Project Heroes™

2011-12-05T06:29:00.001-07:00

Project Heroes™ has lots of exciting things happening and you can now find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/projectheroes. Some of the most recent paintings are there as well as other information about the project.

If you don't have Facebook, email info@projectheroes.ca and request an information sheet that gives up to date information about the project and we'll email it to you.

Thanks so much for your interest in Project Heroes.

Momentum building for Project Heroes™

2011-01-25T13:08:00.008-07:00

We have been incredibly busy with Project Heroes™ lately. A lot of the recent work has been administrative and board work in relation to getting society status and working on charitable status.

That doesn't make for great literative fodder or superb photo ops on the blog, so it's been pretty dismal for updates, but as 'boring' as board stuff might be, I am excited to share some of it with you because the results are so darn exciting and there's so much great stuff going on behind the scenes.

We have formed our society board and it is loaded with people who are passionate about honoring the fallen and wounded soldiers. There are, of course, the three artists involved in painting the fallen soldiers. In addition, the board includes Chris Aanderson - our technical specialist from Westworld Computers who is also extremely knowledgeable about military history, Michelle Bartsch - a relation of fallen soldier Cpl. Cole Bartsch, and Lesley Primeau - radio personality from CHED radio. Did I say 'personality'? That should really be capitalized, bolded and underscored. What an amazing resource she is for us, and a whole lot of fun to be around. Danny Hooper has agreed to assist us with fundraising ventures, and Debbie Walker - Project Leader with 630 Ched Santa's Anonymous is our consultant about the charity and society related issues. Accountant Jim LeBrun has agreed to assist with accounting needs - thank God for people who actually LIKE to do books!

We also have a very enthusiastic and personable volunteer - Julie LaChapelle - who will help with various aspects of the project as we progress. Julie is married to a Canadian soldier based in Edmonton.

Together with the board, we now have pre-planned virtually all aspects of the eventual national exhibitions, and we are working on getting all the pieces in place.

As we move along, we will have many needs. We will begin posting them soon and if anyone can assist with those needs, or knows someone who can, we need all the angels we can get.

We are so honored to work with the families of the fallen to create oil paintings that will commemorate those heroes long into the future.

Although the hours are long and the pay ain't great, haha, (this project is 100% volunteer - including the artists, the board and all others who are committing time and effort) we are so incredibly proud to be able to give something back to our men and women who gave all they had.

Shairl, Cindy and I will be getting together very soon for a 'mini-marathon' of painting and we'll post some of those pictures very soon. We often paint alone in our own studios, but our 'mini-marathons' are just short retreats where we paint together.

Again we'd ask that if anyone who follows our blog or twitter, etc, knows any family members of the fallen who we have not yet contacted, please let them know that we'd be very happy if they'd contact us at any time. info@projectheroes.ca or 780-986-0789.

— Susan Abma

Soldier portraits displayed at Northlands in Edmonton

2010-11-23T16:00:00.007-07:00

Susan Abma, Shairl Honey and Cindy Revell

We had an amazing week recently sharing Project Heroes™ at Northlands during rodeo week (CFR). We had about 16 of the fallen soldiers’ portraits there and we were painting on site. We met a lot of people, including friends and family of the soldiers. We thank everyone who stopped by our booth at Northlands to share your sentiments, sign our sheets in support of the troops, and/or donate to assist the project.

We feel so invigorated by the overwhelming support and we feel so proud to be able to commemorate the heroes who fought in Afghanistan to make a difference for our tomorrows. It was humbling for us to meet so many members of the military who served alongside the soldiers whose paintings we had on display. Although we've effectively volunteered the next 'who knows how many years' to this project, we've already been so richly rewarded by the response from the families, other soldiers, and the public. There is an indescribable sense of satisfaction in knowing that what we're doing is important, impactful and will ensure our present day heroes are remembered for generations to come.

2010-11-14T08:01:00.006-07:00

Shairl Honey's portrait of Andrew "Boomer" Eykelenboom is gracing the labels of Boomer's Canadian Red Ale which just made it's debut this past weekend. Of each beer that is sold $1.00 goes to Boomer's Legacy which directly supports the people of Afghanistan affected by poverty and war with emphasis on programs and services for women and children. Boomer's Canadian Red Ale is brewed by Howe Sound Brewing Company.

Walter Zicha, Shairl Honey, John Ohler, Vice President and Manager of Sales and Business Development

Shairl with General Rick Hillier (retired) co-founder (Colonel Kevin Reed) of Project Hero, a program that provides undergraduate scholarships to children of fallen soldiers. www.projecthero.ca

Maureen Eykelenboom, mother of Corporal Andrew Eykelenboom (Boomer) with Shairl. www.boomerslegacy.ca

We're incredibly proud to be one of the organizations that are working hard to help soldiers and their families. We can't wait to taste the beer, and toast Boomer.

