Beagle to Ground Control
This painting was initially inspired by the 1940 and 1950s alien science fiction movies many of us grew up watching late at night. Movies such as “The Forbidden Planet,” “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers,” “The Day The Earth Stood Still” are some of the movies that scared us, but we just could not look away.
In creating this image, I collided influences from the Art Deco movement, second world war bomber nose art, and a vintage, way ahead of its time bicycle called the Spacelander.
The Bowden Spacelander bicycle was first shown in 1946. It was well-received with its space-age design looking special in those bleak post-war years. Beneath the pressed-steel frame was concealed an electric motor which charged when the bike was being ridden downhill or on the level. It could then lend assistance when the road started going up. The bicycle also had built-in lights, a horn, and a radio. Amazingly, these characteristics are a part of today’s electric bike movement witnessed on the Spacelander 75 years earlier.
Unfortunately for Bowden, the Spacelander didn’t sell well and only 522 were ever made. It was considered to be too exotic and expensive for mass-market appeal. However today, the Spacelander’s design and retro-futuristic looks make it a collectors’ item and on rare occasions when they come up for sale, selling upwards of $5,000.
The woman’s sleek appearance and Flash Gordon like helmet and pistol weapon add to the overall 1940ish art deco appearance. She is accompanied by her space beagle riding “shotgun” on the rear of her space bicycle. This beagle has made its way into a majority of my paintings.