Memorial Day Blog Edition

Hi All,

Here in the USA, we're coming up on one of our most beloved holidays this coming weekend; Memorial Day.  For most of us (myself included), this is the start of summer, a great time to have a three day weekend and relax, go to or throw a party, or get out of town.  However, the spirit behind the holiday, is a more reverent remembrance of those who have gone before, and laid down their life in the defense of our freedom.

Pitsenbarger - Pencil and Airbrush.  This piece is in
the Air Force Art Collection.

Often, we lose sight of the meaning or significance of the holiday.  Lots of us don't think about it at all.  Many may get wrapped up in some kind of political or patriotic viewpoints, that really don't have anything to do with this.  But that's really not the point I'm hitting at today.

Tillman - Pencil on Bristol Board.

My purpose here is to honor our fallen, who have made that ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy - to them I say thank you.  Also - to my fellow veterans, who serve or have served - I also say thank you.

Al Castillo Caricature - Art Marker, Pen and Airbrush.

The featured artwork in this edition portray three guys who I consider heros.  Their actions were heroic, but the quality I admire most about them is their willingness to put themselves in harms way, time and again in service to others.  They did this not for fame and fortune, but because they shared an internal integrity to do it because was the right thing to do and it's what they felt they needed to do; regardless of personal safety or outcome.  The top piece of artwork is a picture of William Pitsenbarger, winner of the Congressional Medal of honor (posthumously).  An Air Force pararescueman, who saved many lives in a fierce firefight (in Viet Nam on 11 April 1966).  That day he lost his life, but several others would survive the day.

The next piece - I've writted a little about before.  A pencil portrait of Pat Tillman.  He walked away from riches and fame, to join the Army after 9/11.  He died from "friendly fire" - but he was a hero in many ways throughout his life, including his Army career.

The bottom piece is a marker and airbrush caricature I did for a friend a long time ago, as a retirement gift.  His name is Al Castillo.  I served in the Air Force with him.  He was a flight medic.  He served a a member of helicopter aircrews that would fly into "hot" combat zones to rescue whomever needed to be rescued.  Al is a hero who put himself at risk on many an occasion, because that was his job and it was what needed to be done...he wouldn't call himself a hero, but he is.  (he's still kickin around too - Hi Al).

So wherever you are this Memorial Day - enjoy your party, or swimming at the beach, or whatever.  But take a minute and say a silent prayer of gratitude, for those heros who've gone before (or still walk among us).

To my friends who are not in the USA, I hope you've enjoyed and learned a little bit about our end of May holiday, Memorial Day.

Have a great weekend everybody.
Tom

Medical Illustration

Hi All,

Hope you're all having a great week.  I'd recently been going thru a few of my old medical illustrations and thought I'd share with you.

Cross section of the Temple.  

From 1988 - 1998 I worked as a Medical Illustrator at two different teaching hospitals while serving in the Air Force.  The first five years I was at RL Thompson Strategic Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.  The following 5 years I was at Ehrling Bergquist Hospital, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Depiction of receding gums caused by a missing tooth

The hospitals were Air Force teaching hospitals.  The main reason I was there was to support the Family Medicine Residency Programs, but I served the entire hospital including the Dental Residencies, and clinical phase programs for a variety of technicians (X-ray, Lab, Surgery Techs, and others).

Part of a Iliac Crest retrieval teaching presentation.
Shows the nerves that can get pinched off by swollen
muscles, post procedure.  This results in the
patient not being able to walk until it heals.

What did I do?  When I started in the hospital, the main teaching tool was the 35 mm slide presentation.  My main job was working with the instructors to develop teaching tools; presentations, posters, illustrations, and overhead slides.  Initially, I did "flat" artwork to be photographed on 35 mm slide film, but as technology advanced I created the artwork on computer and then shot the slides with a digital film recorder.  Towards the end of my tenure at EB Hospital, the teachers had digital projectors that would project the slides right from the computer.  They'd develop most of their slides in Powerpoint and request illustrations that I'd drop into their presentations.

Iliac Crest - the dotted line section to be retrieved
for a jaw implant.

Although I had no formal medical training, I did have to show the Air Force that I was capable of doing the work, and apply for the job as a "special duty assignment."  I loved the assignments too and I got to do some very interesting work.  I was able to observe surgeries and photograph them (for reference), and then illustrate the surgical technique.  The docs would work with me, essentially teaching me, so I could accurately illustrate the subject matter correctly.  The Dental Residents would put together "Table Clinics" every year, and I would produce/create them.  A table clinic is a poster presentation with photos, illustrations and text - subject matter would be a dental technique or study.  They would present them at the annual Dental Conventions in the surrounding states and even won some awards for the work.  I also supported the clinics and readiness section with graphic arts products when needed; training slides, fliers, posters, etc.

