John Matthews Art

So I uploaded a tutorial about 3D modeling to YouTube showing how I model planes in 3D. It's the first in a series that will focus on modeling the F-84, which is just about as straight-forward a plane as you can get for the purpose of teaching others basic 3D modeling. Please give it a look-see and hit the "like" button if you feel inclined. You can also subscribe to my channel to get notified about new tutorial installments. Safe skies! -John

I tell ya, technology is great. When it works. Ha! Just saw your compliment here and I'm sorry I didn't see it earlier. Thank you very much! Safe skies, -John

Thank you very much! I appreciate it!

There's a whole lotta hustlin' goin' on here! Here's some of my new B-58 Hustler artwork. All of these are available on my website or through my Fine Art America page. Hope you enjoy them. "Cruising Speed" is available through my website as a hand-signed and numbered art print in a run of 20 limited editions. It can also be ordered as an open edition through my Fine Art America Page. Here's a 36X12 inch profile of XB-58 50-0660 as she appeared in the black-and-white paint scheme with crimson accents that she wore on her first flight, November 11,

Thank you, Jeff! I appreciate it. Safe skies, -John

Hi everyone. This is my latest work, which I titled "Departing Sedalia." From my website: “Departing Sedalia” features a Boeing B-47 Stratojet as she weaves through broken clouds flying above rich Missouri farmland fields while departing the airspace of what was formerly Sedalia AFB. B-47s were flown by the 340th Bomb Wing at what was first known as Sedalia AFB near Sedalia, Missouri. The 340th BW was at that time one of Strategic Air Command’s newest bombing wings, and the Stratojet was SAC’s first all-jet swept-wing bomber. The 340th BW received its first B-47 in March 1954

Love the details! Really nice work!

Thanks Gregg!

Here's the pre-production render of "Hustlers." The high-res, full-zoot, 24x18 inch version should be finished rendering early tomorrow evening, and then I'll upload it to my Fine Art America page. I finished work on a profile for 55-0660... I've already made this available at Fine Art America. Safe skies!

Thank you Gregg!

My texture work on the Hustler is nearly complete. I have a couple versions at the moment. The first is 55-0660. There are a few minor changes I want to make, but this paint scheme is pretty much finished. I know, this one shouldn't have a tail gun. 🙂 I have another 3D model with the correct tail. The final renders will use that model. 5660 also wore a nose with black and white paint, with red-trimmed engine intakes. I'll make that version, too. Here's 2428... She was the first B-58 to be fitted with a 20mm t

Beautiful work!

Sooooo..... I finally got to a point where I needed to "flatten-out" the B-58 3D model. Every part of the plane had to be flattened into 2D so it could be painted in Photoshop. Here's what it looked like after being flattened: Here you see the 3D model "unwrapped" and ready to paint/texture. All of those squares help scale the parts of the plane in 2D space to minimize distortions. Keeping the squares a uniform size is what I go after. If I didn't do this part, panel lines would not be straight, and stencils and insignias would be stretched or compressed. Not good. S

I'm so sorry that I'm really late responding to this! Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!

Thank you! I appreciate it.

Here's a brand new piece that I finished yesterday. It's called "Into the Fire." I uploaded this to my Fine Art America Page, and it's available right now. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-f-4-phantom-into-the-fire-john-matthews.html

All of my artwork on my Fine Art America page is 40% off from now through Christmas! Enter the code MBVPBA at checkout for 40% off! Click/tap the Phantom, or the link in my signature, to see my collection. It's all available on puzzles, mugs, and other fun stuff. Safe skies! -John

Aside from 3D modeling and artwork I also create tee shirt designs. Here are some examples: These are just a few. You can click/tap the link in my signature to see all of them. I should mention there's a sale going on right now for 40% off everything 🙂.

Thank you! That’s a great animation.

Now she looks like she's ready to go somewhere...

Thank you! Three view drawings rarely line up. So, it’s a matter of making small changes to their scale to get them to agree with one another. Sometimes you just have to accept how it is and go from there. I’m also using my 1/48 Monogram B-58 as a guide to see how to model some of the contours. At the end of the day it’s artwork, not an engineering model…. Haha! I was working on the two-piece mission pod today. I was putting the stabilizers on it before dashing off to my in-laws for dinner. I’ll upload a couple of progress images later. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Good morning! I thought that I'd post some images of my 3D modeling today. All of my artwork is CG. It all begins with modeling an airplane in 3D, using 3DS Max. I planned my next artwork set around the Convair B-58 Hustler. The easiest way to describe my method is that it's a lot like sculpting. I always begin with orthographic drawings of the airplane. I crop the side, top, and front views of the plane and apply those to "planes" (a 2D flat object) so I can see how the contours of the plane should be modeled. Then I usually create a "primitive" cylinder object that se

Thanks! Whenever I finish any work I'll make sure to post it here. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone ! Safe Skies!

Say, now there's an idea... Unfortunately I may not be able to do any traveling in 2023. However, that gives me a thought or two for when the St. Louis area IPMS show comes around next year. I never thought of being a vendor before. Cheers!