Artist: Bernie Rosage Jr.
Title: “A Tribute to Gold Star Moms”
Medium: Oil
Dimensions: 10×8
Support: Linen
“A Tribute to Gold Star Moms”
For me, as an artist, painting is a struggle. Struggle in the sense that I force myself to adhere to an almost daily routine of painting. Too many times life gets in the way and painting has to take a back seat… but sometimes life gets in the way and inspiration comes. When this happens it’s as if the painting takes on a life of its own. It’s as if divine intervention takes over… this painting has such a story.
“A Tribute to Gold Star Moms” by Bernie Rosage Jr.
En Plein Aire, April 2008.
The painting started from a typical monthly “Paint Out” with a group of plein air artists that gather once a month to paint scenes form our county. We call ourselves OOPS… Onslow Outdoor Painters Society. We live in a military conscious area… home of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base. Our April “Paint Out” was at the Beirut Memorial… a beautiful and significant spot.
The OOPS artists were scattered throughout the site painting from various vantage points… I opted for a close up of the statue’s boots. Since I was positioned at the focal point of the memorial I had the opportunity to meet many nice people. Two of those people opened my eyes and broke my heart.
Let me explain…
Two ladies approached me, commented on my painting and one asked for a business card… as we talked she told me… “my son is buried over there”… motioning to the Veterans Cemetery adjacent to the memorial. I was taken back… she was my age and her son was close in age to my three oldest children. I’m used to burials of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans over there… older veterans who lived full lives… not someone my children’s age. She (wish I could remember her name) mentioned her son was killed in 2004 and that her friend’s son was killed less than a year ago. My eyes were opened to how real this war is and my heart ached for these two ladies.
I noticed one lady wearing a “Gold Star” necklace knowing well what it represented since my wife’s grandmother was a Gold Star mom… losing her oldest son in Korea in 1950. When I got home… I added the necklace to my painting as a tribute to these two anonymous ladies, their impact on me, and Gold Star moms everywhere. I have four children of my own… my mind can’t even imagine what Gold Star moms and families go through… please accept my humble tribute to you.
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Roger Cummiskey on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 4:06 pm
Nice one.
Tammy on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 4:08 pm
It is a beautiful piece of work and a real nice tribute. It is a tribute to all our poor men and women who have lost their lives. God Bless You for thinking of them!
Angie on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 4:22 pm
I’m humbled by your tribute and touched by the awesome quality of your painting. Thank you for your story. Wow!
Ingrid on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 4:46 pm
Hi Bernie,
I could not agree more with you that “life gets in the way and sometimes painting has to take a back seat”! We do what we can do. Your painting is VERY EMOTIONAL and I really like the fact that you focused on the boots with the addition of the “Gold Star” necklace. The emotion you felt has come through in this painting. You have connected with the viewers! BRAVO!
There are just a few comments that I would like to make that would give MORE IMPORTANCE to the boot and necklace in the foreground.
When I squint down at your painting, the highlights on both boots are equal in intensity. I am sure that this is what you saw when you were looking at the sculpture. By using GRADATION, and KEEPING these highlights, sharp edges, darker values, and attention to details in the boot shape, necklace, and shadow area in the foreground, and then gradually diminishing the above mentioned items in the rear boot shape…..diminishing the highlights, softening and losing some of the edges, lightening the values, and blurring some of the details in the rear boot and shadow, more interest will be created in your painting and more focus will be on the front boot and leg. Also, by lightening the value and softening the edges, a bit, in the leg portion near the top of the painting, more emphasis will be placed on the boot and necklace and not at the top of the painting.
This is just my opinion looking at your painting with “FRESH EYES”. You have painted a very emotional subject matter and have connected with the viewers. GREAT JOB! Thank you for sharing with all of us and KEEP PAINTING anytime you can GRAB a moment!
Ingrid
bren on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 5:13 pm
Very nice….
Valerie Sasaki on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 5:55 pm
Your painting and your story have left me speechless. Beautiful!
James on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 6:32 pm
When I first saw that your painting was en plein aire, and then I looked at your work I was confused. I expected a landscape, cityscape, or some such thing. After reading your story I was impressed that you took another view of the world around you and focused in on the feet of the soldier. Well done sir! I am the father of three sons, my heart ached reading about the “Gold Star Moms”.
Pat on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 6:41 pm
Very nice painting. Your story made me cry. Glad you shared it with the world. Keep on painting what’s in your heart.
yvonne george on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:20 pm
Bernie,
Your painting and your honest emotions brought tears to my eyes.
As a parent, I can appreciate the thoughts…and fears that you could have been in their shoes instead of painting the boots.
It’s too bad they didn’t stay around to see the finished painting . They would have been touched too.
Continued good work.
Bernie Rosage Jr. on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:34 pm
I am humbled by your kind words and glad this painting and story struck a heart string with each of you too. Thanks for the critique Ingrid.
Bernie
Jayne Cummins on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:43 pm
What can I say after reading your comments about the painting. A lovely tribute. The painting tells it all.
Jayne
Ingrid on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:47 pm
Hi Bernie,
You are more than welcome! I only hope that I can help in some small way! Just remember that this is only MY OPINION! You are, after all, the artist, and can design and create your painting any way you like!
HAPPY PAINTING!!!!!
Ingrid
Lynn Marlowe on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 9:14 pm
I agree with everyone that the picture is great. I think that adding the necklace definitely puts emotion in. Your story is helpful but the tad of color and the star and if anyone else knew what it meant or wanted to know gives is mystery in the military.
Marie on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 1:52 am
Your work speaks from the heart. GOD bless all of our Gold Star Moms and their children who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Dorothy on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 4:11 am
i am speachless keep painting what is in your heart.
Gill on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 1:49 pm
BEAUTIFUL!!! The paining is fantastic…so simple yet so meaningful. It is wonderful to know that there is such meaningful inspiration behind your work. I am sure that the Gold Star families would be touched. Art is an amazing thing and if we can bring true meaning into the work then what a privilege it is to paint!
John on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 3:49 pm
Very Kool.
Soroya on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 5:38 pm
Dear Bernie,
Thank you so much for sharing this particular painting. I am not a “Gold Star Mom” as I was seriously blessed to have my “Marine” son return form Iraq twice unscathed. So this painting really touched my heart I loved the focus on the folds in the pant legs and the color of the medal.
I am so touched as it has called me to remember the divine hedge of protection that God had around my son while he was in that place of immense danger. It also made my heart go out to the many who lost their beloved ones to the horrors of war.
Bernie Rosage Jr. on Wed, 24th Sep 2008 1:45 am
Another sincere thak you to everyone for taking the time to look at my work and comment. I realize how limited time we all have and I am encouraged by your taking the time, your observations, and your kind words.
Bernie
Amanda on Fri, 26th Sep 2008 8:05 am
I really like to hear how paintings evolve. An emotional subject which you`ve captured so well. Not only does the gold star make a statement but also the boots. Where have they walked, what have they seen, would we want to know……………………..thought provoking!!
Well done!!