15 Years since Operation Iraqi Freedom began and 10 years since I enlisted in the Army Infantry, I finally decided to create my first military based painting. This painting is based on a photo I took in Iraq in 2008 while patrolling a rocky hill area west of Mosul.

 

I was gunning on our HMMWV while my platoon was performing dismounted patrols and I noticed they stood out strikingly against the sky. I snapped a quick photo and later my brother photoshopped it to create the dramatic lighting. I didn't think I'd do much with it until now.

 

In 2011 I returned to civilian life and pursued a career as an artist, creating landscape paintings for various galleries. As time marches on I often feel nostalgia for my soldiering days. I imagine there's a whole new generation of veterans who might feel that same longing for the comradery they experienced while wearing the uniform.

 

Thus I created this painting for veterans to remember their brothers they fought along side.