Mule and Marine Maquette

Today I got the basic maquette worked out for the upcoming "A Mule and his Marine" sculpture-- it's of course an homage to Frederic Remington's Mountain Man, but will have a fully-packed mule being led down the slope of a mountain by his Marine packer.

Today's Work

Today I got in the equine and human armatures, for use on the Mule and Marine sculpture!

A company makes them anatomically correct in several sizes, for ease of posing and to take away hours which otherwise would have been taken up by the artist having to correct and re-correct the proportions of the skeletal armature.

In a related subject, here's today's graphite wash sketch of Marines and a mule in the mountains of the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Pickel Meadows, CA:

Here also is an oil sketch I did several weeks ago, based on an experience in Afghanistan--

The subject is a group of Marines playing cards after dark at FOB Delhi (the same group of guys who I'd seen playing during the day) At the risk of over-featuring the subject of such Marine leisure activities, I decided to paint this scene because I've only done one nocturne before, and the lighting here was dramatic and gave for a loose brushwork I find interesting.

Art Update

Here are some of the drawings and oil sketches I've done lately.

They cover everything from Afghanistan to Haiti, and are in a variety of media.

From Bridgeport and environs, I have a couple sketches in graphite wash as well as an oil study of a column of Marines going down the road in the desert near Hilton Ranch

From Afghanistan, there's a figure study in oil of Chaplain Roberts doing his laundry at FOB Delhi, and a composition study in oil depicting Marines and interpreter talking to a local Afghan farmer.

From Haiti, there's an oil sketch of a sail boat I saw just off shore near Carrefour.

From VA hospital in Richmond, there's a portrait of Wounded Warrior Zach Stinson

"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.

Fellow Blogger's Christmas Post

Check out this excellent Christmas-and-Marine-related post by friend and colleague, Beth Crumley at the Marine Corps Association :

Christmas Greetings!

Merry Christmas to all Marines and their families!

Click here for the Commandant's Christmas Message:

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:

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

The National Museum of the Marine Corps just decked its halls with all sorts of Christmas cheer last night and this morning, hanging garland all around and decorating several Christmas trees in Leatherneck Gallery.

Today I had the pleasure of helping transport and hang one of our best works from the Art Collection, a painting by WWII combat artist Cpl Tom Lovell of a Marine as Santa (we affectionately call it "the Christmas Lovell").

Here are Alice and Joan, of the Art and Exhibits sections, levelling the Lovell:

Here am I, confirming the level on the Lovell...

May your Christmas be merry, and your holiday season decorated with joy...

Semper Fi!

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...