report bridges a gap of time and place.
(Part 4 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting.) ...more

5. A Battlefield with Golf, Radar and Large Greenhouses

On how I found myself having to take a virtual round of golf, locate some missing 360 ft high radar masts and mentally rebuild a half acre of glasshouses to picture the ‘Battlefield’ of 1940
(Part 5 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

6. Which Angle to View a Spitfire?

I finally find a workable composition, viewing the Spitfire at the end of a dusty summer road and under a bank of rolling cloud.
(Part 6 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

7. Deputising a 1940’s Sky

About getting the sky to fit in the painting and a missed photo opportunity
(Part 7 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

8. The Shadow of a Great Aviation Artist

I actually start painting, but am troubled by nightmares of plagiarism.
(Part 8 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

9. Putting the ‘Real’ into a Painted Sky and a 602 Squadron Spitfire

Changing the colours of a sky and a nose (cone), and denting a Spitfire with care.
(Part 9 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

10. Portraying a Landed Stuka in the 1940 Sussex Countryside

In which I move a Stuka slightly and bring life to the backdrop of Sussex landscape in 1940.
(Part 10 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

11. Using Colours in the Painting

A short aside on my use of paint colours
(Part 11 of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting) ...more

12. A Spitfire over Angmering completes a Tribute to “The Few”

In which I temporarily mislay the village of Angmering, but discover that I’ve finished and how all of this is, and always was, really about a brave young fighter pilot of 80 years ago.
(Part 12, the final part of a series on creating an original Battle of Britain oil painting.) ...more