"Counter Attack" James Dietz Limited Edition Print

After graduation from Art Center College of Design in 1969, Jim began a successful career as a commercial illustrator in Los Angeles. The subject matter varied from automobiles to action scenes to romantic book covers. A steady flow of work from New York enabled the Dietz' to move to Seattle in 1978. It was at this time that he took his first concrete steps toward fulfilling his dream to specialize in aviation art, at that time an almost unheard of genre. Since then, aviation art has played an increasingly large part in his career. Jim Dietz's clients include Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Allison, and Flying Tigers, to name just a few.

Jim has also branched out into the fine arts field with his aviation art. A strong following has developed for his originals and a growing number of limited edition prints have introduced Jim's name to print collectors worldwide. Four of Jim's originals were put on display in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation; one of the paintings was presented by the Navy League to then Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman. A regular contributor to the Air Force Art Program, Jim's work has been featured on the cover of AIR FORCE magazine.

Jim Dietz has been honored with several gold medals from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators and has won Best in Show in three successive years in the EAA Aviation Art Show. In 1988, at the second American Society of Aviation Artists forum, Jim was awarded the "People's Choice Award" for his painting selected by forum attendees. Major showings of Dietz's originals have recently been held at the EAA Museum and the San Diego Air Museum. His work is found in a number of private and corporate collections.

James Dietz Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print "Counter Attack"

First Rock Paratroopers maneuver against Taliban and Foreign Fighters after they are engaged in a far ambush while moving through a dry river bed in Eastern Paktika province. All the while gunners and our brave soldiers deliver withering return fire; they are fixing the enemy position, setting up a support by fire with 60mm mortars to suppress with high explosive rounds, denying the weary enemy escape routes with the support of attack aviation and finishing the enemy force with close air support JDAM strikes. The mountainous and canalizing terrain Eastern Paktika Province favors the ambusher, a fact that the Taliban used to the best of their ability. Nevertheless, precise and efficient coordination with air and indirect fire support, superior physical stamina and discipline among our individual paratroopers, and constant training meant that during contact, Task Force Eagle and 1-503rd Airborne, always maintained decisive advantage.

During Operation Enduring Freedom VIII, spanning from May 2007 to late July 2008, Task Force Eagle was responsible for maintaining security, improving governance and assisting with the development of Afghanistan’s Eastern Paktika Province. The Battalion Task Force’s area of operations included the sprawling tundra, rolling hills and craggy cliffs of the ten districts comprising Area of Operation Eagle: Gomal, Gayan, Bermel, Orgun, Naka, Zerok, Sar Hawzah, Southern Spera, Charboran and Sarobi. Over that fifteen month period, First Rock Paratroopers were involved in 346 troops in contact fights, fired just over 20,000 rounds of artillery and mortars, hit the enemy with 269 JDAMs, suffered 59 wounded in action and lost 12 of our beloved comrades to the conflict in the Eastern Paktika Province.

Through all of the sustained fighting the paratroopers of Task Force Eagle remained focused on improving governance in close partnership with each district governor, driving development efforts through the expenditure of a dramatic $22.4 million toward essential road, education, irrigation and agricultural projects, and provided an added measure of security for the devout people of Eastern Paktika through constant capacity building efforts with the Afghan National Army, National Police and Border Police. The strides of the brave soldiers of this great Task Force, made through these long months and at such a significant cost in blood and treasure, left an indelible mark in the history of warfare and gave this corner of Afghanistan a chance to enjoy true democracy for the first time in their history.

This 15” x 25” image size print, 21.5” x 31” overall, limited to 250, is signed by the artist - $175.00

Also available as:

Artist Proof, 15” x 25” image, 21.5” x 31” overall, limited to 100, signed by the artist - $200.00

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.