The Art of Alexandre Jay

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski Portrait

2009-05-24T17:19:00.007Z

At last I've finished this portrait.
It depicts American fighter ace, "Gabby" Gabreski, who achieved 28 kills while flying P-47s with the 56th Fighter Group in the European Theatre of Operations.
On 20 July 1944, he was shot down and became a prisoner of war. This ordeal survived, just a few years, he again reached ace status once more, this time during the Korean conflict.

Drawing is A4 size on Britsol paper.
The original drawing is available for 125.00 GBP + P&P Contact Artist

Battle of Britain era Spitfire Mk II drawing, 603 Squadron

2009-04-14T10:15:00.003Z

Pencil on a cream, acid-free paper. Approx: 16'' x 10'' without mount/matting.

Here's my Spitfire Mk II drawing. The aircraft depicted is flown by 603 Squadron pilot, Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton DFC. I'm pretty happy the way it turned out. Unfortunately the great detailing and overall quality of the finish doesn't do my art justice in the scan. The art itself is a lot bigger but my scanner is only an A4 size, thus there is a lot more grass field to the left and especially right which gives a feeling of the Spit's movement.

This piece is now part of a private UK collection.

Sopwith Pup Drawing, 1917

2009-04-12T14:09:00.005Z

Just finished my Sopwith Pup drawing. I lost count of how many hours it took, but when I thought I was almost finished, I still spent another 6 hours on it! That will give you a rough idea......

Drawing is A4 size on acid free paper.
The original drawing is available for 125.00 GBP + P&P Contact Artist

'Pappy' Boyington (U.S.M.C.) sketch

2009-01-12T23:26:00.003Z

'Pappy' Boyington was the Commanding Officer of VMF-214, better known as the 'Blacksheep Squadron,' and flew the famed FU4, gull-winged Corsair during WWII.

He personally shot down 26 Japanese aircraft. It was for this and his outstanding leadership, he was been awarded the Medal of Honor.

This drawing is now part of an American private collection.

Art Commissions Welcome

2009-01-05T11:56:00.004Z

Just a little reminder of commission rates :)

If you are interested in commissioning a painting / drawing, or maybe just have an art project you would like to discuss, please feel free to email me with the details.

Contact Artist

The approximate prices below are based on the customer supplying the relevant research material; if you require me to carry out additional research, then the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Below is a price guide for some of the more popular sizes of boards and canvases. I have many sizes available that are not shown, so please don’t hesitate to email for details.

Commission an original acrylic painting : (canvas or canvas panel)

30’’ x 24’’ price unframed from: 495.00 GBP
30’’ x 20’’ price unframed from: 465.00 GBP
20’’ x 16’’ price unframed from: 375.00 GBP
12’’ x 8’’ price unframed from: 250.00 GBP

Commission an original pencil drawing:

Prices from: 125.00 GBP

Email for prices regarding illustrative work and shipping costs.

Thanks for looking

Tribute Painting to William F. Draper

2008-11-28T22:02:00.004Z

My tribute painting after William F. Draper's fantastic painting entitled "Sub and Yippy Tie Up."

This is an acrylic painting I created depicting an American S-boat (the submarine to the left) moored somewhere in the Aleutian Islands during 1942. I cannot take any credit for this composition and the inspiration Draper's original oil painting gave to me, my only small part was to try and capture the atmosphere of his original painting to the best of my ability, in acrylic and my own style.

William F. Draper, one of my favorite 1940s artists, served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. His official job was that of an actual combat artist; recording the events he saw first-hand as a historical record. He created some outstanding work and I can recommend viewing his paintings.

Sailboats: Acrlyic painting

2008-11-15T23:02:00.003Z

Here's a little painting I did early this year but totally forgot to add to my blog.

13'' x 9.5 '' acrylic on a canvas board.

It's for sale as are all my works, so email me using the contact button at the top right of the blog if you're interested.

Today's arty adventures........

2008-09-29T22:05:00.003Z

I think every artist has paintings, that for one reason or another, get put to the side and either stay that way forever where they gather dust, or sometimes, if they're very lucky, are revisited with a fresh vigour.

Today I picked up just such a painting, an old landscape started earlier this year, and began once more to rework it. Hopefully I'll have something worth showing by the weekend. Mind you, if it sucks, you'll never see or hear of it again....ha-ha.

I’m also working on another little study for my own enjoyment.... a painting in tribute of a great 1940s combat-artist who's been a great inspiration to my work; more about that later though.

Inspiration............

2008-09-28T12:09:00.003Z

I've been thinking of a new urban piece yet am undecided as to what it will actually involve. I often have no ideas for weeks, then at 3 in the morning while unable to sleep, am suddenly bombarded with exciting ideas! I must learn to leave the warmth of my duvet, run down the stairs and start immediately!
Anyway, over on my other blog I'm currently working on a WW2 Japanese fighter plane sketch, so check that project out by clicking HERE, but also watch this space too! :)

'Urban Decay' - Loco Shunter

2008-09-23T19:52:00.004Z

A4 graphite on acid-free paper.

