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.

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!

A Group Chat

It is always a unique experience when different agencies get together with varying agendas work together to try to accomplish a similar overall goal. It seemed all too often we were just being fed stories that had been circulated a few times over already and it really was time to turn command over to the native forces.

I do enjoy the value patterns in this sketch and even with the complexity of having several figures in the painting I look forward to painting it. 

Road block

This was one of my favorites, it has a neat design, some better reference and more of a clean idea.