McQuality Nose Art Studio

04/04/2025

02/21/2025

https://theaviationist.com/2025/02/18/last-martin-jrm-mars-flying-boat-final-flight/

The last Martin JRM Mars flying boat, Philippine Mars, retired after a career of almost 80 years, with its final flight taking the plane to Arizona for

01/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19p9v2fqUh/

06/06/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/rzCciG7fFXZGyDPa/

Today marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day.

Roughly 160,000 U.S. troops and their allies landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, in what would become the largest amphibious invasion in military history. As General Eisenhower noted in the Orders of the Day, the eyes of the world were upon these brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen as they marched with the hopes and prayers of the free world with them.

We thank God for the courage and sacrifice of those involved in the liberation of France and all World War II veterans that stood shoulder to shoulder against the evil tyranny of the age. Their legacy is truly one of heroism, liberty, and valor.

06/04/2024

It seems like such a small moment, but you never know what effect moments have on the future.

In these photos you see Japanese Navy Flight Petty Officer Tadayoshi Koga's A6M Zero fighter damaged by anti-aircraft fire over Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in 1942. As a result, that Zero would wind up making a forced landing on the island of Akutan, and in the process, the landing gear would dig into the mud and the plane would flip over, killing Koga.

The aircraft would be found by American personnel on July 10 and the plane, largely intact was sent back to America for study, including restoring the aircraft to flying status and flying her to gain valuable insight into the performance of the Zero.

05/27/2024

So cool!!

After 80 years, a team has found wreckage of the fighter plane flown by Wisconsin ace pilot Richard I. B**g in the jungle of Papua New Guinea.

04/30/2024

https://youtu.be/XhUv6aLSOak?si=M0vKDZZRHxND53bw

In my new series Nose Art Stories (Episode 3), we will be looking at some of the best aircraft nose art from World War II and telling their incredible storie...

01/07/2024

The Aviation Art community has lost a giant of an artist. The great British artist, Robert Taylor has passed away after a short illness. Robert leaves in his wake a body of work and a legacy that will last for decades if not hundreds of years.

I first remember seeing the Robert Taylor painting, Eagle Squadron Scramble, in the late 1980's. I was enamored with the piece and for the first time, saw my desire to paint aviation subjects as a viable career option. Over the next few years I watched for his new releases and made note of his incredible way he created compositions that put the viewer in the middle of the action. He had an innate ability to use a simple brushstroke of color or line to indicate an aircraft detail or the 3 dimensionality of a cloud or landscape. Robert was like a Maestro with a brush, and in many pieces, created a crescendo of action through color and composition. He was truly a master at the easel.

Taylor, along with a select group of others, had a huge influence on me as a young artist and many other up and coming aviation artist's of my generation and those since. When Robert combined forces with publisher Pat Barnard of the Military Gallery and the legendary dealer Virginia Bader, they formed a marketing juggernaut. That team created a frenzied interest in collecting Aviation Art for the sheer beauty, drama and historical stories that his paintings told. Along the way, Robert's work established Aviation Art as a legitimate art genre' and opened the door for artist's like myself to have similar career's doing something we love so much.

I would like to pass on my most sincere condolences to the Taylor family and friends of Robert Taylor. And finally I tip my hat in salute to Sir Robert and thank him for the gift of his talent, influence and tutelage as an artist and mentor to many. You will remain an Icon in the world of art and your legacy will outlast the years and artists who've followed in your footsteps.
May you now paint in the most beautiful of places to a new crowd of admirers.....I know they will love and appreciate your work as much as we did. Godspeed, Robert Taylor.

Photo courtesy of Aces High Gallery

12/08/2023