BEING AN AVIATION ARTIST - Top-Ten Questions People Ask Me About Creating Aviation Artwork

[@davidaragones2659]

Even with photography and video, in the end it really shows that traditional arts will never go away, because as its name suggests, art does not only "show", but it also "tells". Any painting or drawing tells a story, a thought, a dream, or a feeling. I think thats what makes it special, and what makes me admire artist, such as yourself, that shares with us your dreams through your art.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@marksinthehouse1968]

When I was a postman on my last collection when I was on a late driving duty I would pick up bags of mail from this place in Hammersmith west London and they done art work for aviation magazines etc ,one guy was finishing off a Boeing 707-436 in BOAC livery you could even see the pilots in the cockpit ,can’t think of the publishing company but I’m going back to 1988 I was 20 long time ago sir ,but I have so much respect for your craft I like to sketch too mostly transport subjects and design ,all the best ,Mark 😊👍🏻

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@SC-pz6jd]

Love your channel. Born in 1954 I have loved everything aviation all my life. Fondly remember my first flight as a six year old flight in a TWA Constellation from CMH to DCA. I was particularly impressed by the fact they gave a six year old a small pack of cigarettes that was included in the pre prepared tray of food they served during flight. However my mom would not let me "light up". Eventually became a pilot in the USAF and flew C-9s, C-130s, H-1s, and H-60s. I have enjoyed many of the books you have done illustrations in. As a fan of Delta Airlines I especially enjoyed Delta An Airline and its Aircraft. Look forward to more of your productions.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks, and I admire your great aviation career!

[@sergioleone3583]

I love how you brought everything full circle to the 10,000 hours quote. Fantastic work as always!!!!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks Sergio!

[@Makeitliquidfast]

One thing about aviation art is that you have to pay attention to detail, I once did a double spread painting for Flight Magazine featuring the Me 163 comet, a reader wrote a letter to the editor saying I had the wrong access wing panels on! I must say I've got to fly on some unique aircraft but only because I was an artist. Great story Mike.

[@teenagerinsac]

Yes, and getting eccentric circular imagery is challenging too. Trying for the impossible- PERFECT :)

[@garfieldsmith332]

You have had a disfurnished and rewarding career Mr. Machat. Your artwork is totally awesome and deserves to be proudly displayed. There should be an art museum like the Louvre or Tate to display these works and the works of other aviation artists. The old saying is a picture says 1,000 words. I fell a painting says a whole lot more. The opening painting of the Pan Am 707 is so striking it grabs your attention right away. Thank you for sharing.

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

I worked at the Kalamazoo Aviation Museum, better know as the Airzoo, in Kalamazoo, Michigan for 6 years and we had loads of awesome aviation art. We also have the world's largest indoor mural; it wrap around the entire main floor and is roughly 30 feet tall and probably 150 or so yards long. You can look it up, it is quite amazing. If anyone is ever in West Michigan or the Kalamazoo area, the Airzoo is a great museum. The "Gem" of the Airzoo is a two seat SR-71, parked next to an F-8, A-4, F-14 and F-18. (The Airzoo sort of specializes in Navy aircraft, especially the Grumman Cats). There is also a restoration center where are you can see the volunteers working on different aircraft that the museum has recently acquired. This includes an F-117 stealth fighter which was recently acquired from the Air Force. The Airzoo was one of the first museums to get one when the Air Force began allowing them to be displayed.

[@maxsmodels]

Another great one Mike keep up the good work

[@plantfeeder6677]

Met a guy who says he owns some of your work Mike. He was surprised I knew who you were. Had forgotten all about John Nagy's show. My brother was the talented one and he did have that drawing kit. Great video, Wonderful paintings. You are a very talented man. Thank you for sharing your labor of love with us.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@hockeytops]

I remember reading that Popular Mechanics issue on a vacation flight as a kid. What a memorable illustration!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Small world!

[@findo12]

A great insight into a great job. Thank you Mike.

[@petrovichbauer5105]

You have a talent I could only dream of.

[@max-mg7gk]

Seriously aviation artist are very cool!

[@markbattista6857]

Just purchased a copy of your book on Delta airlines and it proudly occupies a spot in my aviation library . Great book

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks Mark!

[@craiglordable]

This is great history.

[@PlanetEarth3141]

That video is impressive for a number of reasons. One of them is the heart felt dedication to your mentors and those that helped you along the way. Most YouBoob content creators never express gratitude for those who support them except for sponsorships. Most also plagiarized their content.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@sski]

That was awesome. I used to draw all kinds of aircraft from my wee ages until I was about 14, and I got quite good at it. Then I started schooling in mechanical drafting. For some reason I slowed, then stopped drawing all together. Shame really. I should have stuck to it. Music and music production is my thing now, and I enjoy that just the same, so it's all good. Have a great day, Mike!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment - music and art always seem to together. Thanks for watching!

