TGIF

 "What counts most is finding new ways to get the world down in paint on my own terms." --Georg Baselitz

This is my final Friday as an active duty combat artist.

Just finishing up several paintings to turn in before the end of Monday.

It's a WHIZ QUIZ!

Urinalysis.
Your Analysis.
You're in Alice's.
"Please, Marine, come and give us a sample. Just a wee sample in a wee bottle."
Yesterday, I appeared on the company urinalyis roster, with just five days remaining on active duty. It's a great way to experience one last time, one of the great experiences of Marines for the last quarter of a century: the "Whiz Quiz."

I tell you, the excitement was just bottled up within me, and it felt like it was going to burst (Oh wait, that was just my bladder, from chugging the coffee in preparation, cramming for the test).

Also included in the test was a "pop quiz"-- a breathalyzer to see if any of us had been drinking any time in the very recent past. I passed that with flying colors (ya wanna get a ZERO on that test).

EE AY ESS

EAS. No, it's not a protein supplement.
No, it's not a company name.
It's my E. A. S.... my "End of Active Service."

The countdown has begun.
Monday, 31 March 2014 will be my last day of being an active duty Combat Artist.
Though I wanted to continue in this billet, the Marine Corps has decided that I've been here too long, and should be shown the appropriate pasture.

I will keep you posted on the activities of this, my last week as an artist for the Corps.

Semper Fi
and
Semper Gumby

Diploma in the Mail!

I graduated this last fall with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the University of Hartford, and my diploma arrived (finally, after a bit of an admin snag) yesterday.

I now have my "terminal" degree in my field, and can pursue being some sort of academian!

Chesty!

Saint Chesty

This is a caricature I did for a class a couple summers ago, while I was getting my Master of Fine Arts in Illustration degree from the University of Hartford.

The class was taught by none other than the great Chris Payne, an illustrator whose work has graced the covers of the best magazines in the nation (he's also a scholar and gentlemen, and an excellent conversationalist).

He taught us his process for caricature, and we had a couple days to "master" it (if that's possible!) and bring the work from sketch to completion for critique day. It was fun and intensely challenging all at once.

Caricature, if nothing else, is difficult-- much more difficult than people usually believe. Not only must the artist understand portraiture, but he must also understand how to exaggerate the features of an individual while maintaining a likeness!

My cover's off to Mr. Payne, and to all who venture the wilds of caricature.

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.

Field Trip! An outing to the Delaware Art Museum

I had the great opportunity once again to travel a few hours up I-95 to engage in what's known in military circles as "PME," ("Professional Military Education").

One of my great mentors, though of course I've never met him, is the great artist and illustrator, Howard Pyle. Pyle is one of the greats of the Golden Age of Illustration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Delaware Art Museum is the center of the Pyle universe, being the premier holder of the works of Howard Pyle, and having been founded to hold his works in the first place.

"Who Shall Be Captain?" by Howard Pyle, 1911.

Detail of pirates watching from "Who Shall Be Captain?"

"An Attack on a Galleon," by Howard Pyle, 1905.

I also got to see a great series of Pyle's black and white illustration work, including a great piece about Blackbeard:

"Blackbeard's Last Fight," by Howard Pyle, 1894.

There also in the gallery, along with his illustrations, stands Mr. Pyle's drawing desk on display-- the design of which I'm really drawn to (I love a good pun!).

I was able to get the measurements of it, and intend to craft a desk similar to this great piece, which is in itself a work of art (from the Arts and Crafts era, I assume?)

Sculpting is Fun When Things Begin to Come Together

The "782 Gear" is beginning to be formed and attached to the figure of the WWI Marine. I'm getting the basic shapes and proportion for the canteen and cover, the cartridge belt and pouches, as well as the haversack and meat can pouch... soon I'll put the e-tool on. then, it's just putting all the little hints of detail such as buttons and snaps, straps and slings...

Sketch Report

"Sixty"

Sketch of the Day #36
Vietnam Marine-- an M60 machine gunner.