What's Really Behind Independence Day (?)

Politics aside, there's something out there besides hot dogs and fireworks.
I recently had the unique opportunity of being imbedded in live-fire training exercises in a collaborative project generated by the Society of Illustrators and The US Air Force. These young, admirable men let me into their world.
With only 28 days of training behind them, they get deported.
It was an exhilarating, yet sobering experience. Here are a few sketches from my trip.

Winners and Losers

It's not only about the horses.
The characters themselves run from
the ridiculous to the sublime.

Big Brown was a big bummer

Big buildup but no cigar, as they say.
Still the day was filled with friends and frolic, drawing and drink.
More to come on the masses of characters and unknowing models...

Worth The Price of Admission

Tonight my neighbors called and told me that they had an extra hottest ticket in town-the movie of the weekend.
You know which one I mean- girls, fashion, shoes and sex.
Never a fan of the show, I was still intrigued.
Off I went to the theater, armed with my sketchbook.
They got stuck in traffic- we missed the show- well, maybe not.
Waiting outside was a treat all its own.