[@glennweaver3014]

Superb presentation of your multifaceted art career Mike. I appreciate all your evocative creations, and several prints of them proudly hang on the walls in my home. Thanks for sharing your God given talent with us.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Glenn. Honored to have my prints in your collection!

[@stever417]

Always great! Thanks!

[@Agwings1960]

I have always had lots of admiration for people who could do a very realistic looking picture of an aircraft, what I really find fascinating are the concept machines, which are only limited by the human imagination.

[@michaelvs.scorpio7676]

The P-38 Lightning mural is really cool!! Ich sehe den Blitz gern!!

[@3holer01]

That was awesome, Mike! Really enjoyed it.

[@DeanstuD]

Epic!

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@N99JH]

As always, real eye candy. Thanks for the joy your program brings me :)

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

Talk about a Dream Job! Seeing Mike suited up outside that F-14 made me quite envious; getting to fly in a Tomcat and so many (and I can't put this any other way) *Cool* aircraft is something every boy I knew growing up dreamed of. I was born in '84 and all my friends and I wanted to be and pretended we were Maverick when we played or made model aircraft. If you read this Mike, I think it would be awesome if you could share some stories about which aircraft you flew in or which ones were your favorites, or least favorite. I can't remember if you've done a video on that before; if so I can't recall. Anyway, another great video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks Jon, and I'm planning a video in a few weeks on my favorite aircraft. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@chuck9987]

Simply awesome! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@cruzcontrol1504]

This is your best episode yet !!! In 1994 I worked with a fellow at McD/D to develop a three dimensional display image of an MD-80. It was an advanced lenticular display.that rested flat on a table in a board room. It was not visible until you got to the table edge and looked down at a slight angle. The aircraft would then appear to be on the table in 3-D before you. Did you ever see or hear of it when you worked there ?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great question on digital 3-D at MDC, and in 1984, we were just beginning the transition to CADD using McAuto hardware. Very challenging experience back then!

[@jetsons101]

Mike, you have a great back story. Thanks for sharing it with us. Someday I hope to shake your hand at the museum. Thanks again. "off to work"

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Mike!

[@brentjames9388]

I am so happy I found your page. You are a joy to listen to, So many wonderful things that you have done, and I bet you have never bragged about it once to anyone,

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@nigel-Rollercam-channel]

Barrie A.F. Clarke, Spitfire is what made me appreciate aviation art, I know it is essentially a cliche at this point. Thank you for sharing your experiences, motivations, process and history.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

At the time, that image was the most highly-sold piece of aviation art on Earth! Thanks for watching.

[@danielblythe5337]

Did you ever make a print of this Blue Angles picture? Nice view of this F6F Hellcat! Refreshing to see the F6F Hellcat here, rather than the usual F8F Bearcat depicted for the early Blue Angles. The Hellcat is absolutely one of my very favorite looking WWII Fighters, not to mention it's outstanding flight safety and combat record in WWII.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

That image was painted as the 1980 season brochure cover for the Blue Angels, and was never reproduced as a print. Thanks for watching!

[@danielblythe5337]

That's great news that the Blue Angles illustration showing the F6F is on a printed item such as the 1980 brochure you speak of. I just found one of for sale on EBay. I will be buying one of these soon , as I am a big fan of the F6F Hellcat!

[@keithtarrier4558]

That was excellent! Thanks for sharing.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

that drawing of new york is stunning!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@michaelcosta3098]

Mike such a wonderful history, PS I just ordered you book!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video.

[@timgarrett203]

Excellent video! I really enjoyed it!

[@bertg.6056]

An excellent, mesmerizing presentation, Mike. You did it again !

[@ejharrop1416]

Hi Mike Thank you for sharing your amazing artistic journey. I greatly admire and respect all that you have done. I too, as so many youngsters did drew lots of jets but never near the quality of yours. Had the desire but never any talent. Lol. Look forward to your next video. Thank you, stay safe and peace out.

[@ejharrop1416]

I have several WWII prints by Charles Hubbell, love the detailed action and colors. Have you ever made a video about him? Thanks

[@brianhiles8164]

The paintings are exquisite, but have you made the creative decision to “mute“ the background sky so as to not distract from the foreground craft? A well-realized cloud and terrain depiction can be most compelling. If wanting to still emphasize the plane, I can suggest “depth cueing“ (i.e., haze) to help accomplish this. *P.S.:* (02:50) I was _sooo_ wanting to see four spiralling contrails in this cover art. Do contrails form at 1000 ft? At least the smoky exhausts of the _Dash-80_ would have been easily visible.

