2012/11/11
We All Remember
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 who fought 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 continued safety of all soldiers serving in the Canadian military. May they take comfort in knowing how grateful we are for what they do.
2012/10/29
2012/07/22
2012/07/18
2012/07/09
2012/07/06
2012/07/04
2012/07/01
Today, as we celebrate our great country, it's a time to remember the brave men and women who serve us in the Armed Forces every day, those who served us in the past, and those who fought and died. We are able to celebrate this country and the freedom we have thanks to them. Happy Canada Day everyone!
2012/06/26
2012/06/25
2012/06/21
2012/06/20
2012/06/19
New decals on Project Heroes' artists vehicles
The artists are thrilled about new decals they have on their vehicles that promote the project wherever they go. This is such an opportunity for others to see the Project Heroes™information and either talk to us about it, or seek out information on the website.
2012/06/18
Shairl tells about one of the paintings in the commemorative series
Along with the portraits of the fallen soldiers and three 6' x 9' panoramic paintings that will honor the families of soldiers, the wounded, and serving soldiers and veterans, the Project Heroes™ exhibition will also include a series of 16 x 20" paintings. This series will include intimate scenes such as the one Shairl describes in this video, other scenes of camaraderie in the Afghanistan War, and still lifes that include items such as soldiers boots, berets and tack jackets.
Through the comprehensive collection of portraits and paintings, plus stories about the soldiers that families have shared for us to use in the exhibition, Project Heroes™ will tell the whole story about those who served and sacrificed in the Afghanistan War.
Through the comprehensive collection of portraits and paintings, plus stories about the soldiers that families have shared for us to use in the exhibition, Project Heroes™ will tell the whole story about those who served and sacrificed in the Afghanistan War.
2012/06/17
The Mouths of Babes
This is a post from 2009 that is worth repeating. Although we are no longer in active combat in Afghanistan, conflict is alive and well world-wide, and if only children ran the world, things might be a lot different.
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 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.
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 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.
2012/06/16
Cindy tells about her panoramic painting that honors the families of soldiers.
Each of the Project Heroes artists has done a 6' x 9' panoramic painting to accompany the portraits of the fallen soldiers, and the commemorative series of scenes from Afghanistan and still life images. Susan Abma's panoramic painting honours wounded soldiers, Shairl Honey's painting honours serving soldiers and veterans, and Cindy Revell's painting, discussed in this video, honours families of soldiers.
We will release videos about the Project Heroes™panoramic paintings, the commemorative paintings, and the portraits, on the blog, Facebook and Twitter to share as much as we can about this important and special project as we work on completing it for exhibition.
We will release videos about the Project Heroes™panoramic paintings, the commemorative paintings, and the portraits, on the blog, Facebook and Twitter to share as much as we can about this important and special project as we work on completing it for exhibition.
2012/06/15
Impersonating a soldier? No way!
This is a repeat of of an old post, but it demonstrates an issue that soldiers have to deal with on a day to day basis. I will never be a soldier - painting portraits is a worthy occupation but doesn't require bravery or brute strength.
I'm an imposter! I'll start off with an apology for having the gear on completely wrong. 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've also heard it called a tack 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 - 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 for the participation of the families who allow us to paint their soldiers and share them with Canadians. Thanks also to Pat for the military gear that I was able to borrow temporarily.
- Susan Abma
2012/06/12
Process for Portrait of Andrew Eykelenboom
Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom
Initial Drawing in Oil, 14 x 18
This was 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. 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 was checked, measured, and was satisfactory, I started painting the portrait in many layers, using Walnut Alkyd Medium to 'wet in' the painting each time I started another layer.
The walnut oil medium helps blend the oil colors, and since it dries overnight it means I can work on it every day.
To see Andrew's completed portrait, click here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303749239653647.88109.301646666530571&type=3
- Shairl
2012/06/05
2981 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Visit Project Heroes™ Studio
The cadets were moved by the portraits in the Project Heroes™ studio in the LCol. Philip L. Debney Armoury.
