Damage Control: Always Vigilant!

A US Navy ship is a highly-developed, powerful, fast and seaworthy thing. It is truly an engineering and craftsmanship wonder.

It is a giant conglomeration of parts-- thousands of tons of steel, miles of electric wires, fuel and water pipes, ventilation & heating & cooling ducts, and so on. Fill it up with people and countless other things-- many of which are flammable or can sink! There are so many things that can threaten the safety of the crew and the seaworthiness of the vessel.

Damage Control is critical to the survival of the ship, in war or in peacetime.
While on board the Harry S. Truman in September 2015, I got to witness a common but very important training event, conducted by the crew-- a GQ (General Quarters) Drill.

"General Quarters" is regularly sounded to keep the crew sharp, and on their toes, ready for any contingency. Every crewman has a duty station when this happens, and they all rush to their battle stations, put on their gear, and do drills. It's a very interesting thing to watch, and it makes you admire the efficiency and teamwork the Navy engages in with every sailor and section on board a naval vessel.

 Getting geared up fast for fire control...

"Fire Drill in Aft D.C." 2015, oil on canvas, 20" x 24" 

Here are some of the Fire Control related sketches I did while visiting the destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64):

 

 

General Quarters-- Checking the Roster

The Muster Sheet is about as old a tradition as the Navy itself.  Accountability and readiness are key in maintaining a fighting ship's effectiveness, and the ships of the US Navy are no exception.

When I was visiting the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) back in September 2015, I got to see several General Quarters drills, and saw each section handle accountability during the drill.

Here, I've depicted two female sailors in charge of a group, checking the roster to make sure all are accounted for.

This is a small oil on canvas, where I used a toned ground and tried to maintain a deftness to the paint application, to keep the sketchy quality to the piece while also rendering realistically.

Evening Colors!

While still in port, I also got to witness another wonderful military and US Navy tradition: Evening Colors-- the ceremony every day wherein the flag, or National Ensign, is lowered at sunset, while the tune, "Retreat" is played in the background.
I got a video of the sailors lowering the colors on the 13th of September, the last day we were to be in port. I hope to use it as reference for a painting or some sort of color sketch.
Here is the video:

Anchors Aweigh!

Welcome, Art and Navy History lovers out there, to this, my Navy Art blog. On this blog I'll be featuring my Navy art and Navy Art-related things, with an occasional Naval History-related posts.

For the last two years, I've been a Navy Artist, working for the Naval History and Heritage Command.

It's an interesting job, needless to say. As an artist for the Navy, I get to travel around all over the world, see interesting things, meet interesting people, and draw them. Then, I get to bring all the sketches and photos I take on my Navy Art trips home to the studio and realize them in larger-format media:  paintings, drawings, etc..

Here are a few images I've done over the course of the last two years:

From my trip to the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor in October 2014:

"Rosie the Sailor" rolls up her sleeves, preparing to go to work aboard USS Constitution during the ship's turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor, Oct 17, 2014.

"Heave, Ho!" Sailors on Constitution help pull the lines which moor USS Constitution so the ship can get underway on her turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor, Oct 17, 2014.

 

A Sailor in period Navy uniform ("1813s") works a line during the turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor.



A Constitution sailor cleans the salute cannon while returning from its cruise in Boston Harbor, Oct. 17, 2014.

Civilian crewmembers move the salute cannon on USS Constitution after returning to dock Oct 17, 2014.

Here are some sketches and paintings from my second trip, out to the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and escort ships USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)  and USS Anzio (CG-68):

 

Captain Ryan Scholl in his chair on the Bridge of the USS Harry S. Truman.

Captain Stefen Walch in his chair on the bridge of USS Gonzalez (DDG-66).

Inside the Central Control Room on USS Gonzalez (DDG-66).

 Meeting of section heads in aviation on board USS Harry S. Truman.

Working the Bow-mounted Sonar aboard USS Gonzalez (DDG-66). 

 ABHC Reggie Barnes in Flight Deck Control verifying the numbers for the upcoming flight cycle on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

 HM2 Christina Davis working on a patient in Harry S. Truman's Dental department.

 AC2 Stephen Brynes in Approach Control on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

Truman Air Ops.

 

In Fire Suits during a GQ (General Quarters) Drill on USS Harry S. Truman.

 Fire Drill in Aft DC (Damage Control).

"The Thinker" (a.k.a. "Are We THERE yet?!" or, "Join the NAVY, they said; See the WORLD, they said...")