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Sam Cole
Sam Cole was born in Northern Ontario, Canada. A Bush Pilot and Commercial Airline Pilot, Sam has flown, and lived in many different parts of the world. Now calling Gloucester Virginia his home with his wife Kate, they commute to and from work in Kobe Japan.
Sam is a self taught artist, beginning more than forty years ago, starting with three basic colors, and one brush. He works only in transparent watercolors, as he feels them to be exceptionally expressive. The element of water quite often has "a mind of its own" and affects the outcome of the painting; sometimes positively and sometimes not so positively. The drying factor of watercolor painting, unlike working with oils, allows for completion of a work in a matter of minutes, which can be unforgiving, and challenging to the artist. His mechanical background, demands of him very detailed and accurate sketches and drawings, before the watercolor paint ever touches the paper. In some cases these initial drawings and renderings themselves can take up to a month or so to complete.
Sam's Art has been exhibited at the Bradford Gallery in Ottawa Canada, as well as in the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg Manitoba, and Occasion for the Arts, in Williamsburg Virginia and Arts on Main in Gloucester.
Artist's Statement:
My paintings are a personal record of my life; continually changing and evolving. The style has changed very little, the subject matter has changed greatly. My focus is influenced to a great degree by the environment around me. From Bush Planes, to Ships of Sail, to Historical Native American scenes, to Arranged Flowers; These are the factors that interest and influence me now, filtering through, to my work.The Watercolour Art of Sam Cole Contact Sam at: s.samcole@gmail.com
NNA
by Sam ColeThis is one of my very earliest pieces, (1985), and one of my most successful. I published 200 prints of it which sell well today. I flew this C-47A for Austin Airways from 1980 till 1986. Sadly it was wrecked in 1987 at Sachigo Lake north of Red Lake ON. The aircraft was a war veteran having served with the RAF during the invasion of Europe and was transferred to the RCAF after the war. It was refurbished at Canadair in Montreal in 1953 and served with the RCAF until 1975 then it was bought by Austin Airways and served with them 'til it crashed.
22 x 30 inches
Watercolour on Arches 90lb cold pressed
Artist's collection
First Flight
by Sam ColeI painted this portrait of a USAAF crew before it's first mission early in the European theater. Seen here at a base in England. They were shot down and only one crew member survived. The painting was commissioned by the nephew of the survivor. Completed this in 1996.
22 x 30 inches
Watercolour on Arches 90lb cold pressed
Moral Support
by Sam ColeThis piece was inspired by the theme for Artflight several years ago to commemorate the RCAF's participation in the Suez Canal Crisis. The C119 was not quite half way across the Atlantic when it shut down an engine and began it's precarious return the Canada. A Lancaster was dispatched to accompany the aircraft home. Completed 1997.
40 x 15 inches
Watercolour on 300lb cold pressed
Centennial Flight
by Sam Cole
On the Hundredth Anniversary of Canada's Confederation in 1967 Wing Commander R A White attempted an altitude record in a Lockheed F-104. The 104 was a remarkable aircraft developed and first flown in 1954, only 9 years after World War II. Although the world record was not broken White did manage to set a British Commonwealth altitude record of 100,110 feet.
20 x 30 inches
Watercolour on 300lb cold pressed
Available: $800 / $1200 framed
Misty Morning Surprise
by Sam ColeOne day while having a conversation with one of my Japanese colleagues I showed him a picture of my Cub. He looked at it with fascination and then he said, "What's it like to fly one of those things?". I paused for a moment and then responded, "Freedom...total freedom". Modern aviation is a complete departure from the age old art of really flying. The cub is as basic as you can possibly get. No electrics, no radios, no navigation equipment. It's just you and the airplane. This painting is about that spirit.
15 x 20 inches
Watercolour on 90lb cold pressed
Available: $800
Crow Lake
by Sam ColeMy father's last connection to the world he had lived in since he was a teenager was the restoration of a 1946 Piper J3. It was a beautiful thing to see him immerse himself in this project and to apply his aged talents to an aircraft that was completely in step with him. My father has gone west, but the cub is still in the family.
14 x 20 inches
Watercolour on 90lb cold pressed
Available: $800
Timber Island
by Sam ColeOne of the great bush planes of the north is the Beech 18. In Northwestern Ontario the type is having a resurgence of sorts. There are now nine in operation. I had an opportunity to fly a recently renovated D model whilst visiting my home town of Nestor Falls on Lake of the Woods. Renowned aviation photographer Rich Hulina is quoted as saying, "the aircraft looks good from any angle" and I would wholeheartedly agree.
14 x 20 inches
Watercolour on 90lb cold pressed
Private Collection
OK, What's Next
by Sam ColeSlate Falls Airways of Sioux Lookout celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2020. Only a handful full of operators can make that kind of boast. They have operated many types of aircraft over the years, but as with most bush operators the Beaver is a mainstay. C-FDIN is 70 years old this year. Serial number 68.
14 x 20 inches
Watercolour on 90lb cold pressed
Available: $800
