Welcome to my first post on my blog. It’s been a while since I wanted to post and I think this is the right time to do so.
Of course, for everyone who wants to stay in touch daily with my work, please follow me on my Instagram account @88th_company.
The Blondie II bag is my first B17 Flying Fortress vintage military bag that I painted in a long time. I had this vision of a green army b-17 for a while. When I did my research I came across the Blondie II and her story. As sad as her story is, I thought it was a great way to salute her crew by doing this bag.
More history from the American Air Museum in Britain:
Delivered Cheyenne 22/4/43; Smoky Hill 28/4/43; Walla Walla 5/7/43; Tinker 28/5/43; Smoky Hill 1/6/43; Dow Fd 6/6/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-E], then 412BS [QW-E] Horham 15/6/43; (25m), Missing in Action Emden 11/12/43 with Jack Moore, Co-pilot: Malcolm Healey, Navigator: Ed Stanbery, Bombardier: Leon Eaton, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Sparks, Radio Operator: Frank Abbadessa, Ball turret gunner: Don Rybolt, Waist gunner: Paul Claybaugh, Waist gunner: Bob Byard,Tail gunner: Marvin Ritter (10 Killed in Action); ditched off Langeoog Is, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 1562. BLONDIE II.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/
How long did it take to make the bag?
Painting a realistic B-17 Flying Fortreess on fabric is no picnic! I spend about 4 days on the bomber alone. It’s the star of the bag, so I wanted to be as realistic as it can be. Since, I haven’t done this in a while, I remembered my old techniques along the way. But I also added my new experience in painting by using less line dependency. Which is very hard, but the result is very realistic. I know that down the line, my planes will look much more realistic. Because with repetition, you learn 1 million things and you slowly become a master.
Finally, I worked on the lettering much faster thanks to my experience in air brushing and stencil making. At the end the piece had to be heat pressed like a t-shirt would.
In total it took two weeks to make.
What Material Did I use?
First, everyone’s techniques are different. In art, there’s not ONE WAY! But ANY WAY! I describe my own cookie recipe:
I’m very picky with type of brand and paint I use. I always use water based paint. My two favorite brands for this type of work on fabric are:
I really fell in love with the SetaSkrib Plus Fabric markers. They are incredible! They make my life easier, because compared to a brush, I don’t have to use so much water or worry that I might lose some paint. The markers stay fresh all the time. Thanks Pebeo for these beauties!
I need like a hundred of these!
Speedball is the way for me to create, like acrylic or oil based paint on a canvas, highly difficult and detailed paintings on fabric.
Speedball has been a long time companion of mine. I started all my experiments with it. It’s also high quality, water based paint.
Why $300 price tag?
- This a unique piece of art. When you buy a painting, it’s one of a kind and so as the Blondie II bag. But the cool thing about this piece of art, you can take it everywhere with you and look awesome.
- The hand work is highly time consuming and is not perfect, which is the beauty of any handmade piece. Anyone that says handmade design says it’s expensive, but has SOUL!
- You get a vintage duffle bag, that too, carry history.
- Research time, ink, stencil cutter, paper, ink, paint, packaging is all included!
- I always throw a gift with any of my Etsy purchases: a limited edition $50 t-shirt (hand stamped).
- And FREE SHIPPING!
Packaging, you said?
Yes! Packaging! I love designing them! I have been a graphic designer for a couple of years and packaging is always a fun process!
For 88th Co, I make my packaging graphics by hand, with a stencil:
Silhouette Studio Screen Shot for stencil making.
Where to buy this Piece of Art?
Please visit my Etsy shop and check out all my items.
Got a question?
Feel free to contact me through my contact form or comment. I would be happy to help you out!
