All About Them- Not Me

Today I have spoke with the most amazing men that have served our country and are involved with the VA here in Central NY. Writing a letter for now. I will come back with the latest in posting progress on showing "A Marine Series - A Parent's Perspective.

New painting. Cameron's Sister's Photo

Still working on several paintings. Starting a new one of Cameron's Sister. This series is from a marine parents perspective. I am hoping it portrays a bigger picture. This is about the families. "Homecoming Hug" represents the families in that most precious moment of holding our loved ones in that "Safe at last" hold.
When Forest was deployed I often would go through my days thinking I wish Forest was here to experience...
Well, Cameron is out on Embassy Duty in Egypt and his family is here in Central NY. Like Forest I know his family is thinking of him. His sister had a choral performance and I am sure they were thinking, "I wish Cameron could see this."

They are on our minds and hearts. I will show more of this watercolor as I go along.

Lots of dots and more layers of acrylic

Lots of dots on "No Greater Friend No Worse Enemy". The last few days I have been eye to eye with Lcpl Nicholas Said. At one point I had Ophrah on television in the background and was listening to how the families are affected by their loved ones fighting in Afghanistan. There was a clip about a Gold Star Mom that made me stop. I looked into those big beautiful blue eyes and just thought about the 3/6 that will return to Afghanistan this year. I cried, "Be safe Nicholas and you keep my son safe when you go back there. I know you will". I guess that's what you call getting into your artwork. And unashamedly I do. Our sons sacrifice so much. Can you see it? It is my desire and hope that all who see these paintings will begin to understand the connection military parents have with their sons who serve so far away.

Added more layers of acrylics to "Homecoming Hug" in Saturday. Moved from skin to hair and clothes.

Will take a photo to update on both peices.

Still brought to prayer often. Its how we parents get through. New drawing.

Tonight I continued on producing another piece that I am considering to call, "Life Goes On". It will be a pen and ink of Cameron Gianetto's sister and I will get a photo of this one posted. We press on, trying to have normal days with special events. Often, in our minds we are thinking, "I wish our sons so far away were here to see this event".

And especially today in this "Military Series - from a parents perspective", I am hoping to capture "Normalsy", as best we can.

Cameron is stationed on Embassy Duty in Egypt. What seemed like a realitively quiet place is suddenly, today, a marine parents nightmare. Watching the news unfold about the uprising of Egypts people, we can only pray for the safety of each and every marine and those they protect.

At times like these, the most powerful thing we can do is pray.

Our sons who are protecting you and me face many dangers the average American citizen couldn't fathom. Could you imagine your son or daughter in harms way? As a parent, sister, daughter, son, wife, husband these marines will lay down their lives for you, to protect you America.

So this is what we marine parents do and we would like you to also; pray for those in harms way. Pray for the military families trying to do those normal things, like going to concerts to watch a sisters performance in the midst of what is happening with her brother.

Other Artwork tonight at church

Tonight, I spent some time catching up on another painting I started in November for Kingdom Kidz at church. Karen Hart has commisioned me to paint a backdrop with an Adirondack landscape. I got a little sidetracked at Christmas with the banner that was needed for their Christmas Musical. Tonight was time to get back to finish my painting of the Ausable River near Whiteface. A famous spot that Turner used.

Earlier today I worked on "No Greater Friend, No Worse Enemy". Plugging along. I really want to work on all of them. Sometimes I just can't get enough hours in the day.

Brrrrrr! Good day to stay inside and paint. -0- degrees -14 tonight

And I get to help my sister Sue tonight teach figure skating at the Salmon River Skate School in Pulaski. The coldest rink on the planet!

For now I am continuing to paint on "Homecoming Hug", moving into the hair and shirt.

This evening, after skating, I will work on "No Greater Friend - No Worse Enemy".

Still working on that scarf. Lots of dots. Dot, dot, dot, sharpen; dot, dot,dot, sharpen; again and then some!

Just going to show you a cropped image of "Lcpl Prevart Janvier and his Sandbags"

Well I guess that didn't work out right. So this one didn't show the new cropping I did in Picassa. I'll keep trying.

Other news. I had a very pleasant conversation with Steve Kern at the Everson Museum of Art. He suggested I may need a larger facility than theirs due to the physical restraints of their community room and scheduling issues. He suggested the NYS Fairgrounds. That was a second venue for the Central NY area and probably even better. Spoke with Fred Peirce, PR Director. Sounds promising to tie in with the Memorial Watch Fires. More on this later. Got to contact a few more people.

Worked on Homecoming Hug and starting "Young Warriors - One Year"

Working on the skintone layers in "Homecoming Hug" I want to portray the moment was not nessecarily pretty. It was hot and everyone was sweaty at two in the morning. At the time the hugs happened, that moment was nothing more than amazing. I will never forget that side body slam hug and Forest yelling out, "Mom!". I want "Homecoming Hug" to make you cry with that joy because everyone there felt this emotion. Pure joy. They made it home, all the prayers answered.
The ones who didn't make it home (forever on our hearts and minds) were with us too. We, as a military family, understand that.

Also starting a new work called "Young Warriors - One Year". There are 6 marines celebrating the amazing year they have experienced. June 29th these young men were sworn in to bootcamp at Parris Island to become United States Marines. Bootcamp to combat training, to MOS school (thats their specialty, ie Infantry, Gunner, etc.), to deployment in Afghanistan. What a transformation. Here is the photo I am using. Look at how dirty they are. I want to portray that. More on their story to come.

One other thing on the Art work planning. I have tried to contact Steve Kern. Not successful yet. The VFW in Mattydale, the Ready Room (a military courtesy room at the Syrcause Airport) and the Syracuse Marine Parents are poised to write letters of recomendations to help with the different venues that I would like to have my works shown. More to come on that.