The 2981 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps visited us at the Philip Debney Armoury studio last night. It was so nice to get to know these special young people. They listened to the story of Project Heroes™ and the amazing heroes we are honouring through the project and they took time to view all the portraits and the other project artwork. Thank you 2981! We were so happy to host you. More photos can be viewed on our Facebook page in the photos folder. Cadets can feel free to tag themselves in the photos if they wish.
2012/05/17
Hype TV films Project Heroes™ at Philip Debney Armoury
Dixon Christie, far right, visited our Philip Debney Armoury studio to shoot a video about Project Heroes. Left, Artist Susan Abma. Centre, Artist Shairl Honey.
Artist Cindy Revell with Dixon Christie in front of one of the panoramic paintings that will accompany the fallen soldiers' portraits. This three-panel panoramic painted by Revell commemorates the families of soldiers, another three-panel panoramic painting by Susan Abma will commemorate wounded soldiers, and a third three-panel panoramic painting by Shairl Honey will commemorate serving soldiers and veterans.
Dixon Christie, Producer at Hype TV, came to the Project Heroes™ studio at the Philip Debney Armoury yesterday to film a segment about the artists as part of his Paratroopers series (visit http://www.paratroopers.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238&Itemid=15 to see some of the video footage of that series.
Once the video about Project Heroes™ is complete, it will air periodically on Shaw Cable throughout the summer. Plus, it will be posted on the Project Heroes™ website and Facebook page.
It is exciting to be filmed and shown in conjunction with another project that also honours members of the Canadian military.
2012/05/10
The Project Moves Along
A project like this takes time, energy and money to put together and none of these things are in great supply. Each of us has other work to take care of, illustration, commissions, and an online magazine, nevertheless it's something we think is important and it's moving forward. Before the trip to Saskatchewan we each worked on 2 sample paintings that would be shown to the families of the soldiers to help them understand what we were doing.
2012/05/09
First Nations Bravery
Andrew Greenaway and Joice Lakow with the Project Heroes™ display
Details about this courageous man are limited, if you know of any information about him or a comprehensive list of all First Nations veterans let us know. We'd love to pass this on to Andrew and help fill in the blanks.
Project Heroes™ honours not only the Canadian soldiers who died in the Afghanistan war but through three 6x9 foot paintings we are also paying tribute to sacrifices of the families, the wounded and all veterans from past wars. Thanks to our First Nations veterans for their contribution.
2012/05/08
Cpl. Zachery McCormack's Parents View His Portrait
Robin (left) and Armande McCormack, are the parents of Corporal Zachery McCormack, KIA Dec. 30, 2009.
Below, Robin and Armande with Susan Abma, the artist who painted Zachery's portrait for Project Heroes.
Robin and Armande McCormack shared many stories and photos of Zachery with Susan. The main reference photo Susan used was of Zachery holding a puppy that he had rescued in Afghanistan. Afghanistan children were swinging the dog by its neck (dogs are not highly regarded there), and Zachery ended up trading a chocolate bar and other small items for the dog, which he and his comrades looked after in their tent. He called it Napoleon and shared his food with it for a month until it was back on its feet. Susan was drawn to that photo because of the utter happiness in Zach's eyes and also because it was completely in tune with what his parents had said about Zach's gentle, caring nature, and that he was always helping others. Zachery's portrait will be posted on the Project Heroes™ Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/projectheroes) very soon.
Project Heroes™ Shares Portraits With Sir Winston Churchill Society
A Room at Breccles, Norfolk by Sir Winston Churchill
The banquet is held annually honouring the current year's recipients of scholarships, awards and prizes as well as winners of the High School competitions. The society featured key-note speaker great grandson of Sir Winston, Randolph Churchill whose topic was Churchill, European Unity and Economic Turmoil.
It was a pleasure for the artists Cindy Revell, Shairl Honey and Susan Abma to meet some wonderful and interesting people including Randolph himself and share the project with the guests. Sir Winston Churchill was not only a statesman but an artist which was an appropriate connection to this event for us.
Randolph told the artists that the project was of huge importance, and that showing many of the fallen Canadian soldiers smiling in the portraits really brings home the human aspect - that the soldiers were real people.