Project Heroes At The Canadian Finals Rodeo

2010-11-09T20:11:00.003-07:00

Project Heroes will be hanging out with the cowboys and cowgirls this week. If you're attending Farm Fair and Canadian Finals Rodeo you'll find us in the Dodge City Western Art Gallery at Northlands from Nov. 10-14th. We'll have our easels set up and will be working our most recent soldier paintings, in addition there will be several completed portraits on display. Look for the great big horse mural, we're right in front of it. We're excited about this week long opportunity to share Project Heroes with the public and if you're coming out to the rodeo we hope to see you. Giddyup!

Society Status Underway

2010-09-11T15:13:00.006-06:00

Although we may not have been in contact much over the last several months, we have been very busy and a lot has happened with Project Heroes™.

At long last, after many meetings, after creating bylaws and objectives, etc., we have applied to become a Society.

This will mean many things for Project Heroes™. First, we'll be able to apply for federal charitable status and will hopefully be able to issue tax receipts in the near future. It means we're working together with expert assistance of volunteer board members, and it means we'll be able to accept other members to the society. How exciting it will be if you all become members of the Project Heroes Society.

It also means we'll be scouting out volunteers to assist with things like fundraising, membership, looking for venues, bookkeeping, data entry, etc. If you would like to assist with the project, please let us know - we can certainly use you now or in the near future.

And we will be in contact much more often now that we're finished much of the organizational 'stuff' and things are back in full swing . Please feel free to contact us at any time - info@projectheroes.ca or 780-986-0789. And, please follow our blog by clicking on the 'Follow' button in the right hand column. We sure appreciate your support.

Our Blog is Back

2010-09-09T21:17:00.002-06:00

You may have noticed in the last several posts that there are two dates, one for the date that the event occurred and another for the date that it was re-posted on this blog. For a while the blog was on our website but our readers seemed to prefer this format so we're back and have posted those months here.

Interview With Darcia Arndt

2010-09-09T21:15:00.001-06:00

July 7, 2010 – 8:53 pm

Recently I met with Darcia Arndt, widow of Master Corporal Raymond Arndt. What she said when I left her home was so true; “we had a lovely visit!” We got together so that we could choose a photo of her husband for me to paint and to talk about him so that I could know more about the man whose portrait I would be working on. I found there was not enough time for us to talk and share all the wonderful stories and events, and look at all the beautiful photos of her and her husband’s lives during the few years they shared together. There never is enough time!

I must thank Darcia for making me feel so comfortable in her home, for all her time, and for her being so open and sharing during our four hour visit! I got to know more about Raymond, and I am looking forward to painting the man behind the uniform.

For Susan, Cindy and me, all of these family interviews so far have been ones of great positive support of our project, and are both a true honour and a sad delight to experience.

Shairl

What Our Soldiers Do

2010-09-09T21:12:00.002-06:00

May 19, 2010

Recently we went to hear Maureen Eykelenboon talk in Spruce Grove where she spoke to the audience about her son Andrew for whom she created Boomer’s Legacy. Maureen talked about his experiences in Afghanistan and his conviction that what he was doing there was important work, something we hear from every single family that we talk to. She told us about his heroic moments in which he saved Afghanistan lives, treated some of the Afghan people who have no access to medical care, what life as a medic or soldier is like, and some of his thoughts. “Mom, people in Canada have no idea of what having nothing means, even our street people have more than those in Afghanistan”. And this “About two weeks ago a little girl brought her infant sister to the UMS while I was on duty. She had 2nd degree burns on her hand from touching a kettle. I bandaged her hand and after gave a doll that your friend made to her. She instantly stopped crying and started sucking on the nose of the doll. A special thanks goes from her elder sister to your friend for such a wonderful gift; and a thanks from me for being the one to accept her gratitude. Making the children happy is the most rewarding thing about this tour. Love Andrew”.

In May 2006 Andrew saved the life of Niaz Hussaini, an Afgan interpreter with the Provincial Reconstruction team. Maureen was lucky enough to meet Niaz on a visit to Afgahanistan and see for herself the impact our Canadian soldiers are having on the people of this country.

Maureen played a slide show of the photos that remained on Boomer’s camera when he died. It was an excellent look at the life of a soldier in Afghanistan and the good work that they are doing to restore order and give the people a sense that they are being cared for. Thanks Maureen. Thanks Boomer.

We hope that the portraits and exhibitions will be able to show some of the magnitude of what our soldiers have done and have given up to do so. Their families too.

Interview on the Primeau Show

2010-09-09T20:58:00.004-06:00

April 14, 2010 – 7:25 pm

Lesley Primeau, Shairl Honey, Susan Abma and Cindy Revell

We were on 630 CHED radio March 13 and Lesley Primeau asked us back on her show again April 6. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk about the project in a very public way and we had great response, with parents of the fallen soldiers phoning in, and several donations to help pay for the costs.

Our very sincere thanks to Lesley and 630 CHED for helping us share Project Heroes™ on the radio and for putting a link to our website on their site and on Lesley’s blog. Our heartfelt thanks also to those who donated to Project Heroes™ – we could not possibly do this without your help.

