Precision Recreation

In order to accurately depict Apollo scenes, events and images in his paintings, Alan Bean meticulously constructs physical scenes using models of astronauts, the lunar module, the moon rover and Surveyor. NASA's official moon photos are studied so that the craters and moon rocks are placed exactly where they should be. Lights are set at proper angles to create bright spots and shadows exactly as they would have existed on the moon.

Alan Bean's preparation for a new painting is almost as meticulous as the training for his own moon landing.