"Home From The Hill" 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 "Home From the Hill"

Under the wide and starry sky
Dig the grave and let me die.
Glad did I live and glad did I die
And I lay me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longs to be.
Home is the sailor, home from sea
And the hunter home from the hill.
--R. L. Stevenson

War by its very nature involves sacrifice and loss in equal measure. This is especially true when so many pay the ultimate price and do so before their time, cutting short a life of promises unfulfilled. War offers few moments of reflection, sorrow or circumspection.

In all the wars in which Americans have fought—from the American Revolution to present day conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the soldiers in the rifle squads, platoons and companies have felt the loss in an up-close and personal way. The death of a comrade or a leader had an immediate impact on their fellows. They could only say good-bye in the briefest of ways before the next wave of war would sweep them away to another battle somewhere “over the hill.” Years later, as time gave them a chance to reflect, then and only then would they realize the depth of their loss and the value of the men who had been taken away far too soon.

Men may go to war to fight for their country, but combat narrows that purpose to fighting for their immediate brothers in arms in their squad and platoon. When the world of purpose becomes so small, the loss of a friend or trusted leader is a devastating loss; a loss that may never be replaced, but is remembered forever.

While the uniforms, gear and vehicle of this painting reflect WWII, the sentiment and emotion shown here has been felt by soldiers through the ages.

25" by 12-1/2" image size, 31" by 19" overall print - limited to 750 - signed by the artist - $150

This print is also available as:

Publisher Proof (Limited to 250) - $175

Artist Proof (Limited to 100) - $200

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.