Commissions  

  I welcome the opportunity to create unique and meaningful art for individuals or organizations. These can range from portraits  of a single airplane, combinations of the airplane and the pilot, or a collage of several airplanes to illustrate the history of a unit or the experience of a pilot. My paintings have been done for retirements or anniversary celebrations.
            Commission rates are among the most competitive in the unique and challenging field of aviation art. The standard rate is $3 per square inch of surface. The most common size of painting is 24” x 18”, which equates to $1296.  Other common sizes are 20” x 15” ($900), and 36” x 24” ($2,592). The process of creating your commission includes a compositional pencil sketch before painting. When the pencil sketch is approved by the client, a payment equal to one half of the full commission is due. When the painting is finished, the client is allowed to suggest minor changes before I ship the painting. The balance of the payment is due prior to shipping. Large paintings, or paintings which involve more complicated subject matter are subject to higher rates.
           My reference library is extensive, and there are probably very few airplanes for which I cannot find relevant references. My commissions have included aircraft from every era of aviation, and from all aspects of aviation from civil to the most complex military subjects.

    My primary medium is Acrylic paint on a ground of illustration board (paper) or Gesso Board (masonite). I have used Acrylics for over 30 years and I can certify to their light-fastness and ability to withstand heat, cold, and moisture. Many of the illustrations in our Galleries were done in the mid to late 1960s. They have not faded, or cracked.