To listen to the show, go to: http://www.630ched.com/other/audiovault.html and put in the date ‘April 6’ and the time ‘6 PM.’ We were on at 6:30, so if you move the bottom bar along until it gets to 34:00, you will be able to listen just to the Project Heroes™ interview without listening to the first half hour of the show.
To view Lesley’s blog, go to http://www.630ched.com/Blogs/PrimeausBlog/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10106345.

Radio Interview on 630 CHED

2010-09-09T20:52:00.002-06:00

March 31, 2010 – 9:57 pm

Our interview with Lesley Primeau on 630 Ched was fantastic. Lesley is a lively and engaging host who asked perfect questions and helped get across what this project is really about. Many thanks to our callers for phoning in to support us and sponsor us. Your help is greatly appreciated. We’ve been invited to talk with Lesley again on April 6. We’ll give the exact time when we have more details. Till then we paint and talk to families of the soldiers.

Radio Interview

2010-09-09T20:50:00.001-06:00

March 10, 2010 – 9:39 pm

On Saturday, March 13 at 12:00 we’ll be interviewed by radio talk show host Leslie Primeau on 630 CHED. Join us as we talk about how the portrait project got started, what we are doing, why we are doing it, what’s next, and how you can help.

The Mouths of Babes

2010-09-09T20:45:00.002-06:00

December 14, 2009 – 1:34 am

As we sat watching the Roar of the Rings curling finals today, a friend relayed this story from her four-year-old son…
Listening to a clip on the radio news about Afghanistan with his mother, he asked her, “Why are they still fighting over there?”
She tried to explain as best she could, but he interrupted and told her he knew what should be done to resolve the conflict.
“What I would do,” he said, “is I would sneak in there at night and steal all their clothes. Then they wouldn’t want to go and fight.”
Such a simple, yet somehow so profoundly logical solution coming from the mouth of a boy who believes the world would be a better place if only people wouldn’t fight with each other.
Since four-year-olds don’t run the world, and the Taliban and our soldiers still have their clothes, there will still be conflict in Afghanistan.
The best we can do is support our troops and pray for their safety while they work on our behalf.
Here’s to Canadian soldiers at home, in Afghanistan and in other countries world-wide. We appreciate you and thank you for all you do.
And thanks to all the four-year-olds who should be thinking of snowmen and toys and chocolate. Knowing that they also think of world peace means they will become sensitive, caring adults who will make a difference in tomorrow’s world.

Our Blog Has Moved To Our Website

2009-11-30T22:43:00.007-07:00

Welcome to our blog. We have got some exciting news - at least for us! Our website has been redesigned and our blog has been integrated into it. So, now one simple address will get you virtually all of the Project Heroes information.

To go to our new blog: go to www.projectheroes.ca and click on Blog Updates on the top bar. All of our old blog posts have been moved there, so if you're looking for a particular post, you'll still be able to access it.

Thanks so much for following our blog. We will continue to provide you regular updates on Project Heroes.

Edmonton Visit

2009-11-24T21:07:00.005-07:00

Shairl (far right) and I recently visited with Sarah Keller, (centre) wife of Cpl. Bryce Keller who was killed in action in August, 2006.

As we gained insight into Bryce's character in order for Shairl to paint his portrait, we also found a kinship with this smart and kind young lady who is also in the Canadian military.

Sarah is currently studying for her nursing degree at the University of Alberta (Edmonton), after which she will use her nursing skills in the military.

As with other soldiers' family members who we have visited, Sarah shared her husband's story openly.

We are so grateful for how open all the families have been and we appreciate that it must be incredibly difficult to do that.

Thank you so much to Sarah and to all the other families who have welcomed us so warmly and allowed us to paint the portraits of their loved ones.

We are truly honored to do this project and will do or very best to make you all proud.

— Susan Abma

*Please note: Our website - www.projectheroes.ca - is being rebuilt and will be down for about two days. It should be back up Dec. 1 or before. We are very proud of our new look and thank Lynda Baxter and www.artincanada.com for redesigning it. We hope you'll check back in a few days to see our newly designed website. Thanks for your patience.

We All Remember

2009-11-11T08:28:00.005-07:00

November 11.

We all remember. It was the day we all actually stayed silent for a moment in school, remembering the soldiers who fought for our country.

At the time, those soldiers were often not known to us and their faces not familiar. But we knew from our teachers and parents the incredible significance of honoring their service.

November 11: Remembrance Day. Veterans Day. Armistice Day.

Around the world it has different names, but the day is the same and the purpose also the same. The day is seen as the end of World War I, which ended on this day in 1918.

Today, it is as powerful as never before. We honor those who served Canada in World War I and other wars our country was involved in, and also we honor the soldiers whose faces are now familiar - those from the Afghanistan war. Our brothers, boyfriends, husbands, sons and fathers are among the faces now fighting for our country and the Afghan people. Some of them have not come home, sacrificing themselves for the cause they believed in.

