August 3, 2004 -- Three award-winning artists, all members of the American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA), will show their work at DWC's Eaton-Richmond Center Gallery in Nashua, including the weekend of this year's Aviation Heritage Festival September 25 and 26.

For Michael O'Neal, of N.J., who focuses on the dawn of flight to the end of WW I, wood and fabric airplanes dominate his paintings. While in high school, Michael began a complete list of biographies of WW I pilots who hailed from his home state of New Jersey. The lasting impressions created by his interviews with several veterans, all of them well into their 80s, focused his energies on the World War period 1014 - 1919. An ASAA member since 1992, Michael's art instruction comes primarily through ASAA forums and its members. In 1997, his painting "Sharks," won the James V. Roy, Jr. Award as "Best of Show by an ASAA member" at the annual ASAA exhibit, while "Sons of Albrecht," was judged "Best of Show" at the 5th annual SimuFlite/Flying Magazine Horizons of Flight exhibition in Dallas, Texas. His work can be viewed at: www.asaa-avart.org/biopages/oneal.html

Peter Ring, of Charlton Mass., is a self-educated aviation artist well known for his "photo realistic" paintings of both commercial and military aircraft. Peter paints primarily in acrylic, though he occasionally does pencil drawings. Painting aviation art is his way of staying close to aviation, conveying its thrill, and of showing what airplanes look like up close and at their best angles. Ring has exhibited around the U.S. His paintings Night Moves, Spirits Uplifted, and When Stars Gather are part of the Air Force Art Collection. Peter has also been the artist for the Westover Air Base in Chicopee, Mass., for the past eight years, creating posters and brochure covers for their bi-annual air show.

He has also donated paintings to many charities, most recently in 2003 to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which provides mercy flights on corporate aircraft for cancer patients. In a special edition of Private Pilot entitled "Aviation Art Gallery (1998)," Ring was listed in the Who's Who in Aviation Art. He has also been featured in various publications such as Code One magazine, The Patriot, and many local newspapers. In addition to being a member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, he is a member of the New York Society of Illustrators, the Air Force Art Program, and the Worcester Artist Group. His work can be viewed at: www.PeterRingStudios.com

Craig Slaff is renowned for his historical accuracy and technical detail. A graduate of Hartwick College with a degree in Fine Arts, his works have been shown in museums such as the Canadian Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum and Annapolis. Slaff is an artist member of the American Society of Aviation artists, an active member of the Coast Guard Art Collection, and a member of the American Society of Marine Artists. His works can be found in the board rooms of major corporations and in the homes of serious art collectors. His fascination with the interaction of man and machine, along with his love of history, has been the motivation for the subjects of his work

Slaff is the recipient of the "George W. Morville, Sr. Memorial Award" for excellence in the Skylands Art Exhibit, for Fine Artist in the New York, Tri-State area, and also received honors for his work shown at the Canadian Air and Space Museum. His work can be viewed at www.slaffart.com.

The Eaton-Richmond Center Gallery will be open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm during the exhibition and the weekend of the festival. Daniel Webster College's Aviation Heritage Festival includes distinguished aviation speakers like, WW II's Don Lopez, wonderful interactive exhibits, and up close experiences with dozens of legendary aircraft, like the P-51 Mustang, the F4U Corsair, the P-47 Thunderbolt, the P-40 Warhawk, the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator, the B-25 Mitchell, and the TBM Avenger. For more information, visit www.dwc.edu/festival , call 603-577-6622 or e-mail festival@dwc.edu .  Admission to the Aviation Heritage Festival is $15 for adults; $12 veterans/seniors; $5 children 4-12; children under 3 are free. Discount coupons are available at Market Basket and Demoulas supermarkets in NH and MA.

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