Marines on the MEU

I recently had another great opportunity to go out to the fleet and sketch Marines in their natural habitats. Though the trip was part of my job as an artist for the Navy Art Collection, I of course came across Marines on the LHD (USS Bataan, LHD-5), training for an upcoming deployment with the 24th MEU. These are modest and few, but I thought it'd be appropriate to post them here in this venue.  It's all about the sketchpad, after all-- drawing what you see on location.

In the next month or two, I will have completed several full-color oil paintings and sketches based on what I saw on board the Bataan.  Stay tuned!

Humanitarian Relief-- Operation Damayan assists the people of the Republic of the Philippines

In November, I had the opportunity and privilege of going to the Philippines and take part in Operation Damayan, the humanitarian relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan.

I was only there for a few days, before the operation wrapped up, but I was there in time to sketch and photograph some of the activities of the Marines as they helped the people of the Philippines, especially in the hardest hit area around Tacloban on the island of Leyte.

Here are some of the sketches I made:

 

 

The whole area surrounding Tacloban City was nearly wiped out by the storm. The only structures still standing were made of concrete blocks, and even they were heavily damaged by the typhoon's raging winds and water.

The Philippine people have my great respect, because of the dignity with which they handled themselves in such a trying situation. They were patient and friendly with the Marines as they stood in line waiting for clean water that the Marines had brought in.

Belleau, Helmand and the Mojave-- Sketches about Marines

Sketch of a Marine at Belleau Wood.

Sketch of Afghan Farmers in Helmand Province Afghanistan.

Sketch of Marine M2 gunners in training during "Javelin Thrust."

Sketches of the Day



Daily Sketches numbers 21 and 22.

#21: "Heavy Laden," a Marine of 2nd Bn 8th Marines waits to board the helos to begin Operation River Liberty, July 2009.

#22: a World War I Marine, yelling at the enemy, ready to show "the Hun" what they're about to face!

Today's Sketches-- Variations on a Weighty Theme

Of Binocs, Bottles, and Flypaper...

Marines on post.

Tedium.

Eternal Vigilance at constant odds with Gruelling Monotony.

These Marines were on post at FOB Delhi, Afghanistan in 2009. I got to visit them, sketch their post and take photos of them as they stood guard over the perimeter. This is the latest small oil I've done from that encounter.

"Standing Post"  was the first oil sketch I did of that guard post, which I posted and discussed in a blog entry on August 14, 2009.

Bois de Belleau

Today, I was able to produce another monotype print, utilizing some reference photos I'd taken a while back, of a Marine wearing the WW1 uniform...

It honors the fight at Belleau Wood in 1918, and depicts a Marine in the tangled woods, firing his Chauchat machine gun:

The inking and de-inking of the plate through rubbing and blotting can give some interesting atmospheric qualities...

"Fly Marines!" Marine Combat Art on Exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum

If you're ever in the DC area, I strongly recommend you take the time to go see two of the best museums in the world-- namely, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

For the next year, until Jan 2013, you can see an excellent bit of the Marine Corps Combat Art Collection at the NASM, in a show entitled, "Fly Marines! The Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation 1912-2012." ( See a review of the show in the Washington Post Arts Section here).

The exhibition features more than 90 works of fine art and artifacts, each relating to Marine Corps Aviation history. Artists in the show include Howard Chandler Christy, Felix W. De Weldon, Howard Terpning, Col. Avery Chenoweth, Col. Michael Gish, Col Edward Condra, and James Butcher, to name a few.
Here are some examples of the fine Marine Corps Aviation art on display there:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I, too, am honored to have two paintings in the exhibition, as well as my sketchbook and field art gear in a display case...

Two of Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles sketches on display at the “Fly Marines!” exhibit in the National Air and Space Museum. SHFWire photo by Frank Bumb

Honored!

What a way to start out the new year!

On January 1st, 2012 I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending the Commandant's Reception and Serenade, held annually at the Home of the Commandants, 8th and I, Washington, DC.

My wife, Kelly and I were absolutely delighted to attend, and were looking forward to seeing the residence, which for all Marines is like their White House! The food was absolutely wonderful-- indeed, world class-- and of course the residence was exquisitely decorated.

I had been invited because I had completed a painting for General and Mrs. Amos, a winter portrait of the Home of the Commandants in oil, based on a photo the Commandant himself had taken a couple years prior during the time we had massive snows in the DC area.

I found out, upon arrival, that the painting was going to be brought out and revealed for the guests.
General Amos talked about the painting and of his photograph on which it was based, and he also talked of the Marine Corps Combat Art Program. It was a great honor to be standing there, hearing such words from the Commandant himself. I felt like I was dreaming.

For more photos from the event, click here and here.

