A-2 Jacket Art question

[stormwatch]

Just a quick question.... but then again nothing is easy with these projects.. curious if anyone might know what type of paint would be period correct for the painting of art on A-2 jackets. I am thinking it would be some type of oil base paint. I also feel that it would have been from the then art world only because of the use of so many colors. Any ideas on where to purchase such paint as it held up so well on the leather through so much use/time. English/UK etc.. art stores?

thanks, Tim

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Just a quick question.... but then again nothing is easy with these projects.. curious if anyone might know what type of paint would be period correct for the painting of art on A-2 jackets. I am thinking it would be some type of oil base paint. I also feel that it would have been from the then art world only because of the use of so many colors. Any ideas on where to purchase such paint as it held up so well on the leather through so much use/time. English/UK etc.. art stores?

thanks, Tim

I think they used whatever they had available, the colors they used to paint their equipment. At first anyway. Maybe later on when supply problems were overcome, they may have had the luxury of using commercial sign painters colors?
Probably enamels or even some lacquer paints. I understand your desire for period-correctness, but paint technology has come a long way since then. In fact, most of the original jackets I've seen suffer from some degree of paint loss.
In my experience, (and others would agree) modern acrylics are the only type of paint with a flexible enough binder to withstand all the bending and folding that a leather goes through.
Oil paints, of the type used by artists in easel paintings are right out. If the leather surface were not first primed as a canvas is primed, the oil would soak into the fibers of the leather and over time would literally rot the leather as they oxidize. Also they are not made to withstand the weather or the day to day wear and tear.

 

[Windsock]

Aircraft paints

I've only handled a couple of painted jackets but these definitely appear to be aircraft paints, which makes sense since that's what they would have had on hand. Like these the most common colours you see in the Maguires books used are white, yellow, red and black, common colours for aircraft at the time.

Here are some close up shots. The paint on this one definitely has an enamel look to it and it's a little proud of the surface. Others 've seen are far thinner and tend to just fill in the grain.

If you search the forum you will probably find something about the types of paints currently favoured, i'm sure I read something recently. Many current artists like to use acrylics but i'd probably prefer to see something done in as it was then too. Maybe you could get your hands on some aircraft paint from somewhere still.

Here's a shot of one of the planes from the 34 Bomb Group, of which "RAT POISON" was a member. Note the same colours used. It would appear they had plenty of red and yellow!

Here's another but the paint's well worn off...

 

[Micawber]

From talking to veterans that either actually did it or who were involved with those that did I would agree that they used whatever was easily available on the base and out and about in the wider community. Little regard was given to long term durability but a relatively quick drying finish was a bonus.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Yeah, it was spur of the moment art done with paint that was readily available. As long as one has a red, a yellow, a blue, and black and white, one can mix any color needed. Franz Hals is known to have used only primary colors in his work, and with awesome results.