Gil Cohen: Aviation Artist
This sampling of Cohen’s career combines his biography with examples of his work––not all of it aviation-oriented. Philadelphia-raised, Cohen served in the army in the 1950s, then worked as an illustrator for magazine and book publishers and as a painter for the National Park Service. Aviation subjects of World War II became Cohen’s focus from the 1970s onward. They predominate in this album, which more than showcases Cohen’s oeuvre. It has explanations of his artistic approach, which often begins with discussions with the military veterans depicted in or familiar with the type of plane to be painted. Then follow preliminary sketches and Cohen’s descriptions of the lighting, color, or narrative effects for which he aims. Each of this work’s two dozen–plus reproductions of Cohen’s final compositions expresses a story line. Several interior views of warplanes show airmen and the tension of entering combat, while pictures of exterior views typically capture the fliers’ relief upon safely returning to base. Such emotional nuance only enhances the technical accuracy that aviation fans will prize in Cohen’s paintings. --Gilbert Taylor