We remember them today - those serving currently and those who served in the past - and thank them all for their incredible service to Canada.

We pray for the safety of those in Afghanistan and those still to be deployed. May they take comfort in knowing how grateful we are for what they do. Return home to us safely and may God be with you.

Andrew's Smile

2009-11-07T05:56:00.004-07:00

Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom

What a pleasure it was to paint Canadian army medic Andrew James Eykelenboom, or "Boomer" as his mates called him. The first time I learned about Andrew, was when his mother Maureen told his sad but beautiful story "Andrew's Smile" on the radio. I couldn't wait to read about him, visit his home in Comox, meet his parents and hear more of his goofy but sweet humour.

Yes, it has been a pleasure painting your smile, Andrew, and getting to know you.

Shairl

Goodbye Pat and Edmonton soldiers

2009-11-01T19:40:00.015-07:00

Saying goodbye to my cousin's fiancé Patrick at the Edmonton garrison was difficult to say the least.

The hall was filled with soldiers ready to leave, their parents, siblings, spouses and children.

As the soldiers waited to go into the line-up to have their bodies and their gear searched, they clung to their wives and children. Most of the spouses had welled up tears in their eyes the entire time, but most of the soldiers stayed fairly straight-faced and tearless, putting on a brave face for their families. The look in their eyes told the story of the sadness they felt leaving their loved ones, especially knowing that there was a possibility that it could be the last time.

Although the soldiers kept a brave face throughout the waiting period, as they left their families to be searched and then board the bus, almost all had tears in their eyes.

It's hard to explain how electric the atmosphere was, full of love, sadness, fear, and even excitement. Even though the soldiers were sad to leave their families, there was a part of them that looked forward to doing what they had been trained to do.

My heart broke as I watched my cousin cry and her daughter wave goodbye to Daddy. As the soldiers walked out of the hall and out of sight, my cousin ran outside the hall and around the building to have a last chance to see her soldier in the bus as it left.

It struck me how solitary life as a military spouse can be. It's hard to think of a child not seeing her Daddy for six to eight months, and again thinking that the worst case scenario is that she could never see him again. As the parent who stays home, the spouse is a single parent and lonely. There are times when they have no contact with their soldier for long periods of time, and they hold their breath as the names of fallen soldiers are announced. They pray that it's not their spouse, and yet are so very sad for the family that does have to deal with the loss.

Shairl, Cindy and I have become so close up and personal with this project that we, too, hold our breath every time another fallen soldier's name is announced. Our hearts break for the families, and we often cry also as we sit with the families and share the stories of the brave soldiers who never made it home alive.

I pray for the safety of my cousin-in-law to be, and all his comrades as they work hard in Afghanistan for a cause they believe is worth dying for. Besides my own family, I don't know if I'd ever be that brave for anyone else. I am thankful for everything these soldiers are doing for us, for our country, and for the people of Afghanistan.

God bless them all.

—Susan Abma

Deployment

2009-10-08T00:59:00.005-06:00

Tomorrow I will be heading to the Edmonton Garrison to say goodbye to a group of soldiers being deployed to Afghanistan.

This time it hits home more than ever with me. One of the soldiers has a child with, and is engaged to my cousin.

This project has always been very personal to me, but sending Pat off to the war in Afghanistan and sharing the pain my cousin feels as he leaves, is even more personal than this originally set out to be.

When this project tugged at my heart and started to become my priority, my cousin hadn't even met Pat yet. I had no connection with the military at all - I just felt strongly that the soldiers who put their lives on the line needed to be commemorated in a lasting and special way.

In only a few short years, many more soldiers have died, and my cousin met, fell in love with, and had a child with an Edmonton soldier. They are scheduled to be married on the base in June of 2010, when Pat returns from Afghanistan.

Along with Pat, many other soldiers will board a bus bound for the Edmonton International Airport, where they will then board a plane bound for Afghanistan.

These soldiers believe in what they are going there to do and they want to do what they were trained for, but one can only imagine that deep beneath their courageous exteriors there is a fear of what they will face when they get there and also whether they will return home to their mothers, wives, husbands, children and other family members.

I commend their bravery and their commitment and my greatest hope is that all the prayers that Canadians will be saying for them in the coming months will keep them strong, uplifted and safe from harm.

Godspeed!

- Susan Abma

Cpl Shane Keating

2009-10-02T08:19:00.003-06:00

Painting this portrait of Corporal Shane Keating was, for me a humble but extremely rewarding experience. I must thank his mother, Judy Budd, for making it possible for me to get to know Shane; for sharing her photos, the letters, the stories of this exceptional young man and Shane’s writings in his own hand. Not only do I feel honoured that I was able to paint Shane’s portrait, I feel blessed to have met a wonderful new friend, Judy, who is also an artist.

Shairl Honey

Support Our Troops Gala

2009-09-29T02:09:00.010-06:00

Wow! We had an unbelievable evening Saturday!

