Photo By Monica Guthrie | A 20-foot sign marks the entry way to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Brigade's tactical...... read more read more
Pfc. Monica K. Smith
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – In a country where the primary color is sand, a bright hue is easily detected. Sgt. Daniel Graves, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, has made a name within his battalion as the man to go to for color.
Graves designs and paints t-shirts, door signs, battalion signs and can even claim 2-3rd Avn. Regt. Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Dunnigan's flight helmet as his handiwork.
"I've been painting as long as I can remember," said Graves, from Waynesville, Mo. "I started when I was 8-years-old or so. I picked it up from my mother."
Working mostly from his computer, Graves uses Adobe Creative Suite and a Wacom computer drawing tablet to create new images.
"I do it the same way you would do any sketch or photo, I just do it on computer; it makes it faster and easier," Graves said. "It's a relaxing thing to do to pass time. It makes me feel proud, knowing that I left my mark."
Graves' most prominent mark has been the 2-3rd Avn. Regt. sign which stands in the regiment's headquarters area. The five-piece sign stands 20-feet tall and took three weeks for Graves to complete.
"The hardest part is the lack of proper materials," Graves said. "With the sign, the wood grain was really poor so I kept throwing paint on it to smooth it out. It took me approximately three weeks to finish because of I didn't have the right colors. I would mix paint, color, and let it dry before I do the rest. I had to be patient and take my time."
Company B, 2-3rd Avn. Regt., 1st Sgt. Freedie Holmes said he enjoys seeing the work Graves creates displayed throughout the brigade and believes it promotes unity among Soldiers.
"It cheers me up and I guess it promotes an esprit de corps when you see things he's made for the unit," Homes said. "It brings pride in the unit and I feel Soldiers feel the same way."
Dunnigan said Graves' work helps brighten up an occasionally gloomy environment.
"It rains here and sometimes it gets gloomy," Dunnigan said. "Even on a day without sunshine, his work adds light."
The tactical operations center sign was painted solely by Graves who says he doesn't mind. He prefers working alone but takes pride in knowing his work is appreciated by others.
"You never want to miss an opportunity to improve yourself and the morale of others," said Graves.
| Date Taken: | 01.22.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2008 12:31 |
| Story ID: | 15675 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 304 |
| Downloads: | 275 |
This work, Bringing color to the bland, by Monica Guthrie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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