November 11: Remembrance Day, Poppy Day, Armistice Day , Veterans Day

November 11 is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to remember the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in war, specifically since the First World War.

The image below was painted nine years ago in response to the coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001.

I, like most, was numb with shock and grief—the magnitude was horrific and unbearable. I remember being out for a walk and compelled to return to the studio. I had an already - prepared 4 x 5ft canvas for a night painting and it was primed with dark oil over reflective marble dust and mica. I lifted the large canvas onto my easel and recall dipping a large brush into red molten wax (encaustic). I know this sounds macabre but in making the mark of the cross, the warm wax flowed like blood. The process was like lucid dreaming.  Afterwords  I could see it was all about the blood shed and souls lost in the crossfire of religion's dichotomy.

Lest We forget

oil/encaustic on canvas

4ftx5ft

  2001

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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