We had the exceptional good fortune to attend the CFPSA Support Our Troops Gala at Edmonton Northlands.

Approximately 700 people gathered at the new, massive, Exhibition Hall E to raise funds in support of the troops and their families. (See www.cfpsa.com for more information)

We are not getting paid for doing the portraits of the soldiers, so at $225 per seat we would, under normal circumstances, not have been able to attend this incredible event. We very much appreciate Don's Power Vac of Edmonton, that sponsored our tickets (www.furnaceman.ab.ca).

At the event we were fortunate enough to meet General Walt Natynczyk and his wife Leslie, who is the head of the Military Families Fund. They were so warm and expressed their appreciation of how Project Heroes is honoring the fallen Canadian soldiers. It was our incredible honor to be able to talk with them both and we certainly hope to work with the Military Families Fund in some way in the near future.

We also visited with Maureen Eykelenboom, the exceptional woman at the helm of Boomer's Legacy. Boomer's Legacy was named in memory of her son Corporal Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom, after he was killed by a suicide bomber in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, in August 2006.

While other funds help the soldiers and their families at home in Canada, Boomer's Legacy provides humanitarian needs, medical care and tools for education for the people of Afghanistan. (See www.boomerslegacy.ca for more information).

Our work through Project Heroes, will be to thank the fallen soldiers and their families for their service and sacrifice. (www.projectheroes.ca)

We hope that everyone will consider supporting whatever of these causes touches their hearts as they all need your support to exist.

While at the gala, we met many soldiers - some who have already served in Afghanistan, and some being deployed in October. Their dedication to their country and their bravery in facing possible injury or death to serve their country was humbling to say the very least. Each time we meet the soldiers who have served or will serve in war stricken areas, we are even more thankful for the ability to work on the fallen soldiers' portraits for Project Heroes. It's our way to thank these heroes who serve us all so selflessly.

At the CFPSA gala, we were treated to the wonderful humor of Jessica Holmes (Royal Canadian Air Farce), and the music of Blue Rodeo.

There were so many added little 'treats' for the crowd, like when one of the musicians took the mouthpiece of his trombone and put it in a rifle and played the rifle. Having never seen this done before, we were astounded and excited about how unique it was as well as how beautiful it sounded.

Military drummers played in unison and it was a delight to watch their synchronized moves, especially when the lights were dimmed and their drumsticks and parts of their uniforms glowed in the dark.

Congratulations to the organizers of this event. The gala was top-notch and we were proud to have had an opportunity to attend and help Support Our Troops.

- Susan, Shairl and Cindy

Completed Portrait

2009-09-26T12:42:00.007-06:00

Corporal Cole Bartsch

Another painting is finished. Each portrait represents a life and we are reminded how special these young people who have given their lives are. Not everyone can do what they have done and we are grateful to them and their families.

Cindy Revell

Cpl. David Braun

2009-09-21T16:18:00.007-06:00

The completed portrait of

Cpl. David Braun

As we work on Project Heroes™, it is important to us to convey an indication of the soldiers' characters - something that is hard to achieve from their official military photos that are quite serious and straight-faced.

Cpl. David Braun was a sincere pleasure to paint. My studio was so cheerful looking at this handsome, smiling soldier as I completed his oil portrait.

I made a preliminary drawing (see below) and put a layer of color on without worrying about being too exact with the drawing as it changes slightly here and there as I apply paint and reassess it.

Each layer builds the painting to a higher level. I build my skin tones from the basic undertones, which in this case was very pink. I work in layers often, but occasionally tackle a portrait more directly, depending on how I think I can achieve the best result.

It was our sincere pleasure to have spent time with David's mother, getting to know a lot more about him. This helped have a true sense of what he was like which is essential in order to create a good portrait.

Every time we meet with the families, I am awed by their openness, their sharing, and their strength. Without their support, we would be unable to do this and we thank them for that, as well as for the incredible sacrifice their soldier made. We hope that this project will help ensure their loved one will always be remembered.

- Susan Abma

The rough drawing and start of

the first layer.

Getting closer to completion.

Starting a New Portrait

2009-08-24T18:11:00.005-06:00

Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom
Initial Drawing in Oil, 14 x 18

This is my initial drawing of Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom. Andrew's mother, Maureen, gave us the copyright to this photo to paint from when I met with her in Comox, B.C. in June. It was wonderful to get to know Andrew through his mother's stories and photos of his life. We both liked liked this photo the best; it displays his wonderful smile; his love of fun, family and friends.

I started with a quick free-hand drawing done in yellow ochre paint directly onto a high quality, acrylic primed and stretched canvas. Once this drawing has been checked, measured, and is satisfactory, I'll start painting the portrait in many layers, using Walnut Alkyd Medium to 'wet in' the painting each time I start another layer. The walnut oil medium helps me blend the oil colors, and since it dries overnight I can work on it every day until it is finished.

