PATRIOT SERIES

  I am proud and grateful of our country and I want to produce artistic content depicting true American patriots and industries.  The Patriot Series will be continuous and consisting of oil paintings on stretched canvas with giclée prints on both stretched canvas and archival paper.

I wanted to honor the sacrifices of so many that started with the terrorist attacks on 9/11 resulting in the Global War on Terror.  The ill executed withdrawal out of Afghanistan in August 2021 was a sucker punch to the gut for many of us. One of the challenges was to compose a commemorative art piece that would not be perceived politically.  In addition, I did not want to portray veterans as victims. 

I pulled the color pallet from European Expressionist Movement (1905 – 1920) influences. Artists such as Franz Marc (WWI German painter and veteran killed in the Battle of Verdun in 1916) used color to depict emotional experiences. Colors help to visually express those emotions. The red horizon represents anger and violence while the Twin Towers are contrasted in blue to symbolize freedom and loyalty.  The GWOT (Global War on Terror) Veteran is colorless, thus void of showing emotion.  This color void is the best way I could visually depict some effects of PTSD. We’ve been told by loved ones that since we returned from the fighting, we are emotionally distant.

The subject sits with his rifle loaded and muzzle pointed down.  This depicts that he is either on a helo insert (2001 – the start of the Global War on Terror) or he is on a helo extract (2021 – the last troops to leave Afghanistan). His hands hold the rifle close to his chest in prayer but ready to act.  

300 limited Giclée prints on both 11" x 14" archival paper and hand embellished 8" x 10" stretched canvas prints are available.  

 I recall America after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Overnight our country was united during one of its darkest times. American flags waved on cars, houses and businesses. The following month at the 2001 World Series, Ray Charles performed “America the Beautiful” to a packed stadium and live broadcast. The crowd roared in applause after “the Genius” belted out that beautiful melody to the backdrop of a larger than life American flag. For me this painting captures that moment of American unity, patriotism and brotherhood. 

300 limited Giclée prints on both archival paper and hand embellished stretched canvas are available.