Light Fighters – 14×11″ Graphite on Bristol

Prints available here.

Light is a relative term in the world of ‘Light Infantry’.  They live and die by what they carry.  Every ounce is considered.  Every meal, change of socks, and baby wipe a measured dance between comfort, longevity, and necessity.  Mission dictates, but sometimes the mission can change.  The troops on the ground having to make due with what they have, or what can be dropped in for them.

I’m really excited to have this piece finished at last.  It’s been on the back burner for a long time and it was just great to have a little time to continue to explore this series further.

Infantry Notebook

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I’ve always had an affinity for the world of the infantry, I worked alongside them a lot as a forward observer and had to train in many of the same proficiencies when down on the line. Be it 11B or 0311, the infantry of the US Army and the USMC are some of the most highly skilled combat forces in the history of warfare. They are men I’ve been proud to serve alongside.

Be it light, airborne, air assault or mech, they find a way to adapt to the situation and overcome it. There is no substitute when the bullets start to fly for a soldier or marine at your side whose sole job is to carry their rifle and put rounds on target.

“Follow Me!”

Forward Observer

Forward Observer – Graphite and Digital

Prints Available

I know a lot of people stress their job selection and finding just the right job for them when they enlist.  I knew I wanted to join the Army, and while I didn’t know exactly what job I was going to go with, I knew it would be combat arms.  I had no desire to go in any of the admin/supply/etc. jobs.  When it came down to selecting the job I was going to pick, my recruiter and I simply went through a list of high bonus combat jobs.  When it came to 13F Fire Support Specialist, it just seemed right.  He was an old Mech Infantry guy and so knew FO’s I could talk with.  I had a quick chat with another recruiter who gave me a quick run down of the job and I was set.  I love what I did as an FO.  It was the best mix of small unit and large scale operations.  It allowed me to get into the mix with all combat unit types from Infantry to Armor to Scouts.  And it allowed me the chance to meet and befriend some of the greatest people I’ve ever known.

This drawing has been in my head for some time, and with all of the commission work I’ve been knocking out, I hadn’t had a chance to get at it.  I’m glad I was able to finally get around to working it up.  Though it wasn’t without issue.  I had a lot of trouble creating a believable sense of scale and background and I think that’s why it took me so long to work out an idea on how to color the background and fill in the scene.  I tried to let the color do most of the work with this one and I think it succeeds.

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