Shairl

Painting with friends

2009-08-09T19:41:00.006-06:00

For several summers now, Shairl (centre) and I (right) have spent three weeks in Newfoundland painting scenes there en plein air (outdoor painting).

Although we have a fairly grueling schedule while there, painting from sunup to sundown most days, it is well worth it because it helps keep our painting skills finely tuned, and it is also a lot of fun.

This year was extra special for us. We were very busy painting portraits of fallen Canadian soldiers before we left, so we took a couple of the portraits with us to work on in case there was a rainy day that we couldn't work outside. We were also very fortunate to also take along Judy Budd, mother of one of the fallen soldiers (left).

Judy used to paint, but for the last three years since her son died in Afghanistan, she had not picked up a paintbrush. When Shairl and I visited her earlier this year, we immediately liked this woman and within a few hours of talking to her we invited her to join us on our painting trip this summer. A day or two later she accepted.

Although she hadn't painted in several years, she painted with us every day and when our trip was done, she had created as many paintings as I did. For those who don't paint, that may sound easy, but it is actually hard work and not very comfortable at all. We painted at the edge of the ocean some days and we were so cold that we painted with as many layers of sweaters that we had with us and had shirts tied around our heads and socks on our hands to be able to withstand the wind and bitter cold. Other days, inland, the heat and sun were brutal. In the evenings we had to fend off mosquitos, some days we were rained on...

Not only did Judy stick with the painting (and us), but she created some excellent paintings and she kept us laughing with her great sense of humor.

Now that we are home and getting back to painting 'our' fallen heroes, we are doing it with an even greater connection than ever before, and we feel so blessed by the new friendship we have made with Judy, and the friendships that are developing with families of other fallen soldiers.

In the photo above, Shairl is shown with the painting that she painted of Judy while Judy was painting a NFLD scene. It will always remind me of the strength, determination, and wonderful kindness and humor of our amazing new friend, Judy.

- Susan Abma

Still Life -Commemorative Painting

2009-07-16T18:35:00.007-06:00

Work on our soldier portraits carries on and in the meantime we've taken photographs of of some of the gear that the soldiers carry. The photos will be used for a number of commemorative paintings that we'll be doing, a few of which will be still life. One of the first steps in preparing to do a still life is to set up the objects you plan to paint. Ordinarily I like to paint directly from life whenever possible but since the equipment had to be returned the next day the only opportunity to paint it would be from photos. I took many pictures of the gear in different positions and will choose the ones that I like best, eventually one or more of them will become a painting.

When I started to set up the first items my cat Spike came along to supervise. An hour or so later Pete my nosy, little mutt had to investigate too.

- Cindy

Personal Time With A War Hero

2009-07-08T02:58:00.007-06:00

This pencil drawing was done with the photos of Cpl. Shane Keating at hand. I wanted to explore his face and get to know his structure before starting the portrait painting.
Drawing out these heroes before I start painting them gives me personal time to get to know them.
I can imagine their strength, their love of Canada, and their dedication to their cause.
It's important to me to attempt to capture not only their physical self, but their spiritual self as well.
- Shairl

Project Heroes Thanks Its Sponsors

2009-07-06T14:28:00.005-06:00

Another Canadian soldier has recently died and it makes us nervous to see a soldier friend leaving for Afghanistan. Thank you for the courage and generosity of spirit that takes you across the world to make life better for the people of Afghanistan.

We also want to recognize the friends who have sponsored this project so far. Your financial help is a wonderful way to say thank you to the soldiers. It's also your support that will help us see this project to the end. When the paintings are done and the exhibition is up it will be an incredibly touching way for Canadians to show their gratitude to Canadian soldiers.

Impersonating a soldier? No way!

2009-07-03T19:37:00.008-06:00

I'm an imposter! I'll start off with an apology for having the gear on completely wrong, I'm sure. And, I'll apologize for what might appear to be an impersonation of a soldier.

What this photo actually is, is me attempting to find out if I could actually carry even the lightest gear that a soldier routinely carries.

Well, I found out. I sure can't!

I've read about the weight of military gear, but it never sunk in until today. I was fortunate enough to visit Lancaster Park - the military base in Edmonton - with a soldier giving me a guided tour.

When I left, I literally had almost everything but the pants and shirt Pat was wearing, although I did get other pants and shirts in the collection I took with me. He actually changed his boots and cap so I could take the ones he was wearing.

This warmed my heart to the very core. The reason he shared his gear for a couple of days was to allow us to photograph and paint some of the items for Project Heroes.

The first item he handed me was a helmet. For all intents and purposes it looked like a hard hat, but with camouflage on it. Well I've picked up many hard hats before so I had a mental expectation of the weight. Wrong. I almost dropped the helmet. The next thing I picked up was his 'flack jacket.' I'm guessing it weighed about 20+ pounds - like a large bag of potatoes. I can't even begin to guess the weight of the backpack, but I was assured that it was "light" compared to when the soldiers actually have it packed for use.

