In January 2020, I retired from a career of flying military aircraft for more than 39 years and testing them for 27 years. As a Bell Helicopter Experimental Test Pilot, I was involved in the flight tests of the V-22 Osprey. It’s not by coincidence that my logo is an Osprey, and that some of my paintings are of aircraft.

But now I am focusing on the next leg of my journey exchanging the flight suit for a fly vest and fully enjoying our home on the Chesapeake and traveling to various points of the globe in search of flyfishing, scuba diving, and sailing adventures. From these experiences, I intend to further develop my talents as an artist and even do some writing. I hope you enjoy my website, and maybe buy some art.

Cheers,
Marty

My paintings tend to be done in the studio with thin washes of color that require I paint the image multiple times. My pictures are often studio studies from multiple photos that I’ve taken in my travels and collated into an image that I feel captures the essence of the subject. Because of this process, I tend to paint in the winter when the fishing is not good and reserve the summer for chasing my favorite prey. In this thin paint technique, similar in some respects to the dutch master Vermeer, I start with first a sketch of the subject.

Then successive layers of transparent dark glazes are done with the intent of deepening shadow and providing a more three-dimensional look to the subject. These glazes are a combination of pigment, a paint medium like linseed oil, and turpentine to promote fairly quick drying. With each glaze, thicker more opaque layers of lighter color are painted into the glaze to develop depth and promote highlights as needed.

Prior to the final glaze I ensure the background is completed in order to ensure the desired tonality and balance of the picture.  then the final transparent glaze is applied with final fine detailing applied while it is wet and after it has dried.