Talking throgh the Terp

 

I don't know how perfect the interpretation can be but when you the interpretor is well trained and understands the intentions of what needs to be said it makes a difference.

 

I liked the different view points and varying sizes of the people in this compositon. I am excited to put some color on it, I will need to crop this one down a little but it needs to see some progress!

 



On the Road Again

 

We walked, and walked and walked, then we got into the vehicles and drove to another place to walk. This composition is a common sight, can you guess what is being illustrated?

 

I liked the feel of the group walking toward the viewer and although two different images were used as reference and some manipulation had to happen, I think it was a good one, can't wait to tackle this amount of faces, yippee!

Teaching the Track

 

I know there was a lot of assisting and aiding going on and I didn't witness much of teaching the different vehicles but it did happen. This was one time when some officers had the chance to get some training and teaching from one of the NCO's from the battalion on the function and ability of one of the track vehicles.

 

From the stand point of a composition, I wanted to get just enough of the track vehicle into the frame but not so much it became the focal point. I am not sure if the values here are able to play into that or make that happen, so some changes may need to occur before I put it into color.

 

Charge!

Spacing is Crucial

 

We were always so critical of our spacing, but the counterparts seemed to know a little more than we did. I guess that had something to do with being in their own neighborhoods. Most important for the patrol is spacing. I can think of watching the video games being played by the different soldiers and how they would use the various formations to conduct the virtual operations, what a blast, get it... a blast!?

 

I liked the the way the soldier on the left here helps to draw in the viewer to see and participate in what is being viewed. I don't know if it is the most effective but I like how it plays out.

Out of the Shadows

 

When I saw this coming up, walking down the trail, I knew I would be painting this. There was a huge overgrowth of vegetation and had created a tunnel of sorts that we walked through. You are able to see here that as much as we tried to assist and aid and teach and mentor there were times when all we did was go out on patrol and conduct our operations while the Iraqi counterparts were chillin' and talkin' with their buddies. The language barrier was enough that with only one interpreter it was difficult to make large leaps of progress. The actual training that was conducted was the most more instructional. The palm grove walks were great for me to get some cool reference and see how the local farmers worked. 

Old world transportation

 

I was amazed, not that I had never seen it, or thought I wouldn't see it, but the frequency rate at which I saw non-mechanical modes of transportation was awesome. This was just the better of the reference shots. I got to see several carts being pulled and the like in addition to the individual rider and his beast of burden.

 

This composition required three different reference shots and manipulating two of them by adjusting, cutting out, and moving parts to get everything to fit. This one is one of my favorite for just the idea of blending all the different elements together and making one cohesive piece. 

Photo Op!

 

These guys loved to get their photo taken, it never failed, they saw the camera and would group themselves together as though they thought they would get a copy of the photo right there and then. While I would walk around with my camera out, trying to take pictures of everything, most civilians did not want their photo taken, but the soldiers would without a doubt pose themselves, group themselves and ask for pictures to be taken. I don't know if there was some preconcived notions from other soldiers that inspired this but they ate it up.

 

I would like to add though that as I was working on this compsition, I used a few different photo references to get just the right grouping and mixture of what was going on. I think color would look great on this on and can't wait to block out some time and get busy!

Calling in the Bomb

 

I had the esteem pleasure of working with and hanging out with the FST'ers for a time before the deployment. I wonder if I would have had a better... I know my experience in the army would have been completely different had I worked more with the this group of individual.

 

I have had this sketch hanging at the battalion area for quite some time and just the other day the individual that 'posed' for the reference shot asked me if he was really hanging up at the battalion conference room. I guess not everyone understood what could happen when you get a photo taken of you during a deployment.

 

I am getting excited for great and wonderful things to happen as I more forward with my carreer. What a wonderful adventure the army has been and no one knows if this roller coaster will ever end or how the ride comes to a complete stop. Just remember to keep all arms and hands inside the ride at all times and hold on tight and scream through the drops!