For just a few days, artists associated with the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the Combat Artist Program gathered to present and discuss the future of combat art. Active duty and retired from service artists, curators, other service branch art associates, and contributing civilians were present for this inaugural event. Below you can see the board of talented individuals to include Kristopher Battles, Victor Juhasz, Michael Gish, Michael Fay, and Craig Streeter (active duty Colonel). One of the greatest moments for me was the personal time I was able to spend with Michael Peter Gish, a former combat artist and Marine Officer. His works in watercolor are wonderful and having the chance to pick his brain about material use, composition, and rendering was a special moment.
A photo-op with Michael Gish (left) and Mike Fay (right) standing next to one of Gish's works, "Tracks".
Some personal guidance, insight, and coaching being given by Gish to me. The work we are looking at is the original from Howard Terpning (b. November 5, 1927), sourced from his tour with the Marine Corps as a civilian combat artist in 1967.
