Paul Treleven:
Airplane artistry
He traveled to the United States to study in Ohio, but was told he’d need a year of basic requirements in English and algebra. Not able to afford the extra year of study (“English is my first language and I don’t know what I was going to get out of algebra”), he started painting as a hobby. Because he’d flown in EMS helicopters and had served in the South African Air Force, aviation scenes interested him most. Oil painting became more than a hobby, and he started selling his work. “I sent a letter to John Travolta—this was before email—sent him samples of my work and asked him if he’d like me to paint an airplane. He took me up on it and I painted the DC–4 [owned by the South African Airways Museum, which Travolta had flown in to EAA AirVenture in 1995] over a map of the world.” With Travolta as a client, Treleven returned to South Africa and established himself as a contract artist. He does commission work for private aircraft owners, the U.S. Navy, Red Bull, Boeing, and others. He works with clients to capture their aircraft in either scenes he makes up, or, in the case of the U.S. Navy, goes out to the carriers and depicts the actual event. His work ranges in size and cost, from $300 to $2,500 based on the scope. He draws the scenario in pencil, then paints in the background first, moving last to the aircraft, which are often taken from photographs sent to him by owners. His work takes anywhere from a week to three months to finish. The self-trained artist is prolific, with a steady stream of clients that still includes Travolta. Treleven recently painted the actor’s 707.
This painting was commissioned by a client who wanted to give the painting to his best friend for his birthday. The pilot often spoke about his flight down the Hudson and the beautiful sight of the new World Trade Center having risen from the ashes, showing the resolve of the American people to stand strong in the face of their enemies.
I decided to try to create a sombre feel in the skyscape, in honour of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, while incorporating the flight that was of such significance to the aircraft owner.
Doing paintings of city skylines is always challenging because of the amount of detail needed in the buildings as well as ensuring each building is positioned correctly.”
I was given numerous images of the lodge, which didn’t show the entire structure and surrounds, so it was a little like building a jigsaw puzzle to make the full picture of the lodge.
I wanted to line everything up to face the lake the way I have it in the painting, but many photos were taken from different angles. So the painting was a complex one to complete.
The images of the aircraft itself were all land based, so I had to position the aircraft on its floats in the water, showcasing as much of her as I could.
I like to give aircraft a 3D, three-quarter angled view as I believe that shows the aircraft off best to the viewer.
The end result was this image of a peaceful lakefront scene with the old lady waiting on the water to roar into action and take to the skies.”
This Beechcraft Model 18 classic twin-engine aircraft flying in formation with the Citabria was a commission from the owner. He wanted an easy-on-the-eye painting showing his two aircraft flying alongside each other.
To create depth I decided to view the aircraft from a side-to-rear angle with the furthest aircraft smaller and in the lead of the formation. I decided against a bright sky to make the scene a moody, lazy, late afternoon image, perhaps a Sunday afternoon relaxing flight with the owner of the aircraft, family, and friends.
I used a blue-grey cloud formation to contrast the off-white colour of the main subject, the Beech 18.”