Just finished my little drawing tonight. This is very different for me and makes a change from the rural scenery I'm often depicting. Anything vintage fascinates me, and equally, large machinery that once led a busy 'life' yet now stands derelict, rusting and maybe vandalised, is also alluring. You can just imagine during the winter, the howling wind blowing through this rusty, behemoth hulk.

This drawing is available to buy. Please contact me for details.

Shunting loco drawing in progress...............

2008-09-22T21:44:00.002Z

Managed to get some drawing done today. Wanted to do something a little urban, something rusting and abandoned, so chose an old shunting loco.
Just to keep you in suspense a little longer, I'll show you the piece later in the week once it's more presentable.

Until next time...................

Any new work?

2008-09-07T22:52:00.002Z

Yes, there will be, of course.

I've been working on some vintage aircraft drawings but won't talk about them here; check out my WW2artist blog if you're curious.

But what about new non-aviation work? Well, I'm currently planning some new pieces and will let you know very soon.

Peace!

'Afternoon Haul'

2008-05-15T16:02:00.002Z

Original acrylic painting available.

'The Wood Shack'

2008-05-15T15:54:00.001Z

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Refuge from the Storm'

2008-05-15T15:51:00.000Z

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Dawn Harvest'

2008-05-15T15:49:00.001Z

This piece is now part of a private collection.

'Time's Past' acrylic painting complete with frame

2008-05-15T15:47:00.003Z

Painting available.

Toucan

2007-11-16T01:15:00.003Z

Original acrylic painting on a quality canvas rendered in acrylic.

Chat Noir

2007-11-15T17:56:00.006Z

Sold

This piece is now part of a private collection.

House Paintings/Drawings Art Commissions

2007-10-02T14:47:00.001Z

Hello and long time no write.......

Well, I'm back now, and having finished an S-boat commission, am working on something quite different! Coming up to Christmas I have been asked to create some house commissions as gifts.
If you're interested in commissioning a piece, please email me for a absolutely no obligation quote, and type 'house commission' in the email title bar, so my spam remover doesn't zap it.... I can do these in any size or medium!

Contact me on:
ww2artist (at) yahoo.co.uk (replace 'at' with '@')

''The Padlock''

2007-07-23T15:52:00.001Z

Sometimes the simplest subject matter can make an interesting composition, and this one was no exception.

12 x 8 cm
Acrylic on canvas

''An English Summer''

2007-07-16T17:18:00.000Z

SOLD
12'' x 9.5''
Acrylic on canvas

E30 M3 BMW graphite drawing

2007-05-30T10:02:00.001Z

Here's the M3 BMW I just completed. It took a long time with much fine detail you can't really see on the scan, but believe me, this drawing even shows the drilled brake discs!

Remember, get your car commissions here! Contact me for a friendly, no obligation quote. BMW enthusiasts, feel free to drop by and share your cars with me, as I'm an owner of BMW's Teutonic engineering myself :)

''Upon Foreign Soils'' (A war poem by Alexandre Jay (c))

2007-05-14T11:06:00.000Z

Upon Foreign Soils

Until I met my untimely end,
I was once like you, my friend:
Hopes for the future and steel-like nerves,
Desires to caress sweet female curves,
And warmth within my heart for those held dear,
It’s maybe tragic I ended up here.

You see something happened, something big,
And like other young men, I’d done as they did,
Before I knew it, service, adventure in a foreign land,
And also King and country helped me hold up my hand,
With vigour I’d marched to the cheer of a crowd,
My family, my friends, everyone proud.

Back then this land was a living hell,
As with wave upon wave, our numbers fell,
War hadn’t been, as I’d first thought,
The greens had turned brown, bodies, skin stretched taut,
With the rats in our trenches, is where I lay,
Praying the sniper’s next shot wasn’t coming my way.

I’d cried, ‘Oh mother dear, why did I come!’
An execution I’d faced, if I’d tried to run,
So many had yearned for the uniform and gun,
And the chance to say they’d killed one of the hun,
By the time I’d realised, it was just too late,
My naivety and romantic notions had sealed my fate,
With puddles that had turned a crimson red,
Bodies lay rotting, uncovered, stone-dead.

As you gaze down upon me now,
Don’t pity my loss or wonder how,
I came to rest upon this soil,
Upon foreign lands on which I’d bitterly toiled,
For it little matters, I came of my own accord,
Not for the promise of glory, gold or bigger reward,
I’d thought eternal youth could never fade,
But it was with my life this soldier paid.

And now I’m here forever more,
So many years have passed since that hellish war,
A land so beautiful and green,
You tread those same fields where in body, I’d once been,
Such sights as I’d seen, no eyes should see again,
I beg of you, don’t let my efforts have been in vain,
Next time you see a poppy blowing in the breeze,
Please think of us, me and my brothers, please.

A poem by Alexandre Jay, (c) 2007
Dedicated to those who lost their lives during two world wars.

(The image and poem have been copy written, and may in no way be reproduced or used in anyway, without the written permission of the author)

French Beetle

2007-05-12T17:59:00.000Z

Here's my newest piece of photoghraphy. It's a rather cool-looking bug that took flight just after working it for the camera.....