The Agony of Da Feet

Here's another painting nearing completion-- "Jellison's Bridgeport Blisters", a painting about a young Marine nursing his feet (as per Corpsman's orders) after a long training exercise in the Mountain Warfare Training Center near Bridgeport, CA:

 

Giving Thanks

Here's a blast from the past, and one that relates to Thanksgiving.

This is an oil painting entitled, "The Chess Game," and depicts several Marines sitting around playing chess and reading, passing the time.

It's based on a sketch and photos I took at an outpost on Route Michigan in Al Anbar Province on Thanksgiving Day, 2006. The Marines depicted were engineers who had spent their day on a route clearing mission (making sure there were no IEDs on the road)-- they certainly had earned some down time.

I enjoyed watching these Marines relax, and we spent a few moments chatting about Thanksgiving. As the "old man" in the room, I asked the young men to go around the room and mention something they were thankful for, and they obliged. Each expressed thanks for home, family and friends-- and to be alive, of course.

It was a bit of home there in an outpost.

I was thankful to God that America still produces young people like these, willing to serve wherever called.  I am still thankful for that today.

"Shot, Out."

 A sketch of the Fire Control Center for the 81 mm mortars of Weapons Company, 2nd Bn 25th Marines during live fire exercises in Mojave Viper, 29 Palms CA.

Civil Affairs-- Winning the War, One Heart at a Time

Though not normally something associated with fighting and winning a war, Civil Affairs has played an enormous role in the successes we've seen in Iraq, and it carries on today in Afghanistan. Successful Civil Affairs activity is vital to any victory it today's "asymmetric warfare" (winning the proverbial hearts and minds is important, not only  in winning a war but also in winning the peace...).

Here is a drawing I did today, showing a Civil Affairs Marine-- Sergeant Scott Spaulding-- engaging in conversation with a local Afghan farmer in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, summer 2009.

 These Civil Affairs Marines are the unsung heroes, in my (sketch) book...

Standing Watch

This is an oil sketch on panel, about 10" x 8", depicting a Marine standing post in Afghanistan.

Specifically, it is a Marine from H&S Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, standing watch on Post #3 at Forward Operating Base Delhi, near Garmsir, Afghanistan, in July 2009.

It could be Anyman standing Anypost, though.

I think that when we combat artists paint things, we try to make images that not only are historic records of an event or activity, but also stand as archetypes or allegories.

The reason a painting may strike a chord is that it's somehow connected to a shared experience. Even if the subject is something commonplace, it somehow connotes or denotes something significant.

The Sentinel Standing Watch has been a significant symbol in every culture, throughout all of history. And the role of watchman has been a significant job as well.

This painting, in its Subject, is a narrative, illustration, and allegory . But in its being, Per Se, it is more. It not only depicts, but it stands in for, that which it depicts.

On one hand it reminds us of those who stand watch over us, each and every day, faithfully and thanklessly, guarding our safety and liberty.

But this little painting, in its own little way, also stands itself as a sentinel-- it calls out to us, and asks us to identify ourselves, friend or foe; and reminds us that we too must do our duty as a culture-- we must stand fast, remain vigilant, and resist the urge to fall asleep or falter when we need to persevere.

Afghanistan-- It's Iraq, only dustier!

If you like yellow-brown, and if dust is your thing, you'll love Afghanistan!(Imagine-- they actually say, "One day, son, all this will be YOURS!")

I recently returned from a short deployment to Afghanistan, to collect and create images for the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

I have many sketches from my time there, as well as more than 1500 photographs, from which I'll create paintings and sculptures for the Museum's Collection.

So More Posts to Come-- in the mean time, here are some photos and video from Afghanistan:

I went on patrol with 2nd Bn 3rd Marines up near Delaram, with some members of the Afghanistan National Police as well. This video is of the patrol just leaving the town and heading out to a farm in the outskirts... we actually had to ford a river (though we'd have called it a creek back home...). I honestly never thought I'd get my boots wet in Afghanistan!

A Marine from 2/3 watches alertly as fellow squad members check out the other corner of a compound on the outskirts of Delaram, Afghanistan.

Here I am at the flight line at FOB Dwyer, as Marines from 2nd Bn 8th Marines load up on helos and start out on Operation River Liberty (I had to be satisfied with photographing their departure, as they wouldn't let us get onto the helos and go out on the push...)



Me on patrol in Garmsir, Afghanistan, with Marines and Police advisers who are maintaining good relationships with local townspeople.

Here I am, about to get on a flight back to Camp Leatherneck, posing in front of one of the guard posts at Patrol Base Jaker, where elements of the 1st Bn 5th Marines live and work, along with a detachment of the British Army & the Afghan National Army. I had to get a photo of this place, because it looks like something out of Fort Apache or the Battle of Rorke's Drift!