Crying Soldier

I painted this piece in response to the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the futility of war in general.

War can’t exist without soldiers to carry out commands. And every soldier has a beating heart - capable of love, compassion and a desire for peace.

The kind of soldier I wanted to paint is an emotional being. There are so many that are terrified, remorseful, conflicted, misled, inexperienced, reluctant.

Above all, this soldier is grieving the needless destruction, violence, and loss of innocent life that war inevitably causes.