Continuing the series looking at Nick's Print releases, we move to his second mainstream print - "Green Heart Warriors" - and get the views of the Artist on this release!

No2 "GREEN HEART WARRIORS"

To say that Nick's second print release was ground-breaking is something of an understatement as it not only confirmed the arrival of a highly talented artist but showed for the first time the 'trademarks' of a Nicolas Trudgian vision. In complete contrast to his first release, Nick chose to paint a massive landscape while at the same time giving us a superb study of the Fw190A.

Nick Trudgian remembers...... "This was my second 'proper' painting for the Military Gallery but the first where I was given the freedom to paint something my way, that is with plenty of landscape to look at. The low altitude view in this picture proved very popular and would later be described by some as 'nick's height' because I returned to the theme so often. The idea was to show planes against landscapes that were close enough to include all sorts of interesting secondary detail. Of course I wasn't the first to try this angle but it is worth remembering that most aviation art in the early 1990's was either high altitude with cloudscapes or views from the ground of aircraft landing or taking off. To give the background equal billing to the aircraft was a largely unexplored area. The Second World War spread far and wide across the globe and to paint these landscapes in all their variety, with the changing seasons, lighting and weather offered infinite opportunites to make paintings exciting. And, as the main types of aircraft are painted so often, having different settings is the only way to keep it interesting for collector and artist alike".

Certainly the reaction of collectors and the Market alike was resoundingly positive to "Green Heart Warriors" and, as Nick Trudgian continues ..."All artist's print sales at this time seemed to be booming and with 'Green Hearts' being well received it gave me the confidence in further prints to tip the scales even more in favour of the background . In some I may have gone too far, if only because they were taking far too long to paint but, overall, this niche in the market not only gave me a foothold in a very competitive business it was, and still is, a great pleasure artistically ......I found this picture fun to do. I like snowscapes because of their obvious attractiveness and partly because they allow you to take many liberties. Because of the heightened contrast you can simplify features down to silhouettes, see detail in shadows that would oherwise be too dark, and happily in this picture provide wide pale expanses against which crash-landing Stormoviks can stand out well. For someone like me interested in crisp detail the sharp winter light is ideal and of course the low sun helps to describe form in a way that is so much more successful than with the high angles of lighting in summertime".

With such a superb painting the Military Gallery decided to ensure that the Limited Edition was signed by four famous sons of the "Grunhertz" Geschwader, which included Hannes Trautloft !! It was he, when asked at the Signing what he thought of the landscape, who replied "'Landscape ? I was travelling far too quickly to notice the landscape!'' and continued analysing the rendition of his aircraft for faults!

This Print was also the first of many occasions when Nick would paint snow, a favourite of his. Nick says "I like the way that in snow scenes you can cover up the predictable greens of a landscape to the point where there is no green at all. Even where you can see grass it is dead and yellow and that yellow is the perfect complimentary colour to the sky, far better than green and gives much warmth to a picture that could have been quite cold. If you look closely the only green in the whole picture is on the 'Green Hearts' badge !"

All in all "Green Heart Warriors" secured Nick's place within the Aviation Art Market and first displayed all of the trademark qualities of a Nicolas Trudgian release.

"GREEN HEART WARRIORS"

Released - April 1992

The Signatures: General Hannes TRAUTLOFT, General Dieter HRABAK, Major Hans-Ekkhard BOB and Major Franz EISENACH

   Edition Size:  Signed and Numbered - 1000     Artist Proofs - 50     Artist Remarques - 25

    Status at Publisher - SOLD OUT