by Dru Blair
A lone F-16 drifts upward, leaving in it’s wake, a footprint of swirls to mark
its passage through a magnificent ocean of clouds. Inspired by American
pilot John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s poem, written to his parents 2 months
before he perished in his Spitfire over Britain.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
its passage through a magnificent ocean of clouds. Inspired by American
pilot John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s poem, written to his parents 2 months
before he perished in his Spitfire over Britain.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"High Flight"
24"X30"Open Edition Print
Dru Blair's Biography
Dru Blair was born in Newbern, NC., September 7. Growing up
in Columbia, SC, his ambitions originally were directed toward
a career in medicine. However, during his undergraduate
studies at Furman University in Greenville, SC, he discovered
an artistic ability. He switched majors his senior year and
graduated in 1981 with a BA. degree in art. He later found
employment in Myrtle Beach, SC. as an airbrush artist
painting shirts. He continued his education at the University
of South Carolina in Columbia earning a Masters Degree in
1984. He worked in Atlanta from 1985-1987 transitioning to
commercial illustration.
In 1988 he won the National Airbrush Excellence Award,
which ushered in a wave of commercial opportunities. The
following year he produced his first aviation painting,
"Power" which became the first of three Air Force Magazine
covers and remains the number one selling aviation print in
the world . Other aviation paintings followed the advent of his
own publishing company, Blair Art Studios Inc., and more
recently, the Blair School of Art in Raleigh, NC.
Dru Blair is an Air Force Association Life Member (1989),
Honorary Member of the United States Air Force (since 1991),
Army Aviation Association of America Life Member (since
1993) , member of the North Carolina Association of
Designers and Illustrators (since 1989), member of the Air
Force Art Program (since 1991), member of the Graphic Artists
Guild (since 1993), Artist Fellow member of the American
Society of Aviation Artists (since 1994), and board member of
the International Airbrush Association. He has been featured
in television interviews and on dozens of magazine covers.
His paintings can be found in hundreds of magazine and
book publications. Commercial projects have included
popular themes such as the Budweiser Bullfrogs . He has
produced a half dozen instructional videos on airbrush
techniques and is a featured lecturer at the World Airbrush
Exposition. In march he was the Guest of Honor at the
International Airbrush Forum held in Germany which drew
over 10,000 artists from around the world. He was the official
artist for Star Trek: Voyager book covers, as well as several of
the other Star Trek licensees. Dru currently resides outside of
Raleigh, North Carolina.
Partial client list: Budweiser, Continental Airlines, United
Airlines, Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Nabisco,
Neutrogena, Rolling Rock Beer, Rockwell International,
McDonnell Douglas, McDonalds, Mattel, USA Today, Turner
Broadcasting System, Automobile Magazine, American
Legion Magazine Airforce Magazine, American Helicopter
Pilots Association Magazine, Texaco, Paramount Theme Park,
Featured Cover Artist and contributing editor for Airbrush
Magazine.