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O.C. (Doby) Dobrostanski
Although not formally trained in art, his connection to art began in early childhood watching his mother painting in watercolors. Teachers often reprimanded him for drawing in his notebooks. He now chuckles about that and says that he was just studying his craft without knowing it.
While serving in the RCAF in Winnipeg during the 1960s, a series of his aviation safety cartoons were published in the Base Winnipeg newspaper, "Voxair". As an aircraft technician on a number of military aircraft types, his understanding of aircraft is substantial. His experience as a glider pilot added to understanding flight dynamics.
After graduating from U of Manitoba in the late 1970's, he studied acrylic painting under Ron Leger, a talented illustrator. Doby strives for realistic representation of objects in his paintings. He feels that the style suits the type of aviation art he prefers to paint.
Doby's portfolio includes 90 murals in public places and his painting career has taken him all over North America, with commissions in the USA, Canada and Mexico. His decision to become a professional artist in 1980 was a challenging one, but with persistence and lots of hard work he proved to himself that it could be done.
DC-9
by O.C. (Doby) Dobrostanski
Doby's painted sky backdrop above, with the finished product below.
Legion Spitfire Project
by O.C. (Doby) DobrostanskiCloudscape painted as a backdrop for a three-dimensional Spitfire art piece for the Royal Canadian Legion, and later reproduced as a fundraiser.
Doby working on "Mist Landing" in his studio.
Mist Landing
by O.C. (Doby) DobrostanskiHis love of aviation is well expressed in "Mist Landing", a large piece (8ft. x 4ft). A typical West Coast winter scene provides a muted background for a de Havilland Beaver landing at Ganges Harbour. Most recent pieces include Texada Island scenery, assorted aircraft, boats and machines. The intention is to provide a mood of "being there" and seeing details of events and objects that may eventually become blurred by fading memories and the participants and witnesses.
8 feet x 4 feet, Acrylic on Canvas
Another view of the P-40.
Red Robin P-40
O.C. (Doby) Dobrostanski
This was a 1/2 scale model of a P-40 that Doby created for a commercial display using insulation foam, wood, and metal sheeting. A Vancouver fiberglass shop made copies from the original and another company painted them by following Doby's original example. Over a dozen were produced over time. They were displayed in several Red Robin restaurants in the USA and western Canada.
Presentation of the mural "With Eyes Forever Skyward" to the Fraser Blues Formation Demonstration team (Doby on the left).
With Eyes Forever Skyward - by O.C. (Doby) Dobrostanski
by O.C. (Doby) DobrostanskiMural created for the Fraser Blues Formation Demonstration team, who fly 1940s vintage L-17 "Navion" aircraft.
9 feet x 6 feet, Acrylic on Canvas
West Coast Labrador
by O.C. (Doby) DobrostanskiA 442 Squadron CH-113 Labrador helicopter effecting a rescue in the mountainous terrain of British Columbia. This painting was done some years ago for Modelcraft, a Canadian model aircraft company working out of Vancouver. I was able to retain the original after they produced 300 of the model kits.
18 x 36 inches, Acrylic on canvas
