Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 12, 2005 Second stamp of approval By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Most artists would consider having their work featured on a sheet of United States postal stamps a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment; for Ashland resident William Phillips, it's just the second act. Ashland artist Bill Phillips' works are being displayed on postage stamps for the second time. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings Phillips, well known for his artwork of aircraft and landscapes, has painted the stamp illustrations and header designs for a pane of stamps with ten designs set to premiere this summer entitled "Advances in Aviation." The goal of the stamp pane is to illustrate American innovations and technological contributions to military, commercial and general aviation from the 1930s to the 1950s. Aircraft in the collection include the B-29 Superfortress, Grumman's F6F Hellcat, Northrop's YB-49 Flying Wing, and the Boeing 247. His first set of stamps, based on the popular Classic American Aircraft collection, came out in 1997. It was the second most purchased pane of stamps that year behind Bugs Bunny, Phillips said. "It was beat out by a hare," joked Phillips. A few years back, the postal service approached him to work on these second group of stamps. "It was really nice because they came to me and I didn't have to go through the competitive process," he said. "It helps when you're a known factor." Phillips said it's exciting to see stamps of his aircraft paintings. "When I was very young, I was intrigued by aviation and the only stamps I collected were aviation stamps," he said. "I can't believe I'm able to do this. When I look at the stamps I think "gosh, I was privileged to do that and to be doing this professionally."' Phillips said it takes a lot more than painting on his canvas to get the stamp art work just right. With these aircraft, getting the smallest detail perfect was crucial, so he spent countless hours poring over photos, models, books, documents and other relevant material, he said. "I had stacks of research scattered on the floor," Phillips said. "They (the U.S. Postal Service) want these aircraft perfect. With the Postal Service, there can't be any mistakes." Phillips has had a distinguished career as an aviation and landscape artist. The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum presented a one-man show of his work in 1986. In 1988, Phillips was chosen to be a U.S. Navy combat artist. He was also commissioned to develop 16 paintings by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. In 1991, three of his works were chosen as part of the top 100 in "Art for the Parks," the annual fundraiser for the National Parks Service. One of his paintings received the "Art History Award" from the National Parks Foundation. Phillips said he has been honored to capture aviation and aircraft through his artwork and is glad people respond so well to his work. He said a factor in the success of his previous stamps and aircraft paintings is people's respect and love for flight. "It's a fascination with flight we have had since the days of the Wright Brothers," Phillips said. "Flight is an unusual environment we are fascinated with because you're not standing on the ground and you know it." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams