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  • Firefighter Art by Dick Kramer

    They walk right into danger. They risk their lives to save others. They let nothing stop them, breaking down doors and climbing through windows. And many of them are volunteers. Who are they? Firefighters! 


    Dick Kramer, the world's foremost tactical artist, includes firefighters among his artistic repertoire. With his incredible skill, he is able to capture the strength, determination, and humanity of these brave responders. The realism and attention to detail make these drawings all the more powerful. For example, in "Firefighter with Mask" Dick brings to life not only the expression on the firefighter's face but also the rich details and textures of the safety gear and equipment. In all these drawings, you can feel the weight of the gear the firefighters have to wear just to stay alive in the conditions they willingly enter. 



    The furrowed brow of the "Fire Captain" suggests a man who has seen all kinds of disaster and would still leap into action without hesitation. The idea of quitting is just unimaginable when there are still lives that will need to be saved. 



    "Firefighter with Hose" depicts three firefighters in the process of putting out a nighttime blaze. The glow of the fire is seen at the right side; the rest of the background is dark. The three men look confident that they'll soon have the disaster under control, despite the ominous light from the flames. 



    Saving lives and property is hard work and this "Tired Firefighter" shows in his posture just how exhausting his job is. But he's a brave man and he's going to keep doing it again and again— after all, people are relying on him. 
     
    If you have a firefighter in your life, one of Dick Kramer's prints could be the perfect gift for them. Check out the Firefighters Gallery for more.
  • Military and Tactical artist produces third of four Camp Perry prints

    Military and Tactical artist produces third of four Camp Perry prints 

    Dick Kramer has been blowing everyone away with his tactical art for over 50 years. No one else accomplishes the realism, attention to detail, and power he instills into every drawing. His subjects— whether SWAT, military, or anyone else— seem ready to leap off the page. 

    This made Dick the perfect artist to create some special artwork for the Competitive Shooting Division of the NRA. Every year, the NRA sponsors over 50 national championships and sanctions over 11,000. Enthusiasts from all over the country come to demonstrate their prowess and appreciation for firearms. The NRA approached Dick for a series of four pieces of art to represent the four stages of the National Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio. Recently, Dick completed the third out of the four art pieces: High Power Rifle.

    Nra Drawing

    The drawing includes four men in Dick's signature ultra-detailed style, each holding a different rifle. Two of the men are looking away, but the two whose faces are visible show the confident, yet relaxed expression of someone who is a good shot and knows it. The NRA logo adorns the background. Altogether, it's a perfect piece to capture the spirit of the National Championships. 

    Dennis Willing, NRA Competitive Shooting Director, reflects on Dick's artwork and how the series began. "We contacted Dick a few years ago about creating a series of the stages of our National Championships at Camp Perry. Pistol, Smallbore and High Power Rifle. The results have been astounding." 

    Below is a picture of Dick with NRA Pistol Manager Tom Hughes, who had met Dick a couple decades before. Hughes' introduction led to the current project in which Dick does a drawing every year for the NRA. 

    Tom Hughes and Dick kramer

    Dick's work for the NRA is available as prints at several NRA locations, as well as at the National Championships in Camp Perry. 
    To enjoy more of Dick's artwork and perhaps shop for a print yourself, check out his galleries at www.dickkramer.com.

    Ginny & Dick
  • A Piece of History: The Story of Dick Kramer's Berlin Airlift Mural

    A Piece of History: The Story of Dick Kramer's Berlin Airlift Mural

    Berlin Airlift Mural

    On June 12, 1987, a vast crowd had assembled before the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, to hear President Ronald Reagan challenge Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in the name of peace and prosperity. The people cheered the President's words and the hope they brought for the future; a future in which Germany would be reunited.

    That day was the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin in the 13th century, and also the 40th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Dick Kramer, his wife Ginny, and their youngest son Stephen were in attendance. It was a special occasion for everyone, but Dick had a very specific reason to be there: He had been commissioned by ITT to paint an 8 foot high, 16 feet wide mural commemorating the Berlin Airlift to be presented to President and Mrs. Reagan as a gift from the American people to the people of Berlin. 

    Dick kramer,travis Engen & the reagans


    The Reagans listened as Dick gave them a quick explanation of all the various parts of the mural, some of which were symbolic, others of which were portraits of individuals who had made a difference.
    The airplane at the top is a DC-3, the plane used in the airlift during a harrowing time in which a plane would take off and land every 30 seconds and have to fly perilously low during rough weather. The man seated at the radar screens at the bottom represents the first use of radar for bad-weather landings. The two men below the airplane represent the people of West Berlin who were helped by the vital supplies delivered by the fearless airlift pilots. These supplies included foods like flour, meat, potatoes, milk, sugar, coffee, and more, and fuels including coal and gasoline. The population of Berlin was over 2 million people and every day, 1,534 tons of food items and 3,475 tons of fuel had to be flown in to sustain them under the Soviet blockade.

    The smiling man in the lower left of the mural is Colonel Gail Halvorsen of the USAF. During one of his trips to Berlin, he met some children that, although they were on the verge of starvation and had nothing, inspired him with their bravery and selflessness. The children told him not to worry if he could not land sometime because they could survive on very little and their freedom was more important to them. The very next day, Halvorsen dropped candy from his plane, attached to tiny parachutes, which soon grew into an official program called Operation Little Vittles. He became known as the Candy Bomber and the top right of the mural depicts his plane while dropping candy to the children. He told them he would "wiggle his wings" so they could recognize his plane.

    Dick Kramer Colonel Gale Halvorsen

    Colonel Halvorsen was present during Dick's presentation of the mural to President and Mrs. Reagan and was delighted to see himself immortalized in the mural. Dick met him again years later, at a reunion.

    40% of the airlift was handled by the British, and Dick wanted to make sure history remembered their contribution. The man depicted in the lower right of the mural is a British soldier making repairs to a DC-3 engine. Directly above him are British 4-engine seaplanes on Lake Wannsee. These British planes had become a lifesaver because, as seaplanes, they were not damaged by salt and could transport salt during the airlift, while the American planes could not.

    British%20girl%20from%20mural%20&%20american%20pilot


    To the right of the British soldier are German mechanics taking a much-needed coffee break, and above them is a man stenciling the symbol of the Airlift, the Berlin Bear breaking chains. This symbol was put on all the boxes that left the city. The central figures in the mural are a little girl giving flowers to an American pilot, based on a photo Dick found at the Royal Air Force Archives in London. Dick met both the pilot and the little girl years later.

    Dick%20&%20ginny%20kramer

    The mural is now on permanent display at the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, which was the hub for all incoming air traffic. In March 2007, Dick and Ginny went to re-visit it and discovered that 8 to 10 groups of school children were brought every day to see the mural and learn the history of the Airlift. Dick and his family are enormously proud that he had a role in preserving this piece of history and proud of the part America played in helping the German people.
     

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