|
About the Artist
 Pat Rawlings
is a native Texan whose extraterrestrial paintings of space events give a sense of
what future explorers will experience while exploring other worlds.
Rawlings' deep desire to
travel in space motivates him to make scenes as accurate as possible.
Before beginning a work, he consults with numerous space experts. Often
during his discussion with an engineer or scientist, he will discover an
unusual point of view or detail that will enable him to infuse his art
with realism. While discussing the Mars Pathfinder landing sequence with
a project engineer, Rawlings realized that the missing was to land at
night. In his painting of the landing, Rawlings illuminated the landscape
with three solid rocket engines in the aeroshell that fire just as the airbag covered lander is released.
After consulting with experts, Rawlings will uses
hand-built and computer models, topographical maps, and space and family
vacation photos to create mental pictures of these worlds. Some of these
geometrically precise models are created from foamcore or plastic, while others
are constructed using modeling software on the artist's powerful G3 Macintosh.
The spacecraft models are based on engineering drawings produced by the artist
or provided by the client. The setting models are usually based on US Geological
Survey topographical maps and/or orbital photography.
Rawlings was formerly the exhibits designer at Johnson Space
Center in Houston. He has been doing NASA art for 17 years, and works are often
seen in a huge number of publications, but are most often only credited
"courtesy NASA".
All images in the Foundation's collection are
copyright to the artists or the Foundation.
Reproduction of these images is not allowed without permission (in some
cases permission for reproduction can be obtained directly from the
artists who maintain reproduction copyright). These images
are low resolution versions of the originals.
Art Collection
|
