Any Soldier

PRIVATE COLLECTION

[Note: Please click post title to see the painting.]

Two years ago I painted this watercolor after reviewing many photographs sent in letters to my family from pen-pal soldiers serving in Iraq. I fashioned this soldier’s face from the images in my mind conjured not only from the photographs, but from their letters as well.

The title of the painting, “Any Soldier”, was chosen because of the “Any Soldier” letter writing program in the United States Military. Any civilian may write a letter addressed to “Any Soldier”, and the letter will go into a bin, box, or basket for soldiers to pick from at random.

This soldier is my tribute to the brave men and women serving in our armed forces, to show my gratitude and appreciation for their selfless service and devotion to the ideals and values held precious in the hearts of generations of Americans, regardless of and held separate from political opinions.

Copyright © 2005, 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Road from Najaf

AVAILABLE

[Note: Please click on the post title to see the photo of the painting.]

This watercolor painting is of a soldier who fought during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003/2004. My family wrote letters to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this soldier became a good friend of ours. His unit had been down in Najaf late in the summer and were in a convoy on their way back to Kirkuk when a buddy captured a photograph of him … tired, hot, and dirty but happy to be returning safely from a difficult security operation.

This painting is 22″ by 28″ and was painted on 300 lb rough finish watercolor paper. It was painted in late August of 2004.

Copyright © 2006 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED