Some Tools of Our Trade
$650.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
You feel the immediacy of a human moment: an astronaut filling the picture plane, camera raised as if caught mid-gesture. The suit’s bulk and the reflective gold visor read as both protective armor and a mirror of companionship—the visor carefully shows a second figure and the lunar surface, so we sense there are two people sharing this strange place. Alan Bean’s handling makes the textures tangible: the layered brushwork suggests the stiff fabric, the scuffed life of equipment, and the grainy ground underfoot. A deep, ink-black sky frames the figure and heightens the sense of solitude without making it lonely; instead, there’s quiet teamwork and good-humored professionalism. The palette—muted whites and grays warmed by the visor’s amber—creates a tactile, lived-in atmosphere that feels affectionate rather than heroic. It’s a small, intimate reminder of human presence at the edge of the unknown.
The Artwork
About Pete and Me
Pete and Me — Artist Proof Lithograph
Pete and Me - “Of all astronauts who have ever put on a space suit, Pete Conrad is my absolute favorite,” says artist and astronaut Alan Bean. “He was the best seat-of-the-pants man I have ever known. His instincts were usually right, he stayed on course and he always gave his best shot. On the flight of Apollo 12, he knew when to hustle and when to slow down and enjoy the view. In this painting, Pete is taking my photograph with his chest-mounted Hasselblad camera. We used the camera mostly for scientific documentation, but as often as we could think of it, we also used the camera as tourists in a strange and wonderful world. Note the cuff-mounted checklist that told us what we were to do next and kept us on schedule.”
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About the Collection
Alan Bean, a former Apollo 12 astronaut, transformed his firsthand experience of space exploration into stunning fine art paintings. As the only artist to have walked on the Moon, his work captures the textured surface of the lunar landscape, often embedding real moon dust and mission patches into his canvases. His impressionistic space paintings bring the Apollo era to life, showcasing astronaut moonwalks, celestial landscapes, and cosmic exploration from a perspective no other artist can provide. His limited edition space prints and original paintings remain highly sought after by collectors of space history art, making Alan Bean a pioneer in astronaut-inspired fine art.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Alan Bean.
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Authenticity & Documentation
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Captain Alan Bean was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, the fourth man to walk on the moon and commander of Skylab 2. "I am fortunate enough to have seen sights no other artist ever has," Bean says.
"I want my paintings to communicate an emotional experience in ways that photography cannot."
Captain Bean creates his original works of art using a unique technique allowing the viewer to actually sense vestiges of the 20th century s most dramatic accomplishments. Pressed into the canvas surfaces are Captain Bean s authentic lunar boot "moonprints," impressions from a core tube-bit used to collect soil samples and marks from a hammer used to drive the staff of the American flag into the moon s surface. Moon dust, trapped on the patches on the outside of his suit, makes its way onto each original as well.
Each print and canvas is an historical record of the lunar experience, as each is signed by moonwalker Captain Alan Bean, with most countersigned by other moonwalkers and astronauts.This may be your only chance to own such a visionary and historic celebration of man s greatest achievement. NASA was sometimes asked "Why not send an artist to the moon?" It turns out they did.
Alan Bean—Apollo XII astronaut, commander of Skylab II and artist—was born in 1932 in Wheeler, Texas. In 1950 he was selected for an NROTC scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1955, he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Holder of eleven world records in space and astronautics, as well as numerous national and international honors, Alan Bean has had a most distinguished peacetime career. His awards include two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal and the Robert J. Collier Trophy. As part of the Apollo XII crew, he became the fourth of only twelve men ever to walk on the Moon. As the spacecraft commander of Skylab Mission II, he set a world record: 24,400,000 miles traveled during the 59-day flight. He has also launched himself successfully into a new career as an artist. When he wasn t flying, Bean always enjoyed painting as a hobby. Attending night classes at St. Mary s College in Maryland in 1962, Alan experimented with landscapes. During training and between missions as a test pilot and astronaut, he continued private art lessons. On space voyages, his artist s eye and talent enabled him to document impressions of the Moon and space to be preserved later on canvas. His art reflects the attention to detail of the aeronautical engineer, the respect for the unknown of the astronaut and the unabashed appreciation of a skilled painter. The space program has seen unprecedented achievements and Bean realized that most of those who participated actively in this adventure would be gone in forty years. He knew that if any credible artistic impressions were to remain for future generations, he must paint them now. "My decision to resign from NASA in 1981 was based on the fact that I am fortunate enough to have seen sights no other artist ever has," Bean said, "and I hope to communicate these experiences through art." Bean s book Apollo: An Eyewitness Account which chronicles his first-person experience as an Apollo astronaut in words and paintings was received with critical and popular acclaim upon its publication in 1998.
Each print and canvas is an historical record of the lunar experience, as each is signed by moonwalker Captain Alan Bean, with most countersigned by other moonwalkers and astronauts.This may be your only chance to own such a visionary and historic celebration of man s greatest achievement. NASA was sometimes asked "Why not send an artist to the moon?" It turns out they did.
Alan Bean—Apollo XII astronaut, commander of Skylab II and artist—was born in 1932 in Wheeler, Texas. In 1950 he was selected for an NROTC scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1955, he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Holder of eleven world records in space and astronautics, as well as numerous national and international honors, Alan Bean has had a most distinguished peacetime career. His awards include two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal and the Robert J. Collier Trophy. As part of the Apollo XII crew, he became the fourth of only twelve men ever to walk on the Moon. As the spacecraft commander of Skylab Mission II, he set a world record: 24,400,000 miles traveled during the 59-day flight. He has also launched himself successfully into a new career as an artist. When he wasn t flying, Bean always enjoyed painting as a hobby. Attending night classes at St. Mary s College in Maryland in 1962, Alan experimented with landscapes. During training and between missions as a test pilot and astronaut, he continued private art lessons. On space voyages, his artist s eye and talent enabled him to document impressions of the Moon and space to be preserved later on canvas. His art reflects the attention to detail of the aeronautical engineer, the respect for the unknown of the astronaut and the unabashed appreciation of a skilled painter. The space program has seen unprecedented achievements and Bean realized that most of those who participated actively in this adventure would be gone in forty years. He knew that if any credible artistic impressions were to remain for future generations, he must paint them now. "My decision to resign from NASA in 1981 was based on the fact that I am fortunate enough to have seen sights no other artist ever has," Bean said, "and I hope to communicate these experiences through art." Bean s book Apollo: An Eyewitness Account which chronicles his first-person experience as an Apollo astronaut in words and paintings was received with critical and popular acclaim upon its publication in 1998.
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