Dotted line shows cuts to make for gums to be
flapped open; making roots of teeth accessible to
work on.

The greatest thing about working in these facilities was the people.  I really felt like I was going to work with 350-400 of my best friends every day.  They were hard working and dedicated. and the work was very fulfilling too.  So that's my Air Force Medical story.
Have a great day All.
Tom

Tee Design - More Beef Than You Can Handle

Hi All,

I came across my tee shirt from the 11th Civil Engineers Squardron (CE) recently and thought I'd get out the artwork and share it here in the blog.  The last three years of my Air Force career, I moved on from multimedia and became a First Sergeant.  I was assigned to the 11th CE Squadron, Bolling Air Force Base in the District of Columbia.

The shirt was to be a fun shirt that folks may want to wear to squadron functions and also to be a fundraiser for the squadron booster club.  Because I'm an artist, we saved some bucks on the artwork.  The shirt was printed with black on a grey (ash) colored tee shirt.  The Prime Beef logo was printed on the front of the shirt, on the breast pocket area.  This is a common "logo" used by civil engineers throughout the Air Force.

Logo printed on front of shirt.  Breast pocket area, about 4" in diameter.

On the back we did a Prime Beef cartoon design.  As you've suspected, "More Beef Than You Can Handle" is an Air Force Civil Engineers slogan and the Beef steer is the representative mascot.  I'm embarrassed that I don't remember what the acronym "Prime Beef" stands for.  But, it's the part of CE that mobilizes and responds in contingency situations.

Design on the back of the tee shirt.  

We printed the back one color (black) as well.  The cartoon is pretty obviously a "Prime Beef" mascot who's a CE Airman, surrounded by various aspects of what they do.  Basically, as you've probably figured out, they're the construction element of the Air Force.  Electricity, Power Production, Vertical and Horizontal construction, Plumbing and Water Treatment, Facilities Maintenance, and Plans, Contracts, Procurement, Designing, and the Readiness folks (can't forget them or I'd be in trouble :).

Tee Design with color.  Color added with Photoshop and Wacom tablet.

Just for fun, I decided to color the design.  The original design, I created in pen and ink on bristol board. Eventually I scanned it in and I colorized it using Photoshop.

Today, I look back on my days with the 11th CE Squadron with fondness.  I still count most of the folks I served with among my friends.  CE - thanks for the memories, it was great to be able to serve with you for that time.

Have a great week everyone.

Pencil Portraits

Hi All,

Sometimes it all comes down to basics.  That's what the pencil portrait is about.  However, even though you do a portrait with graphite and illustration board, this can be a treasured piece of artwork.  Especially if it's done well, framed and hung - this can be a very sentimental gift that can bring a smile to the recipient for years to come.

Sue - a portrait of my wife done with pencil
on Bristol Board; 11 x 14 inches

The pencil portrait can take differing forms and contain various levels of simplicity, to more detailed and relatively complex works.  The portrait of "Sue" is a simple picture, but the beauty of it is the simplicity.  The happy smiling face that captures her personality, balanced by the right amount of negative space, creating a simple, just right artwork.

The picture of Pat Tillman takes things to a different level.  It reflects his career as a beloved local hero on the football field in Phoenix at ASU and then professionally as an Arizona Cardinal.  It also brings in his military career and patriotism...the successful pro athlete who walked away to fight for his country after the 9-11 attacks.  A more complex story is told by this picture.

Tillman - Pencil on Bristol Board; 11 x 14 inches.
A portrait of a beloved figure depicting his
life and accomplishments

One of my favorite things to do is mix medias.  No, I'm not an art purist...I'm an artist that does what I think looks good.  I was commissioned to produce a portrait of a child and the family cat (with elf hat on).  The customer provided some pretty good reference material and I started with pencil, working light to dark - hard to soft lead.  Afterward, I got out the Iwata custom micron airbrush and added some darker values.  I also added some Sepia tone and lighter complementing colors to it; giving it that "old time photo" feel.  Then, I went in with just a little bit of colored pencil and added a little hint of color.

Child and Cat - pencil/mixed media on illustration
board; 18 x 24 inches.  

There's one other aspect to this that's appealing to some folks; the price.  A pencil based piece of artwork is a great way to add a keepsake to your collection, that will last a lifetime, at a very affordable price.  This can be a great value that will bring a smile to the face of a mother, father, spouse or whomever.

If I can help you with a portrait, or any type of artwork, let me know.  My contact info is in my profile -- I'd love to assist with your project.

Have a great week....keep on smiling :)

Tom