James Dietz
The growing popularity of aviation art has brought before the public eye the works of a number of professional aviation artists. Among these one artist stands out for his unique approach to this genre. "The people, settings, and costumes are what make aviation history exciting and romantic to me." It is this feeling that makes James Dietz, and his artwork, so different from that of his contemporaries. Rather than simply illustrate aviation hardware, Dietz prefers to portray human involvement.
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 "On Any Given Day"
Airborne! All the Way! H-Minus!
The Paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division deployed in August 2006 to Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Based at FOB Summerall, near the key city of Bayji, they engaged in sustained combat operations for 15 months and then redeployed to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in October 2007.
The Task Force 1-505 area of operations—known as AO Spartan—included the Iraqi towns of Al-Butoma, As-Sariyah, Bayji, Bushwari, Mezra, Sikek, Siniyah, and a host of other villages and settlements. Also included in AO Spartan was the Bayji Oil Refinery, the largest refinery in Iraq both in size and production capacity. Day after day, 1 Panther Paratroopers boldly patrolled the dusty streets of these communities in order to provide security for the local population and also to eliminate insurgent presence and influence among the people.
This print shows what often could happen—and usually did happen—on any given day in AO Spartan. These Paratroopers detect something to their left, perhaps an explosion or burst of small-arms fire, and they take up an alert posture of ready response. Visible in the background is the ornate minaret of the Al-Fatah mosque, the ever-burning flare stack of the Bayji Oil Refinery, and the prominent Jabal-Makhul mountain range.
The Paratroopers of 1-505 have courageously represented the United States of America in combat across the globe for nearly seven decades, and their audacity in the face of the enemy is legendary. Even now, they stand ready to execute whatever orders they receive—on any given day.
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.
Not logged in
Login Status