A Moment In History: Enola Gay & the End of World War II

Written By John Shaw
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Since first announcing the new print “The Peacemakers” a couple weeks ago, the reaction has been very complimentary. Many have responded positively with comments, not only with kind words about the artwork, but also expressing appreciation for the subject matter, which we realized would be controversial to some. In truth, ever since since August 1945, the Enola Gay, its mission and those who participated in it, have remained the subject of debate across the world.
So…why do a painting featuring the men and machines which can potentially stir up such debate?
Quite simply, as in all the paintings I create (and I think I speak for most of my fellow aviation artists as well), it’s never the intention to ‘glorify’ what war was or is, but rather keep the history alive so we will not repeat it. Highlighting the bravery of many who were willing to make the sacrifices necessary to preserve and protect the lives & freedom of those they loved from tyranny is the goal.
It’s my opinion that over the past few decades, so much of our history has become sadly misrepresented, whether in media or modern education systems, and the valor of those of that generation is in danger of being forgotten, or even worse, maligned. It’s been a privilege for me over these past few decades to know many of those great people, and if my artwork can help in some small way to keep the memory of what they did preserved for future generations, it’s an honor.


-John Shaw


The Enola Gay & the End of WWII

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John Shaw

John D. Shaw

From an early age John was fascinated with creating visually exciting artwork. Starting a career in art and graphic design in the early ’80s, he created a wide variety of commercial artwork for some noteworthy clients including Lucasfilms, Major League Baseball, Kellogg’s, and several major entertainment software companies.

His lifelong passion for WWII Aviation had led him experimenting with artwork, gradually honing his skills with pencil and oil paint, but in the early 1990s his passion just couldn’t be ignored any longer, and he began publishing his historical aviation and military paintings as limited edition prints.

His paintings began as a labor of love, inspired not only by his ability to create incredible images, but also for the opportunity to meet many of the iconic veterans who made this history – the men and women who helped shape the world we live in today.

“I’ve considered it one of the greatest privileges of my life to have had the chance to work first-hand with guys who have become some of my greatest heroes. The best part of all for me is showing them the finished painting. So often, it’s as if you can see a movie playing behind their eyes, as they relive those days, and they’re 20 years old again.”

John’s attention to detail and ability to capture military machinery – whether aircraft, ships or even vehicles – in the midst of battle is exceptional. His aircraft are not pristine, factory-fresh specimens; His subjects feature war-torn machines showing all the scars of intense fighting, exactly as they were at the height of battle. However, combine this with an uncanny ability to create lifelike and accurate portraits, which capture the veterans exactly as they were, and his is a rare talent indeed, making John one of the most accomplished artists our industry has seen.

John has now been at the forefront of our industry for almost 30 years and is equally at home with graphite or paint, creating full battle scenes or portraits. His pencil work is of a standard rarely seen and his Remarque’s in particular are exquisite works of fine art.

John’s historical editions have become some of the most famous and valuable of any aviation artist, with record figures being paid for his sold out editions on the secondary market. His breathtaking original paintings are highly prized and have found their way into air force bases, museums, homes and offices, across the globe, making him one of the world’s most collectible and highly regarded aviation and military artists.

https://www.johnshawart.com
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