- Bob, tell me about your painting “Shuttle Launch”.
Artist BP: It’s a tribute to the American space program, of course, the shuttle being the real beginning of the high tech. era. Remember, when the shuttle was designed, a computer was the size of a room. So much technology and so many new inventions came out of it, that it totally changed the American lifestyle. I mean now we have laptop computers that do 10 thousand times more than that room sized Univac computer from the 60’s. They even invented Velcro so the astronauts could stick to their work stations in weightlessness. Really! - And the painting itself?
Artist BP: Oh, I like it! (the artist leaned back and gave SR a pleasing grin and then leaned forward to tell us the story behind this painting.) I was at a car show in Florida and there was a classic Ford very similar to this one. I photographed it and trimmed out the car in the painting with gold chrome and pin striping. I tried to use very rich colors on a simple format. I had photos that my brother took of a Shuttle launch and modified them to fit the composition. My brother Vic worked at the Kennedy Space Center for over 20 years. He was a mechanical and electrical engineer. He did a lot of the satellite hook-ups in the payload bay. Then he worked in the flight deck prepping the crew and packing their belongings and equipment.
- An artist and a scientist.
Artist BP: Yes, between the two of us, we had our own Renaissance, you know, the combination of art and science. When we were kids, I was drawing and designing rockets and space ships all the time. He and his friend were conducting scientific experiments by launching bugs and stuff in those Esties model rockets.
- What kind of stuff?
Artist BP: Anything they could fit in the capsule. I think once they tried a goldfish...and it made quite a mess. - (LOL) I bet it did! Bob, tell me more about this painting and the 3-D illusion.
Artist BP: Well, the car is in 2 point perspective. The other illusion is that we’re focusing on both the car and on the launch a mile and a half away. It’s fun to pull that off so it really looks real. The large reflective fender offers a panoramic view for capturing the event. Another “Reflection of America”