As I dressed in the heavy gear to take this photo (and I didn't even wear the helmet), it struck me hard that our soldiers have to endure so much in their duties, and the weight of their gear is only scratching the surface of the amount of sacrifice they make for all Canadians.

I'm compassionate, and my heart breaks for every fallen soldier, but brave I am not. I would never be able to stand in a soldier's shoes, so I'm incredibly thankful that they do what they do. I guess I technically did stand in his boots, but I couldn't even stand up straight! I estimated that I was carrying more than half my weight. No, don't ask and I won't tell.

Cindy, Shairl and I are all very thankful for the support that we are getting for Project Heroes, and thanks so much to Pat for the military gear that I am able to borrow temporarily.

- Susan

Painting Portraits on Canada Day

2009-07-01T08:36:00.004-06:00

Today we Canadians celebrate our country's 142 birthday. We're a quietly patriotic nation with a deep love of this huge land with it's many wild places and just like our anthem says we are indeed strong and free. Giving others the strength and the means to become free is what our soldiers are working toward in Afghanistan. As we paint our soldier portraits today we'll be thinking of those young men and women who gave their lives so that others could have freedom.

Happy Birthday Canada.

Cpl. David Braun - preliminary drawing

2009-06-22T08:46:00.007-06:00

This is the preliminary drawing of Cpl. David Braun. Since Cindy showed the method of beginning the painting by 'drawing' in paint, I've done a pencil drawing as the beginning of this painting. I usually do more of a 'cartoon' when I'm drawing in pencil to later paint. There is little need for detail - just some markings that tell me the angle of the eyes, nose and mouth, the edge of the face perhaps, and the top of the head and chin. This one has more detail so you can compare the drawing with the painting at a later date.

Now that I've completed the preliminary drawing, I'm ready to start applying paint. I'll supply more photos as I go along.

-Susan

Work in Progress - Portrait of Corporal Cole Bartsch

2009-06-19T07:59:00.006-06:00

Corporal Cole Bartsch-Work in Progress
Work in Progress-Stage 2

This is the second stage of the painting with all areas roughly blocked in with the approximate colours. At this stage there's no detail and I'm not too fussy about getting exact colours, my goal is to get the canvas completely covered with paint and try to stay true to the oil sketch which ultimately gets covered up. I had an illustration assignment to do so I only had time to block in the background and shirt.

The next day after taking care of some business aspects of art (the part I don't particularly like) I added Cole's beret and got the first layer of paint on his face. Luckily the painting isn't dry yet so I can paint wet in wet which I prefer. I'll be fine tuning the colour and shapes, making sure that the drawing is accurate, adding details and the pattern to the uniform. It looks like I've wandered a bit from my oil sketch (see post from June 12) so I'll have to make some adjustments here and there.

We're painting from photos given to us by the families and most often the soldiers are dressed in civilian clothing and are in candid situations. It's necessary to delete backgrounds and other people from the photos and add what is needed like the beret and uniform. We paint a background that is flattering to skin tones, add the berets and uniforms, and pose them all in a similar manner so that the paintings will look like a cohesive unit when they're displayed together.

Cindy

Composition Issues

2009-06-15T09:55:00.007-06:00

Susan - Every now and then a painter has a painting that just isn't working for one reason or another, and this one is problematic for me. There are some things that work well - I like the soldiers marching into the distance on the right and I like the main soldier and the way he fades into the soldiers marching.

The problem is the 'bloom' of faces behind him. There's some glare on the photo, but still you can see how the faces look like a flower growing out behind the main soldier's head.

It doesn't matter how excellent our skills are, or how long we've been painting, we still occasionally create paintings like this one that I've had great challenges with and may eventually have to put in the scrap file if a really great idea doesn't arise quickly.

So, if you have any ideas, feel free to comment. In the meantime, wish me luck with this one and I'll either post the end result, or let you know if it hits the scrap heap and I start again.

Portrait in Progress-Corporal Cole Bartsch

2009-06-12T10:17:00.004-06:00

Corporal Cole Bartsch
Initial Drawing in Oil, 14 x 18

We are working on commemorative paintings and the portraits. Each of us has a slightly different approach to a painting but I always begin by drawing my subject in oil directly on the canvas. I prefer to do my drawing in one session but it doesn't always work that way. Once I feel the drawing is accurate I begin blocking in the colour. I'll post the block in as soon as I get a chance to get back to the easel but for today I have an illustration job to do.

This project has many aspects to it besides the portraits and there's much to plan. Meanwhile the regular work of our businesses and families carry on as though there were no project. A living must be made and my commissions and illustration assignments continue to roll in which makes for a jam packed schedule, but am I complaining? Not a chance, I couldn't be luckier and I know Susan and Shairl feel the same way.

-Cindy

Shairl Follows ‘Andrew’s Smile’ to Vancouver Island

2009-06-10T14:15:00.009-06:00

Shairl (left) with Maureen (right) This incredible quilt was a gift made by a neighbor friend that honours not only
Andrew but other soldiers that have died in previous wars.

