These unique paintings were Charles Hubbell's entry in an aviation art contest sponsored by the Cleveland Press newspaper to promote the first National Air Race in Cleveland in 1929.

All entries were required to be painted on newsprint. This one of a kind collection is some of Hubbell's earliest work. It is believed that he won the contest, which launched him on his art career and eventual commission with Thompson Products Co.

This set of 36 paintings of airplanes of The Golden Age of aviation are the only known Hubbell casein paintings to exist. As may be seen on these pages. Hubbell tried most popular mediums in his art, including oils, watercolors, pencil and brush pen. It is interesting to lift up the outer mats on these paintings and see the edge of the paintings surrounded by the newsprint they are painted on.

It seems like Fate had meant these caseins to end up in our collection. Of all the airplanes painted here, only one of them was painted twice. There is another completed painting of the Birdwing Imperial on the back of #25 of this set. Hubbell apparently was not satisfied with his original effort and wanted to do a better version. By coincidence, my father and I were the owners of the only Birdwing Imperial airplane in existence from the 1960s until 1996. Most people have never even heard of this plane and often confuse it with a Bird biplane.

Casein is a milk-based paint similar to an opaque watercolor. Noted for their deep colors, these finishes originally provided rich, saturated tones to bring the unique decorative patterns alive.