DRU BLAIR
Dru Blair was born in Newbern, NC., September 7. Growing up in Columbia, SC, his ambitions originally were directed toward a career in medicine. However, during his undergraduate studies at Furman University in Greenville, SC, he discovered an artistic ability. He switched majors his senior year and graduated in 1981 with a BA. degree in art. He later found employment in Myrtle Beach, SC. as an airbrush artist painting shirts. He continued his education at the University of South Carolina in Columbia earning a Masters Degree in 1984. He worked in Atlanta from 1985-1987 transitioning to commercial illustration.
In 1988 he won the National Airbrush Excellence Award, which ushered in a wave of commercial opportunities. The following year he produced his first aviation painting, "Power" which became the first of three Air Force Magazine covers and remains the number one selling aviation print in the world .
Dru Blair is an Air Force Association Life Member (1989), Honorary Member of the United States Air Force (since 1991), Army Aviation Association of America Life Member (since 1993) , member of the North Carolina Association of Designers and Illustrators (since 1989), member of the Air Force Art Program (since 1991), member of the Graphic Artists Guild (since 1993), Artist Fellow member of the American Society of Aviation Artists (since 1994), and board member of the International Airbrush Association. He has been featured in television interviews and on dozens of magazine covers. His paintings can be found in hundreds of magazine and book publications. Commercial projects have included popular themes such as the Budweiser Bullfrogs . He has produced a half dozen instructional videos on airbrush techniques and is a featured lecturer at the World Airbrush Exposition. In march he was the Guest of Honor at the International Airbrush Forum held in Germany which drew over 10,000 artists from around the world. He was the official artist for Star Trek: Voyager book covers, as well as several of the other Star Trek licensees. Dru currently resides outside of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dru Blair S/N Limited Edition Print "Pearl Harbor 0755"
Why this moment is significant: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, initiated by Lt. Commander Kakuichi Takahashi, was arguably the single most significant event in modern American History. "Pearl Harbor 0755 ... While the Giant Slept" symbolizes the moment of transition between how America was and how it is today.
This limited edition print focuses on the seconds before the attack as Lt. Commander Takahashis Aichi D3A1 Type 99 "Val" Dive bomber rolls in on Hangar 6 on the southern tip of Ford Island. By accident, Takahashi was the first to drop his ordnance because of a mistake in interpreting the signal flares beginning the attack. Takahashis bomb struck the waters edge in front of hangar 6 located at the bottom this depiction of Ford island. Battleship Row is seen in serene repose in the last moments before the Japanese wreak havoc and devastation on the unsuspecting American sailors.
"By way of his superb artistic ability, and his zeal for historical accuracy, Dru Blair has provided us with a window into the past, a magnificent glimpse of America’s last instant of peace before her entry into the Pacific War." J. Michael Wenger, Co-author of "The Way It Was: Pearl Harbor. The Original Photographs". "I’ve just done a wingover right behind Takahashi. It was that real." David Aiken - Director, Pearl Harbor Historical Association, upon viewing the painting. The amount of detail in this painting is supassed only by its attention toward accuracy. Noted experts as well as thousands of Pearl Harbor survivors were consulted at lengthon the project and were very helpful with little known, yet important facts regarding the attack. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association lent a great deal of support and advice, and attention to detail was incorporated down to the color of window sills and shrub placement. In addition, photographs and films taken by the Japanese during the raid were extensively reviewed.
Dru attended the ceremonies commemorating the 50th Aniversary at Pearl Harbor, where he conferred with thousands of survivors, eyewitnesses and historians. "After spending over two and a half years on research and speaking to over a thousand survivors, I was determined to be accurate down to the last bush and shrub." Dru Blair
Edition size is limited to 1941 Signed and Numbered Lithographs. Each Print is individually inspected and signed by the artist. A Certificate of Authenticity is offered.
24" by 30" S/N Limited Edition print is signed by the artist
Also available as a S/N Artist Proof - limited to 100 - $225.00
All Limited Edition prints are signed and numbered (S/N) by the artist. Limited Edition prints are restricted to a certain number. For example, if 400 prints are made from an original painting, once they’re gone, that’s it. There is no limit to the number of open edition prints of a particular painting. That’s why Limited Edition prints are more expensive — and more valuable to collectors — than "open" edition. Rare objects are more valuable.
An Artist’s Proof (AP), generally, is the first 5% - 10% of the Limited Edition prints that come off the press. This status is noted on the print. Collectors prefer APs because their value increases even more than a Limited Edition as time goes by.
All Limited Edition artwork is subject to availability at time of order. Although seller strives to remain currrent as to inventory, seller reserves the right to cancel a sale if item is no longer available at time of purchase.
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