posted 06-10-2009 10:00 AM               

Paul was present for the breakfast, suiting-up, and walkout of the Apollo 11 crew the morning of July 16, 1969. He was in a white cover garment and mask, silently sketching the crew — the only "civilian" present.

While he was inside the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB), I was outside with the crowd of reporters. Paul did a sketch of Armstrong giving a thumb's up, which I assumed was from Armstrong as he entered the van.

Comparing notes as SpaceFest, Paul said that the thumb's up he sketched was given inside the MSOB to the NASA and contractor personnel lining the route to the door. We concluded that there were two thumb's up — one inside, which Paul sketched, and another outside, which was the cover of Life Magazine (someone's head got in the way of my camera during that moment).

Paul has had some unique opportunities to be an artist-witness to the early age of space exploration (from MA-9 to ASTP). He is a great artist, and a wonderful person, full of good humor and great stories.

Chris and Chris' son are ably following in his footsteps. I look forward to the book.

posted 06-15-2009 01:25 PM               

Through his remembrances of the early years of the space program, my father gives us a unique perspective of what is was like. The book focuses on Apollo 11 and the sketches but gives a full history of the NASA artwork of Paul Calle from his early years when he was chosen as one of the original eight artists to cover the last mission of Mercury, through Gemini and Apollo and even where his artwork is now.

posted 06-25-2009 06:52 PM               

I look foreword to Calles new book and I plan to purchase "First Step" and would love to obtain one or both of the "Neil Armstrong" drawings.

posted 07-17-2009 08:53 PM               

I could not be happier. This is a very beautiful book. Ninety-six high quality pages featuring this terrific artist's drawings and paintings from his days as a NASA artist.

This book is extremely well put together and laid out. Dozens of Calles drawings are included and no book about his work could be complete with out "The Great Moment". In this case a double page full color spread. Beautiful!

Each drawing, painting and stamp shown has a brief comment by Paul, explaining how he felt or his thoughts on the subject. There are additional excerpts and comments by Walt Cunningham, Michael Collins, Gene Cernan, Alan Bean, Vance Brand, Bill Anders and Dick Gordon and a nice foreword by Andrew Chaikin.

I am a fan of Paul's western paintings, so I was glad to see a small section showing his current work. I was also very glad to see some of Chris Calles work as well. It is obvious talent runs in the family.

But the central focus is the Apollo era drawings and paintings and they speak for themselves. Beautiful work.

My copy was signed to me from Paul and Chris and dated July 16. Fitting.

Chris Calle has done an amazing job putting this book together. Congratulations to him; A fitting tribute to his father, from one talented artist to another. I could not give a higher recommendation.

posted 07-23-2009 08:08 AM               

Chris was very quick getting my copy out to me. The book was issued 15 July I believe and I was reading it 17 July.

Regarding personalized signing, I obviously cannot speak for Calle Art, but from my own experience, Chris contacted me to ask how I wanted it signed and I was very pleased that both Paul and Chris signed my copy the way I wanted it and dated it July 16. I could not have been happier with the book.

posted 07-23-2009 08:49 AM               

Chris asked if I wanted it personalized (I did) and both he and his father carried on a very pleasant conversation regarding my name (Jann... and I'm a male). They were courteous and friendly, and I was very impressed.

posted 07-29-2009 08:05 PM               

I encourage all to get this book. To have Paul draw and express his thoughts during that time is something very special and unique.

Thank you Paul and Chris for sharing your works!

posted 08-14-2009 09:21 PM               

The book is many things-- a tribute to a father, a family memoir, a history of Apollo, a primer on space art, but most of all it showcases the intersection of Paul Calle's considerable art talent and historical space events.

Paul had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time with the requisite talent to be the foremost eyewitness space artist of the heyday of the space program.

There are other great space artists-- Robert McCall comes to mind-- but none of them were present in person at so many key events during Gemini, Apollo, and ASTP.

Paul's "suit-up" sketches of Neil, Buzz and Mike are unique historical records. He was the only "civilian" present as the Apollo 11 crew had breakfast and suited up inside the MSOB on July 16, 1969. It would be like an artist in l492 recording his impressions of Columbus leaving on his voyage.

Comments from fellow astronaut artists Mike Collins, Alan Bean, and Alexei Leonov add interest to the book, as do comments by other astronauts such as Bill Anders and Dick Gordon. There is an introduction by Andy Chaikin.

posted 08-14-2009 10:17 PM               

It seems such a shame this painting was never completed and worse that the drawing now also seems to be lost.

posted 08-19-2009 11:20 AM               

My Calle book arrived today, also in record time. It is a beautiful book and I want to thank Paul and Chris for signing it.

posted 11-06-2009 02:22 PM               

So my birthday was yesterday. My girlfriend gave me this long cardboard tube which I opened and pulled out a Paul Calle canvas print. Scroll down this page to the Saturn V picture "Power to Go."

I didn't know I was worthy of such a thing! But she likes this kind of stuff also, so I'm sure she wanted it too.

I'll have to get a big frame and put this above the couch in the living room.

posted 01-19-2010 09:23 AM            

Paul Calle has been involved with space exploration all the way back to Mercury when he first sketched the flight of Faith 7 and throughout the Gemini missions.

The real crown jewels of the Calle portfolio and this book, are the beautiful reproductions of Paul's original sketches done during the Apollo 11 suit-up. Calle was the only artist given access to the crew preflight preparations for launch, and his efforts don't disappoint.

The price is equally impressive at a very reasonable 30 dollars.

Chris Calle in cooperation with the National Air and Space Museum have really outdone themselves with this book, which I believe is one of the best space art book produced in the last 20 years.

posted 06-06-2010 10:01 PM               

I have had the pleasure to meet him at both SpaceFests, where he captivated visitors with his great art and funny stories.