Welcome to our paintings in progress page for artist Ivan Berryman.  This page features the artwork that is being worked on right now by Ivan, and will soon be available to purchase.  Whenever Ivan can afford the time to supply us with photos of his work in progress, we will post them on this page.

Ivan Berryman at work on the painting of Christiansen’s attack on the submarine C.25 off Harwich in 1918. The swell of the sea has been created and splashes from the previous attack and shell strikes from this one have been added. Work on the submarine itself can now proceed.

Based on photographs taken at the time of the attack, the submarine is gradually built up. Careful observation will show that the direction of the ensign fluttering behind the conning tower was changed during the course of the painting because it was noted that smoke from the shell strikes on the conning tower was blowing in the opposite direction. The original ensign was painted out before further work was done on the sub. The shell strikes on the water are being created by the pilot-operated forward-firing guns on either side of the fuselage, just aft of the engine. The Captain and five crew on the C.25 were killed in this attack.

All the WW1 originals are produced in oils on 20"x30" canvas, primed with four coats of Gesso primer. The picture is roughly marked up in pencil, then given another thin coat of primer to seal it. When dry, each painting is given a lick of retouching varnish before being photographed using polarised light, ready for reproduction. The painting is then left to harden before delivery.