Triple Seven

 Here's a painting I've been working on for some time, about Artillery Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan:

While visiting Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dwyer, I spent some time out where the "Arty" guys had their battery, taking photos and sketching them as they practiced their profession (see my original post with a sketch I did on site).

I watched the Marines as they were setting in their gun (an M777 155mm Howitzer, called a "Triple Seven"), and felt the scene  was perfect for a painting, as the figures were dynamic and the composition interesting. And as artillery doesn't often get featured in combat art, I wanted to give the "cannon cockers" their shot...

Swelter in Some Kind of Shelter

There were some common themes that ran throughout my deployment experience in Afghanistan, and I think anyone who's been there for any period of time can sympathize with them-- three of which are 1)Dust, 2) Heat, 3) Waiting/Passing Time. I had sketches and watercolors of each of these, and will continue to draw and paint about those things, as well as all the other things common to a combat zone.

Today's Theme: Heat (or, Swelter and Shelter)

Sleeping was very difficult in the heat, especially for someone who has a shift that requires him to sleep in the day time. And it was strange that the heat of the afternoon made you want to sleep, but rigorously denied you the ability to do so! The tents also (especially at FOB Dwyer) seemed especially designed to keep the heat in...

The tents at Delaram seemed to be melted as if in a Salvador Dali painting!

Two images of Marines trying to sleep in the heat at FOB Dwyer

During our visit to Fire Base Thunder (now known as "Fiddler's Green" after the arty legend) we slept under the stars the first night, and then were able to secure some cammie netting, which I'm sure is now being used as the "visitors tent":

Our "home SWEAT home" for our time at Fire Base Thunder