"When I get to heaven I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject..." - Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
2012/05/05
Soldier's Wife Visits Project Heroes™ Display at Edmonton City Hall
Darcia Arndt in front of a portrait of her husband Master Corporal Raymond Arndt (KIA August 5, 2006)
While the artists were at Edmonton City Hall painting and displaying portraits for Project Heroes™, they were visited by many family and friends of the soldiers.
One of their visitors was Darcia Arndt, wife of fallen soldier Master Corporal Raymond Arndt.
Speaking directly with Darcia and getting family photos to work from helped artist Shairl Honey as she tried to paint a sense of Raymond's spirit and character into the oil portrait.
The artists, Shairl Honey, Susan Abma, and Cindy Revell knew when they started that they wanted to do more than just recreate a copy of the soldiers' official military photographs in oils. They wanted to tell a complete story about the soldiers through their paintings and the information and other photos, videos, etc. obtained from families.
Finding the families, interviewing them, working from as many as five or six photos at a time, and then having to, in many cases, paint the soldiers back into their uniforms makes this a very time-consuming and more difficult project. But the result is a series of portraits that no one has seen before, and it makes it so much more personal.
The artists are also including three 6' x 9' paintings that will commemorate the wounded, serving soldiers and veterans, and families of the soldiers.
This one-of-a-kind collection of portraits, paintings and other information, photos and videos records the history of the soldiers who served and sacrificed in the Afghanistan War in a sensitive, personal, comprehensive and lasting way.
This one-of-a-kind collection of portraits, paintings and other information, photos and videos records the history of the soldiers who served and sacrificed in the Afghanistan War in a sensitive, personal, comprehensive and lasting way.
It is important that friends and families of all soldiers know that Canada is grateful for the special men and women - our Canadian heroes - who served our country in Afghanistan, and that we will never forget the unfathomable sacrifice of the wounded and the fallen. We remember them, and Project Heroes™ will help ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to get to know them and remember them also.
2012/05/04
Saturday is the last day at City Hall
Artists Cindy Revell, Susan Abma and Shairl Honey had this beautiful, expansive space to work in for the last two weeks. Countless events filled the space with people and excitement during the two-week period.
While we are happy to be going to our lovely studio in the armoury, this has been an exceptional opportunity to spread the word about these incredible men and women who fought and died serving in Canada's military. We are passionate about the importance of giving Canadians the chance to see into the lives and histories of our fallen heroes, and if we could talk about it all the time, rest assured we would! But at City Hall we have done quite a bit more talking than painting, and at the armoury we will be doing more painting than talking, so we will get back to painting and get more of the soldiers' portraits complete.
Many thanks to the City of Edmonton for hosting us so graciously for the past two weeks. What an opportunity - it has been a wonderful experience.
If you're looking for a Saturday excursion, come down and visit us at City Hall between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and take in a great Farmers' Market as well.
Young class visits Project Heroes™
Shairl Honey, far left, shares information about Canada's fallen heroes at the Project Heroes™ display at Edmonton City Hall.
Students think our Canadian soldiers are the best. They learned about our fallen military heroes, the three artists: Shairl Honey, Cindy Revell and Susan Abma, and about how Project Heroes™ will have a national exhibition that will honour our Canadian Army heroes.
Over the course of the two weeks that some of the soldier portraits have been on display at the Edmonton civic centre, the artists have had many groups of school classes visit to hear about our country's brave men and women who served Canada in Afghanistan.
There is nothing more heartwarming than the innocence and honesty of children, and some of their questions are not only difficult to answer, but make a person think seriously that they have it right and adults could really learn from them.
It feels wonderful to be able to share some stories about the service members in the portraits - it makes the students understand that the soldiers were real people - some loved puppies, some worked out, they had families, some earned medals, some had children, they loved their country, they were brave, and they believed that their service in Afghanistan would one day make a difference.
Everyone knows of the death of the soldiers, but through Project Heroes™, they will learn about, and have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of our Canadian military heroes.
