thedrifter
05-09-07, 06:36 AM
A brush with valor: Paintings capture 'Semper Fi' spirit
By Linda McIntosh
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
May 9, 2007
OCEANSIDE – Dan Saenz left the combat zones of Saigon and Desert Storm long ago. Now armed with a paintbrush, the retired Marine staff sergeant vividly depicts Marines in action through paintings with titles such as “Firewatch,” “On the Move,” “In the Bush” and “Shell Shock.”
His works went up last week at the Engraver's Gallery in Oceanside, not far from Camp Pendleton, where he was stationed several times during his 22 years in the Marines.
“Every time I look at his art, it gives me chills,” said Gunnery Sgt. Larry Heskett, a Marine reservist and manager of the gallery. The gallery is owned by Marines.
“Shell Shock” is already sold to a former neighbor of Saenz's from Vista, Carol Brady, who said patriotism caused her to buy the artwork. The 3-foot-by-3-foot painting shows the face of a wounded Marine after a battle in Vietnam.
“It shows what the Marine Corps is doing for us to defend our freedom,” Brady said.
Among other works is a piece titled “Concert in a Wire,” depicting a barely visible Marine with his rifle pointing out of a destroyed building reinforced with concertina wire.
“In some of these, you have to look again to figure it out,” Saenz, 52, said. “It gets people to think about what they're looking at.”
In another Vietnam-era scene called “Seven-Six-Two,” two Marines in the bush are manning an M-60 machine gun.
“The title is derived from the caliber of the ammo used, 762 millimeter,” Saenz said.
Saenz calls his style illusionism art.
“It makes the viewer re-examine the scene from different angles to fully absorb it,” he said. “It's one way of getting people to think about what others are sacrificing and putting themselves in the situation.”
The scenes come from war photos Saenz collected from magazines and newspapers. He transferred the images into positive and negative images on the canvas. Some have the feeling of silhouettes; others look like etchings. All are done in black on an orange-red background.
“Some people see the background as a sunset, but it has a fiery, eerie combat feel,” Saenz said. “It's supposed to stir emotions.”
Saenz had not touched a paint brush for 18 years but was urged to take it up again by Gilbert “Gib” Bolton, a retired Marine he had served with several times.
“I've been after him for years to paint and exhibit,” Bolton said.
Bolton, an Oceanside resident, was the subject of a 1985 painting by Saenz titled “Hill 25.” It was one of four paintings he did for fellow Marines.
Saenz's painting depicts Bolton's actions in Vietnam for which Bolton received the Silver Star medal with combat “V” for valor. Bolton had called in artillery fire onto his own position to save the lives of men in his platoon.
Bolton said he sees Saenz's exhibit as an example of Marine brotherhood.
The gallery where his works are on display is owned and managed by Marines. The U.S. flag hangs on the wall above the front door, and Marine memorabilia are all around.
“You can't help walking in here and getting excited,” Bolton said.
Linda McIntosh: (760) 752-6756; linda.mcintosh@tlnews.net
Ellie
By Linda McIntosh
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
May 9, 2007
OCEANSIDE – Dan Saenz left the combat zones of Saigon and Desert Storm long ago. Now armed with a paintbrush, the retired Marine staff sergeant vividly depicts Marines in action through paintings with titles such as “Firewatch,” “On the Move,” “In the Bush” and “Shell Shock.”
His works went up last week at the Engraver's Gallery in Oceanside, not far from Camp Pendleton, where he was stationed several times during his 22 years in the Marines.
“Every time I look at his art, it gives me chills,” said Gunnery Sgt. Larry Heskett, a Marine reservist and manager of the gallery. The gallery is owned by Marines.
“Shell Shock” is already sold to a former neighbor of Saenz's from Vista, Carol Brady, who said patriotism caused her to buy the artwork. The 3-foot-by-3-foot painting shows the face of a wounded Marine after a battle in Vietnam.
“It shows what the Marine Corps is doing for us to defend our freedom,” Brady said.
Among other works is a piece titled “Concert in a Wire,” depicting a barely visible Marine with his rifle pointing out of a destroyed building reinforced with concertina wire.
“In some of these, you have to look again to figure it out,” Saenz, 52, said. “It gets people to think about what they're looking at.”
In another Vietnam-era scene called “Seven-Six-Two,” two Marines in the bush are manning an M-60 machine gun.
“The title is derived from the caliber of the ammo used, 762 millimeter,” Saenz said.
Saenz calls his style illusionism art.
“It makes the viewer re-examine the scene from different angles to fully absorb it,” he said. “It's one way of getting people to think about what others are sacrificing and putting themselves in the situation.”
The scenes come from war photos Saenz collected from magazines and newspapers. He transferred the images into positive and negative images on the canvas. Some have the feeling of silhouettes; others look like etchings. All are done in black on an orange-red background.
“Some people see the background as a sunset, but it has a fiery, eerie combat feel,” Saenz said. “It's supposed to stir emotions.”
Saenz had not touched a paint brush for 18 years but was urged to take it up again by Gilbert “Gib” Bolton, a retired Marine he had served with several times.
“I've been after him for years to paint and exhibit,” Bolton said.
Bolton, an Oceanside resident, was the subject of a 1985 painting by Saenz titled “Hill 25.” It was one of four paintings he did for fellow Marines.
Saenz's painting depicts Bolton's actions in Vietnam for which Bolton received the Silver Star medal with combat “V” for valor. Bolton had called in artillery fire onto his own position to save the lives of men in his platoon.
Bolton said he sees Saenz's exhibit as an example of Marine brotherhood.
The gallery where his works are on display is owned and managed by Marines. The U.S. flag hangs on the wall above the front door, and Marine memorabilia are all around.
“You can't help walking in here and getting excited,” Bolton said.
Linda McIntosh: (760) 752-6756; linda.mcintosh@tlnews.net
Ellie