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You are here: Home / Art Competition Archive / A Soldier Goes to Art School
A Soldier Goes to Art School

June 6, 2023 Leave a Comment

A Soldier Goes to Art School

Please vote for me by sharing this page:

Artwork by Jacqueline Raatz

It once happened that I spent twenty years in the American army as a part-time reservist,
often carrying a sketchbook in my rucksack along with my issued gear, to be yanked out at a lull
in activity. I scribbled images of Humvees, weary soldiers, dusty mountains— even the
occasional comic strip for entertainment’s sake. During a deployment to Washington, D.C., I
would spend hours marveling at the Neoclassical architecture at the National Mall, as well as the
National Gallery’s incredible collection of 18 th century French art.

Soldier Goes to Art School

Upon returning home, I enrolled in a university BFA program, where I learned some of
the basics of oil painting and graduated in May of 2023. I recently moved from the Upper
Midwest to Northern Japan, where I have access to interesting landscapes and a novel arts scene.
Now I am about to begin painting again in my new little home studio, wishing for a little
guidance from an accomplished teacher. I believe the Old Masters Academy Course will help me
go from just “skilled” to “master” in time. In particular, I would like to increase my color-mixing
knowledge, make great sanguine/chalk drawings, and to better understand the old painting
technique of “glazing.” I was pleased to see that the Old Masters Academy offers training in
these valuable skills with their Academy Course— they are beautiful traditions!

As an artist, I am interested in painting the people and places I see with the same kind of
joyous refinement seen in the French Academy. Having traded my army uniform for an artist’s
apron, I look to the subjects of 18th century French painters for camaraderie: from Watteau’s
reposing soldiers, to Fragonard’s costumed portraits and Chardin’s heavily-textured objects, to
Boucher’s lavish, pink-fleshed figures, the things I make are— hopefully— an affirmation of
their efforts.

I would be grateful to have the votes to win the Old Masters Academy Art Competition,
as it would give me great confidence to keep working towards such a lofty goal. Thank you for
your consideration.

I want to win this Competition and I need your help!

Please vote for me by sharing this page:

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