For Paul Rendel, art is grounded in aviation

Artist Paul Rendel came to the area 10 years ago and quickly made a name for himself among art circles in the Cape Region.

He's the artist who sculpted the lifesize bronze of John Milton in Milton's Mill Park, painted the mural in the Rehoboth Beach library and was selected in 2014 to paint the eight homes included on the Rehoboth Art League Cottage Tour of Art.

But most are not aware of his real passion – aviation. Over the past two decades, Rendel has developed into one of the nation's most respected aviation artists. He has exhibited in museums, galleries and shows throughout the United States and is the recipient of numerous art awards.

He also a pilot who still flies his Thorp T-18 from the Eagle Crest Aerodrome north of Lewes.

At a time in his life when he needed a change, Rendel has been involved in a unique and little-known art project for the past 25 years – he has traveled the world documenting history on canvas for the United States Air Force. His paintings hang in bases all over the world, and he's been places and had experiences normally reserved for military personnel.

Unfortunately, budget cuts have shut down the program over the past two years, but Rendel still gets occasional calls from base commanders to do commission work.

Capturing the mission on canvas
In a time when photography rules, Rendel sticks to canvas to illustrate stories.

"What I do can't be captured with a camera," he says. "I create the impact of the moment to cover their mission."

And each of his paintings has its own backstory. Rendel, 73, is meticulous in his authenticity, spending days and even weeks researching his subject before he makes his first sketch. He spends up to two months working on each painting. "The creativity takes time," he said. "Doing commercial work was always on a tight deadline. Now I have the luxury to be on my own time schedule with no tension."

Rendel has been to many of the hot spots in the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. He even spent time in Thailand three weeks following the devastating 2004 tsunami that resulted in 230,000 deaths. He was there to document the Air Force relief mission in Bangkok.

During the trip, he was transported by helicopter to a hospital ship and later to the aircraft carrier Essex, which happened to be the same ship his son, Barron, served on as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot. Rendel said that was an unexpected and special experience, but he was not there to capture the Navy operation.

He ended up with a painting of Air Force C-130s unloading supplies on a busy runway. He said the scene was almost surreal, chaotic and even dangerous. And, he said, he was struck by the sight of numerous stray dogs running all over the runway; he included one in his painting.

One of the most unique missions Rendel has been called on to illustrate involved an unmanned MQ-9 drone that was used in the rescue of a lost patrol in a village in Afghanistan. He visited the base in Syracuse, N.Y., where the MQ-9 program is headquartered and spoke to pilots who operate the drones. "It's amazing that they can fly their missions anywhere in the world from Syracuse," he said.

His painting of the MQ-9 shooting a beam of light from above the village to pinpoint the location of the patrol is striking.

Commercial work is stepping stone
Rendel was attending art school in Detroit when at the insistence of his professor, he took a summer job at a local studio. The owner was so impressed with his illustrations that he was asked to stay on.

"Everyone told me that I would end up there anyway so to go for it," he said. "All of the artists there were top-notch; it was really an extension of my education."

He's never looked back.

After four years, another studio owner – this time in Pittsburgh – came calling. He and his wife, Beth, pulled up stakes and made the move. There he was one of the top artists who did commercial work for large companies such as Heinz, U.S. Steel, Alcoa and Westinghouse.

But, he said, he could see a dramatic change in the near future for the city as the steel industry started to decline.

It was about that time that he was introduced to the Air Force art program.

Love of flying born at a young age

His fascination with aviation dates back to his youth growing up near Ann Arbor, Mich. His uncle, a World War II veteran, rebuilt engines and restored airplanes. "He would rebuild it, keep it for a year and sell it so there was always a different plane around. He would take me for rides. I knew that someday I would fly," he said.

He got his pilot's license in 1966 at the age of 50 and flew gliders for 20 years as well.

Rendel is living proof that it takes a village to raise a child. He went to a single-room school up to the sixth grade. "Being in a small town on a small farm was a great place to grow up," he said.

He said his teacher recognized his talent and allowed him to decorate an entire chalkboard in the school for the seasons and holidays. "She wrote a letter telling my parents that I would be an artist," he said. "She told them to get me supplies and take me to libraries to find good art books. That was the spark."

By the time he reached high school, the school's art program had been cut, but the editor of the local newspaper stepped in to let him work as a part-time artist so he could hone his skills.

Then there was a shop owner who helped him put together a portfolio that garnered him a scholarship to college.

His love of art has only grown over the years, as he does portraits of people and pets, wood carvings as well as sculpture, which he taught himself to do.

Rendel is active in the American Association of Aviation Artists, a small organization with members all over the world. He has served as president and maintains relationships with other artists.

"I've been very blessed," he said. "I'm still doing fun things."

Rendel working on artwork for Fort Miles

Rendel says he is excited about a project to support the Fort Miles World War II museum that is currently underway. One of his works will be featured in an art gallery in an underground bunker in Battery 519 during a Friday, Sept. 2 opening. "I'm working hard to get it done enough to show it," he said.