Laguna College of Art + Design

Jonathon Shay, in Achilles in Vietnam, wrote that he is “deeply opposed to

war, but just as deeply respectful of the soldier” (Shay1994, 206). This sentiment

reflects my exact feelings and motivations for the seven paintings in my thesis

show. My work addresses the internal conflicts that manifest in people and cultures

during times of war. Through the anecdotal narratives I have created in my

paintings, I am trying to illuminate the humanity that is lost or suspended in combat.

I hope my art will help combat veterans forgive themselves and ease the constant

regret many feel for what they were forced to do on the battlefield. Also, I want to

share with the general public the knowledge I have gained while teaching art to an

unconventional group of people. Art itself is the common denominator and the

catalyst for understanding the unknown or unfamiliar.