'P8: Protect, Serve, Defend', watercolour, 74 x 52 cm.
A US Navy P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has surprised a Borei-class Russian Ballistic Missile submarine. The submarine has surfaced (something which a ballistic missile submarine would never do unless forced to) to rendezvous with a supply vessel for some reason. It tried to hide under the storm but the P8's formidable sensor suite has found it. The aircraft has dropped a live torpedo (the yellow stripes on the weaponry signify high explosive); this is an imaginary future war scene (and long may it remains so!). The support vessel fires red flares as a warning but it is too late for the submarine; the aircraft will not let it go. Once the submarine is destroyed, the P8 will use its SLAM-ER or Harpoon missiles carried under the wings against the submarine support vessel, which is already having a bad day, being hit by lightning in the painting!
Although the subject of this painting is clearly not the most pleasant, I really enjoyed doing this dramatic backdrop of the lightning and dark skies, reflecting their colour in the stormy seas below. The Trident symbol of the God Poseidon that appears in the sky emerged naturally during the painting and was so fitting I decided to keep it! The painting was completed as a commission with a very limited print run included in the commission.
The original painting was sold by commission.
A limited edition of only 100 prints are available. The prints are available in our medium or large sizes:
Medium: Image 37 x 25 cm, £32 unmounted or £39 mounted to fit a 20 x 16" frame.
Large: Image approx 55 x 35 cm - £40 unmounted or £54 mounted to fit a 70 x 50 cm frame.
(Please note for US customers prints can only be shipped unmounted (in a cardboard delivery tube) via airmail. Postage costs for both sizes are $20.
So delivered prices to the US are US$59 for the medium size and US$69 for the large size.)
Framing Options:
Please note that we can only provide framed prints for customers who can pick up from us in Mosstodloch - we are unable to post framed prints.
Medium framed print: £65
Large framed print: £96