“I have to meet this mother; I want to paint her son!” said Shairl as she listened to Maureen Eykelenboom share her story called ‘Andrew’s Smile’ on CBC Radio.

Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom died on August 11, 2006. He was the first Canadian Forces Medic to be killed in Afghanistan. “Andrew was packing up to go home, but he volunteered to go out on the day he died”, said Maureen. She spoke of how Andrew lived his life to the fullest but always had time to help others.

As Shairl visited with the Eykelenboom family in their home in Comox, B.C. she observed the many plaques, photos, and commemorative items throughout the house that honored Andrew as a brave hero, soldier and medic. Through Maureen’s stories Shairl learned that Andrew’s sensitivity and compassion for all peoples was evident even as a young boy.

Shairl feels she knows this young son of Maureen and Hans a little better now. It will be an honour to paint him. She will start his portrait tomorrow.

A Visit With Corporal Cole Bartsch's Family

2009-06-04T10:24:00.006-06:00

Susan and I (Cindy) recently had a visit with the family of Cole Bartsch, one of the soldiers who died on July 4, 2007. We heard about Cole's love for the outdoors and comics, his antics, his great respect for the military, and his deep love of family. And photos, so many wonderful photos of Cole.

Hearing about him and seeing his pictures and bedroom will make painting his portrait all that more poignant.

Cole's parents want his name and the wonderful young man that he was to be remembered. Project Heroes is a way we can remember our fallen soldiers and show our deep gratitude, even so it seems as though we can't say thank you enough for what the soldiers and their parents, siblings, extended family, and friends have given up.

Thank you Bartsch family. Thank you Cole.

Contacting Families of the Soldiers

2009-05-25T14:38:00.005-06:00

Shairl is busy working on locating the families of the Canadian soldiers who have lost their lives in the Afghanistan war. In the meantime we are delighted when a family contacts us and invites us to interview them to be part of the project.

She will be travelling from Edmonton to the Vancouver area during the first part of June and hopes to meet and interview at least one soldier's family along the way. It's a precious gift when the families embrace Project Heroes and support the project by sharing their photos and stories. Most interviews take 3 - 5 hours, as there is much to talk about in order to learn about their family member, photos and letters to review, and stories that are both happy and sad. Learning about the soldiers that we are going to paint makes the experience of painting their portraits that much more poignant.

The brushes are wagging....

2009-05-11T10:19:00.007-06:00

Shairl and Susan have been drawing two young corporals, while Cindy has been working on a commemorative painting for the exhibition.

Although the subject of our paintings is sad because we have lost these heroes to the Afghanistan war, there is some happiness for us because they will 'live' in their paintings for many, many years into the future. We feel so grateful for the opportunity to help them do that.

This week we are contacting some more families of fallen soldiers so we can start on some new paintings for the exhibition.

Working on the Project

2009-04-27T11:21:00.010-06:00

While in Saskatchewan, we (Shairl and Susan) spoke with the families of two young corporals.

The experience was humbling to say the least. These men believed strongly in what they were doing and made the ultimate sacrifice.

While their pain was clearly evident, the families were open and sharing. They welcomed us graciously and we walked away with a closeness, knowing we had gained new friends.

We are now working on setting up interviews with other soldiers' families in Alberta. We are beginning drawing and painting the soldiers from Saskatchewan, and Cindy will start on an Alberta soldier very soon.

We began this project wanting to do something for the fallen soldiers and their families. We had no way of knowing how hugely important it would become, and how deeply we would be touched by the exceptional men and women who served our country honorably and selflessly.

We're in Saskatchewan

2009-04-15T22:00:00.004-06:00

After a long day of driving, we (Susan and Shairl) arrived from Leduc, Alberta to our hotel in Saskatoon, SK.

We shared information about our project with people who we met along the way and left them Project Heroes™ business cards.

As we drove we talked about the ultimate sacrifice the soldiers had made, and how we hoped that our project would help Canadians see who these soldiers were - in life, not in death.

Tomorrow we will speak to the mother of a young Corporal. We look forward to the day when we can share his story and his portrait with you in the national exhibition.

Tonight we will research him a bit more and then it will be early to bed because we have to leave Saskatoon early tomorrow to arrive on time.

And we're off...

2009-04-15T21:54:00.007-06:00

This week Shairl and Susan will be heading for Saskatchewan. We will be visiting the families of several of the fallen Canadian soldiers to gather some information to ensure that the paintings we do of our Canadian heroes are as true to their characters as we can possibly achieve post-humously.

Some other information gathered, such as emails and letters they sent home, etc. will be used in the exhibition as well.

If you are interested in reading more about our project, please see www.projectheroes.ca .

The above portrait is a sample painting of a model, not a soldier in the Canadian Military. Paintings of the 'real' soldiers will be rotated on the Project Heroes™ site as they are completed.