Mission

Hello! My name is Drew Harrison, an Australian fine and contemporary artist. I have the determination to create an incredible, dynamic and celebratory painted Acrylic artwork for one of the greatest Air Force units – 11 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force!  A truly epic image for all enthusiasts of aviation, heritage and high-quality art based on the digital concept pictured above.

There has been enthusiastic support for a range of art prints to share this unique artistic vision with those who have formed the fabric of 11 Squadron RAAF, from 1939 until present day. However, prints cannot exist without first developing the digital ‘sketch’ into a fully realised original acrylic painting on canvas. Completing a complex and highly detailed artwork takes time and there are costs involved.

Let’s make it happen! On the ‘Rewards’ tab there are limited edition art print options. By clicking on a preference you are pre-purchasing and pledging for a quality, limited edition art print to cherish for a lifetime. This is an 'All or Nothing' campaign, only if my target is reached does each and every pre-sale help to fund creation of the original artwork and the prints! Alternatively perhaps you would like to make a small contribution with no reward. On completion the original canvas artwork will be presented to 11 Squadron RAAF.

A special thanks to the past and present personnel of 11 Squadron RAAF and for all who are willing to support my project.

Profile

Who is Drew Harrison? My background is in illustration and this has evolved into several genres of art (read more on the 'About' tab). Behind the artistic endeavour is a strong interest and passion for aviation and particularly Australia’s military history.

Website: www.drewharrison-art.com

Instagram: /drewharrison_art

Facebook: /DrewHarrisonArtist

Many would be familiar with my prize-winning aviation and military Acrylic paintings. During 2021 it was a privelege to develop conceptual approaches for the popular RAAF Centenary painting Then, Now, Always and Black Hawk Sunset commercial releases. The latter pictured below incorporated unique heraldic elements relating to Australian Army Squadrons.

I soon realised a similar contemporary approach would translate well to other military units including squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force. Each design I have developed incorporates unique squadron heraldry and aircraft important to the character of each unit. 

There is a familiarity and collectability to my digital concepts which have now been expanded to include all RAAF frontline squadrons. Ultimately, it would be amazing to complete all these digital 'sketches' as original painted artworks. Currently I have a Waitlist running for 3, 75, 76, and 77 Squadrons RAAF. You can register interest and help decide which of these four designs could be considered for a future Crowd Funding campaign - RAAF Squadron Aviation Artwork.

However, this Crowd Funding campaign is for my 11 Squadron RAAF design at top.

11 Squadron RAAF - The Painting

11 Squadron RAAF formed in 1939 and was soon employed monitoring shipping along Australia’s northern coastal frontier. With the outbreak of the Pacific War the unit expanded operations across neighbouring islands and re-equipped with the legendary PBY Catalina. Maritime patrol, surveillance and rescue operations were often flown under cover of darkness resulting in the airframes being painted black and earning the nickname ‘Black Cats’. 11 Squadron continued in similar maritime roles after WWII with a long and proud record of patrolling Australian waters and extended operations through the Middle East.

My proposed painting incorporates many elements from 11 Squadron’s heritage. Featured prominently is the unit’s icon – the Albatross, flying in formation with long serving P-3 Orion and latest P-8 Poseidon replacement. In the lower half are legendary aircraft the squadron have operated during times of war and peace, from early days, with Supermarine Seagull and Short Empire flying boats, to the Lincoln, Neptune and ubiquitous Catalina. The nautical connection and link to ocean remains an underlying feature of the design with additional representations of a sword and shepherd’s crook from the unit badge.

This dynamic tribute brings all these elements together in a work inspired by movie poster design, sci-fi and graphic novel illustration. A bold and contemporary reworking of traditional aviation art that lives up the squadron motto “Shepherd or Destroy”.

To encompass the complex and detailed scope of my digital design the proposed Acrylic painting will be a generous 120cm x 85cm canvas. As with all my works it will be painted in professional Acrylic Paints on premium Cotton Canvas with a Dual gloss varnish for surface protection.

While a digital ‘sketch’ provides an overall indication of the proposed painting certain markings and features may change and evolve during development stages. Below indicates the progression and subtle variation from a digital sketch (top) to final artwork (bottom) on the Air Force Centenary painting Then, Now, Always.

Print Rewards

Giclee Digital Reproductions are superbly printed with archival inks on high quality Photo Rag paper to provide the finest quality colour reproduction direct from the original painting. 

• Choose one option for reward (quantities of prints can be selected after clicking the tab)
• You will be debited at completion of a successful campaign and if target is reached.
• Please refer to the Pozible FAQ for any further information.
• Standard Edition 200 and Large Edition 100. Please note any remaining prints within each edition will be available to purchase after the campaign from my website at the same pricing (NB: ONLY if campaign is a success and target reached!).

Approximate Timeline

• 6th Dec campaign ends.
• December. Complete painting and apply artwork varnishes.
• Late December 2022-Mid January 2023. Scan artwork and prepare print files.
• Late January 2023. Printing, signing and preparation of prints for sending.
• February 2023: Orders should arrive during February.

PLEASE NOTE: There could be delays over the Christmas and New Year period for artwork scanning, print production and postage. 

My budget for the target amount can be approximately split in two. Just under two thirds covers the cost of prints offered for reward and the remaining third is a reduced commissioning rate for my original artwork.

Giclee Digital Prints on Paper are a premium product ideal for small editions. It allows me to respond more efficiently with a set number of Crowd Funding rewards and extend availability of an edition/s for future demand. Standard Edition is set at 200 and Larger at 100 although sale of all is not required to meet my funding target. Similarly the cost of printing lowers based on higher volume. 

Therefore all the associated costs for each individual Giclee Digital print are included in the pricing –

• Printing
• Certificate
• Pozible Fees
• Materials for postage
• Postage and Handling within Australia

The remainder contributes to the overall costs of developing my described original painted artwork at a reduced commissioning rate of approximately $5000. A significant amount of labour, materials and time has already been invested in project development. However, approximately 10% to 15% of artwork costs are the canvas, paints, varnishes and filmwork – the remainder is time and labour. Estimated painting duration is approximately 100+ hours for an artwork 120cm x 85cm with additional time for varnishing.