Young class visits Project Heroes™
Shairl Honey, far left, shares information about Canada's fallen heroes at the Project Heroes™ display at Edmonton City Hall.
Students think our Canadian soldiers are the best. They learned about our fallen military heroes, the three artists: Shairl Honey, Cindy Revell and Susan Abma, and about how Project Heroes™ will have a national exhibition that will honour our Canadian Army heroes.
Over the course of the two weeks that some of the soldier portraits have been on display at the Edmonton civic centre, the artists have had many groups of school classes visit to hear about our country's brave men and women who served Canada in Afghanistan.
There is nothing more heartwarming than the innocence and honesty of children, and some of their questions are not only difficult to answer, but make a person think seriously that they have it right and adults could really learn from them.
It feels wonderful to be able to share some stories about the service members in the portraits - it makes the students understand that the soldiers were real people - some loved puppies, some worked out, they had families, some earned medals, some had children, they loved their country, they were brave, and they believed that their service in Afghanistan would one day make a difference.
Everyone knows of the death of the soldiers, but through Project Heroes™, they will learn about, and have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of our Canadian military heroes.
2012/05/03
Friends of the Fallen Visit Project Heroes™
Artist Cindy Revell with visitors Trent and Peter, friends of Capt. Matthew Dawe
The City Hall display has been a great opportunity to meet and share Project Heroes™ with the public. In the two weeks that we've been at City Hall we've met friends, family and colleagues of the fallen soldiers. The other day we had the pleasure of meeting friends of Capt. Matthew Dawe, Trent and Peter, who told us about Matthew. it's always great to hear personal stories about the men and women that we are painting.
CTV interview
Project Heroes™ had a really great interview with Robin and Armande McCormack. Thanks CTV for sharing this important project honoring Canadian fallen soldiers. It will be on the 6 p.m. news (Edmonton time).
2012/05/01
Project Heroes Connects at City Hall
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| Susan Abma, Shairl Honey, Susan Farnell and Cindy Revell at City Hall, Edmonton |
2012/04/25
Artists inspired by Garrison students
These photos are of children from the Edmonton Garrison visiting our display of about a dozen portraits at City Hall.
At the city's request, we are displaying and painting soldiers on site there for the next two weeks. It's an excellent opportunity to increase awareness of the project.
The City has a resident school teacher, Linda Hut (who took these photos). Area schools are able to send their classes to the City for a week to learn about municipal government and the things that happen at City Hall - lucky for us they visited Project Heroes™ display!
When the teacher asked for a show of hands to indicate who had parents that had served in Afghanistan, most of the children's hands went up. Thankfully all of their parents have come home safe, but they were a living reminder of some of the many casualties of war when a soldier is lost.
These students asked some very interesting and poignant questions about the project, and about creating oil portraits. They also gave Project Heroes™ 'the thumbs up!' (Top photo)
2012/04/22
The opera Fidelio was amazing and Project Heroes™ was thrilled to be there! A cast of soldiers, politicians, jailers, heroic women and prisoners sing a tale of love and freedom set in eighteenth century Spain. In this setting a woman disguised as a man searches for her husband who is a political prisoner. It was Beethoven's only opera and was written in the countryside near Vienna during a time of political upheaval. Days before the French army marched into Vienna the audience of the premiere was mostly French officers.
We were proud to have several portraits on display in the lobby and enjoyed the VIP party afterward.
We were proud to have several portraits on display in the lobby and enjoyed the VIP party afterward.
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| Susan, Shairl and Cindy with some of the portraits. |
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| Susan and Shairl discussing Project Heroes™ with guests. |
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| Susan with 3 members of the military at the VIP party. |
Portrait in Progress
The portraits are started in various ways, in this instance Shairl has drawn the portrait with pencil and done the first layer in green. We all work a bit differently depending on the photos that we are supplied. Sometimes we work from several photos and draw with pencil before committing paint to canvas. Often we will simply draw directly on the canvas using paint. No matter how we start the end result is a colourful representation of a special individual who was loved.
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| Shairl Honey painting Captain Jonathan Snyder |
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