[@josephpalmieri3095]

I often wish I had developed the discipline and dedication early on to exploit my artistic talents. Oh well. Love what you do Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@johnplaninac9980]

Another great video.

[@timvilleneuve7244]

Thanks for including the fact that you had 10,000 hours into that last painting. Folks don't realize what goes into artwork or graphics and the value (money) it is worth to bring something to fruition.

[@naoakiooishi6823]

The B&W image of the Pilatus B4 reminds me of that metal glider which makes funny sheet metal buckling noise either on the ground or in the air

[@cptkent]

An excellent insight - many thanks. I did have to pause and re-wind a few times to get an extended look at some of your artwork - so probably a 30min video for me!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Love it!

[@BlackMasterRoshi]

that p38 with the lightning bolt would look good airbrushed onto an old van with blue flames on it

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Love it!

[@sunguar]

What an incredible journey! Thanks for sharing. Props for giving credit to Jon Gnagy, who inspired you to do one of the two things you loved the most: Drawing and Aviation. (I'm not sure which one is your favorite) Ah, to be blessed.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@PhilOutsider]

Great video. Thanks.

[@maty1229]

Great stuff, Mike! Just bought your book, excited to read it

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@boldrbangr9834]

Always a pleasure viewing your channel! Great job & fascinating as usual. Thanks!

[@kcouche]

You speak of the mechanics of art (artistry) but shy from admitting to your talent. Which is great. I've admired for years a friend lucky enough for some years to be a United Air Lines artist-- Bob Hope. Perhaps you know him? Anyway, more than the art, you draw of the love of planes. Disappointed we didn't meet at a gliderport some time, those best glider guiders having a similar kind of love.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Don't know of Bob at United, and thanks for the great comment!

[@martinpennock9430]

Thanks again for a wonderful video! Always a pleasure to watch the channel. Aviation art is one of my favorite art forms. I play music, but can only manage to draw stick figures, and not very good at that! 🤣 All of your work I have seen on your channel is stunning. Mr. Machat you are a very gifted man! Thanks for the nuts and bolts background of the progression. My father had some talent in the area but never became proficient at it. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for all you do! Take care always!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Martin - 'always enjoy your great comments!

[@martinpennock9430]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 You are most welcome!

[@johnmorykwas2343]

Probably your best video!!!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_GREAT_** video, Mike!*

[@jim874]

wow

[@edschoenstein1893]

Another great episode!

[@arthurpearson3407]

Your videos are very enjoyable as well as they are informative. I am amazed at the ability to create a drawing or painting that is difficult to differentiate from a photograph. Just amazing. Did you ever meet Kelly Johnson doing your work?

[@williamscoggin1509]

Very cool stuff Mike! 👍🏻

[@oxcart4172]

Hi! How about a video about you, Mike! U seem to have flown an awful lot of different types!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Planning to do a video on my favorite aircraft flights, thanks!

[@scottwhitmire6613]

Redo the H ..did you catch the D21 exhaust? Thanks for the insights. 🛫

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Scott, and if you're referring to the Lockheed Skunk Works logo, we weren't allowed to put that on the airplane due to legal copyright restrictions. Different Air Force today!

[@scottwhitmire6613]

Nope, you just like flames from the exhaust. P.s. You still scare me with your levels of aviation knowledge 😨. I sight your responce to the logo. Best to you Scott

[@andysvehiclehistorychannel]

Amazing

[@S_M_360]

Your pic in the Concorde flight deck always makes me think you’re not so sure about their checklists 😂

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

That experience was one of the highlights of my career. Thanks for watching!

[@S_M_360]

I really think this is my favorite vid Mike, such great insight into so many things.

[@Chrizzletrizz]

Hi! Thank you for yet another great video! Question: Would you happen to have ever made a drawing or painting on the subject of paragliding (Being a paraglider pilot I'd love to see your take on it)? Happy landings :-)

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Have never painted a paraglider, and looks like a fun sport. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelnaven213]

You have a very rich life Mike.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@danf321]

Beautiful artwork! Your artistic talent is one in a million. Give me all your art tools and sadly I still draw stick figures.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@bosoerjadi2838]

0:29 Haha, a photo of Mike actually painting an actual airplane..

[@emily36130]

I always thought art was boring. Then I found out about aviation art.

[@captbart3185]

You know that I am now obligated to hate you,right? Getting that access to those pilots and planes is every flyer’s dream and like Earnie Gann you lived the dream. I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler so of course I’m jealous of your art skills but coupled with the planes …. Yes, I definitely hate you now. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@georgecox2924]

👍👍👍