F-105D "Memphis Belle II" over North Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder. Commissioned for the collection of Travis Flint, 2002.	F-15 Eagles of the 18th TFW and JASDF. Commissioned for Colleen Ruth, 2002
B-24s of the 451st Bomb Group over Vienna, Austria in 1944. Commissioned for Erwin Wiedmer, 2003	F-111A of the 474th TFW taxies out for a Linebacker II mission. Commissioned for Doug Miles, 2003.
F-105G "PATIENCE" of the 17th WWS, Korat RTAFB during Operation Linebacker II, December, 1972 fires a Standard ARM at an NVA SAM site in North Vietnam. Commissioned for Doug Miles, 2003.	"Just Smile Baby!" F-14 of VF-201, with TARPS pod running, makes a run on CV-73. Commissioned for Lowell Waite, 2003.
H-53 Sea Stallion of HMM-462 commissioned for Mike Philbin, 2003.	"Crusader Launch" commissioned for John Hagener, 2004.
"In Close" depicts an A-7E of VA-147 approaching the USS America during a 1969 WestPac deployment. Commissioned for Stu Barclay, 2004.	Retirement presentation painting for General Don Kutyna, showing aircraft he flew in his USAF career. (His favorite was the F-105 he dubbed "The Polish Glider")
The Lima Lima Flight Team 30" x 14" created for a team poster, 2004.	A-4E approaching USS Intrepid (CV-11) off the coast of North Vietnam, 1968. Commissioned for John Wilcox, 2004.
"Frolicking Above the Clouds" The Lima Lima Flight Team in a multi-maneuver tail chase.  24" x 18" acrylic on canvas panel. $800	L-29C and L-29R owned by Greg Phelps. Commissioned for Greg Phelps, 2005. Acrylic on board 20" x 15"
F-4U Corsair of MAG-11 in the Philippines, 1944. Commissioned by Kendall Gay in honor of his grand-uncle, USMC pilot William Gay, KIA.	The Lima Lima Flight Team in a six-ship loop over the Chicago lakefront during the Chicago Air & Water Show. Commissioned by the team for the 2005 ICAS Silent Auction.
"Spirit of Yoxford" commissioned by Cliff Patterson, 2006.	A-4E model diorama commissioned by John Wilcox.
One of a series of three paintings done for the 111th Fighter Squadron, 147th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard. The paintings celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the 111th "Ace In The Hole" Squadron, showing aircraft flown by the squadron during their long and continuous history of service to the state of Texas and the United States. The F-16 in the foreground is painted in a special 90th anniversary livery. The patches at the bottom of the painting represent units served, including Army Air Forces, Air Defense Command, First Air Force, NORAD, Air Combat Command, and Air National Guard. Aircraft flown include the JN-4 "Jenny", Douglas O-2, O-38, O-43, O-47, F-6 Mustang, F-84E, F-86D, F-102, F-101B, F-4 Phantom, and F-16. All three paintings are 36" x 24", acrylic on canvas panel.	"My Other Airplane (was) A Viper!" Commissioned by the Lima Lima Flight Team for the 2007 ICAS silent auction, the painting shows the T-34 of Lt. Col. Skip Aldous, USAF (ret) and the F-16 he flew while commander of the 159th FIS of the Florida Air National Guard. Skip is the current solo lead of the Lima Lima Flight Team.
Commission done for Mike Anacki, depicting his service as an F-101B crew chief at Griffiss AFB, New York in 1966-67.	Commission done for Ken Hilliker as cover illustration for his book on the World War II experiences of an SBD pilot early in World War II. The action depicts an attack on a surfaced Japanese submarine in May, 1942.
Commissioned for the farewell ceremony of Col. Tom Lawhead, CO of the 52nd Operations Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.	1927 Pitcairn PA-4 Fleetwing II Oshkosh 1991 Grand Champion Antique Restored by C.H. Armstrong, Lt. Col. USAF (ret) Painting commissioned by Doctor Steve and Julie Diehl.
Commissioned for Mike Anacki to commemorate his service as an F-4 Phantom crew chief.	"2 Rippers" shows Lima Lima pilot John Rippinger formating on his late brother's F-4 Phantom over USS Coral Sea. (As he imagined the formation) Done for the ICAS Foundation annual silent auction, 2008.
Travelaire BiPlane commissioned for Kim Vanderlinden 2009	Thunderbirds Thunderchief diamond. Commissioned for Wit Raymond 2009.
B-29s of the 330th Bomb Group over Osaka, Japan. Smoke from the burning city rose beyond their bombing altitude of 20,000 feet. The tail gunner was credited with downing a Tojo fighter on this mission, while the side gunner got 1/2 credit for the attacking Zeke. The "City of Kankakee" was flown by Captain Vivian Lock. The painting was commissioned by his son, Jim Lock.	"Rippinger Family Flying Club" Commissioned by John Rippinger, whose T-34 leads an imagined formation including the B-24 flown by his father in the CBI during WWII, the A-6 flown by one brother and the F-4 Phantom with another brother as RIO.
Recently completed commission for SSgt Alvin Rush, who was crew chief on this Thud, flown by Major Larry Guarino when he was shot down and made P.O.W. in 1965.18" x 24" acrylic on canvaspanel.	1/Lt. Karl Richter flew 198 missions over North Vietnam before being killed in combat. His example of courage and dedication to service stands as a shining example to all Americans. His decorations include The Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. The quote on the painting also appears on the base of the bronze statue of Richter at the Air Force Academy.
"Wit's Thud" commissioned for Sawit Raymond. This is the F-105F that, when first seen by Wit, made him a Thud fan for life.	Commissioned for Sawit Raymond. Another colorful Thud from Nellis AFB in the 1960s. This was the Thud Karl Richter used to shoot down a MIG.
Mig-killing F-4E Phantom on a rain-swept ramp in Thailand, 1972. Commissioned by John Hallberg 2010. 24" x 18" acrylic on aquabord.	B-1B cruises high above the undercast. 24" x 18" acrylic on canvaspanel. Commissioned by Larry Heilos
WV-2 Warning Star over NAS Patuxent River circa 1963. A recently completed commission for Captain Jack Roderick, who flew this aircraft before a career with United Air Lines. 20" 15" acrylic on illustration board.	C-117 "Super DC-3". A recently completed commission for Norm Taylor for use as the cover illustration for a Steve Ginter book. 20" x 15" acrylic on illustration board.
VF-142 F-4J over USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during a 1971 Tonkin Gulf cruise. Commissioned by Chakrit Samithinan of Bangkok, Thailand.	F/A-18 Super Hornets over CVN-65 in 2012 during the final deployment of "Big E". Commissioned by the officers of VFA-11 as a retirement gift for thier commanding officer.

Recently completed commissions.

loudrendel@verizon.net                              

Lou Drendel                                  429 Nassau St. S.Venice, FL 34285

(941) 488-8102