SoldierPortraits.org: Creating Treasures for the Families of Fallen Soldiers

SoldierPortraits.org is a group of artists who provide families of deceased soldiers with art portraits. This is not a political group. Instead, the members focus on giving back to our soldiers and their families. SoldierPortraits.org is the brainchild of pencil portrait artist Darla Dixon who creates breathtakingly lifelike portraits from photographs. I had the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Dixon about Soldierportraits.org. Here is our discussion:

Q: What made you decide to start this project?

A: "I was looking at artist's websites on the Internet when I saw an artist who was doing free portraits of fallen heroes. The artist was Michael Reagan, (a well-known artist and Vietnam Veteran who retired to create portraits of deceased soldiers) and it inspired me to do the same. I started offering the fallen heroes portraits on my website, and then someone found the offer and posted it on an online forum. From there, someone else picked up on it and posted it to another forum.

Within a week, I found that the offer had been shared on at least six busy online sites! I realized that I would not be able to keep up with the requests unless I got some help.

I wondered if other artists would be interested. I asked a few and word spread. I created a Yahoo Group so we could all communicate and have online 'meetings'."

Q: How many Artists are involved with the Soldier Portraits project?

A: There are currently 15 artists involved.

Q: What are the artist's different styles?

A: The artists in our group come from all levels of skills and a variety of styles and mediums. We have artists who work in pencil, pastel, airbrush, sculpture, computer digital, watercolor, and colored pencil.

What I think is nice about our group - the grieving families are able to choose which artist they would like to do the portrait for them. Once they have selected an artist, they email me with their choice and I get them connected with the artist and confirm that the artist will be able to schedule the project. Some of the artists are working on portraits of soldiers only from their home states right now.

Q: Are you looking for more artists to contribute?

A: We are always open to more artists joining us, but we are also open to non-artists helping us spread the word or volunteering in whatever way they can. I have a Soldier Portraits "Street Team" group for people who want to help us in other ways. Some of our artists are also feeling some financial strain of paying for the shipping, so we are also grateful for financial donations to go toward supplies, printing, and shipping.

Q:What do you most want to accomplish with the project.

A: I think that what a lot of us feel is that we want to do something to support our military men and women, and we either do not know how to go about it, we feel helpless or even guilty that we have not contributed.

Many artists communicate or find a release for their emotions in their art. Our group gives them the opportunity to give service to a grieving family. One of our artists, after doing her first Soldier Portrait commission, emailed me to thank me for starting the group, and that it was very meaningful to her to do this. I think it is a more emotional experience than artists expect.

I have had portrait requests come in with the photo attached and the story of the soldier who died and cried when I realized that the soldier was young enough to be my own son. I realize that my grief is only a sliver of what his family feels, but I am glad that we have something to give them. These portraits are a token of our gratitude to families who have sacrificed so much.

Q: What is the waiting time for a completed portrait?

A: Waiting times depend on the work schedule of the artist the family selects, and the type of art (medium) used by the artist the family selects. In most cases, we have had the good fortune to get artwork done within a few weeks.

A member of the immediate family can make portrait requests. To order a portrait or to get involved as an artist or part of the 'Street Team', go to http://SoldierPortraits.org or contact Darla Dixon at 770-736-1584