Photo By Cpl. Dusty B Kilcrease | U.S. FIFTH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – Cpl. Angle Roman, a food service specialist...... read more read more
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ARABIAN GULF – Inspiration can affect people in many ways and some well-known examples of what comes from inspiration are George Lucas with the “Star Wars” franchise and Leonardo Da Vinci with his art and inventions. From their inspiration, both were able to produce magnificent creations that influenced many generations after.
Inspiration does not just afflict the well-known; it can also rise within everyday people, and such is the case with Cpl. Brandon Hernandez, a food service specialist with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and an artist.
Hernandez was first inspired while in high school. He started small, creating space backgrounds and galaxies, and gradually branched into drawing cartoons, realistic skulls, and exploring other styles as he progressed.
Slowly Hernandez advanced from doodling stars and galaxies to acrylic and oil paint dedicating his time to internet research to learn new skills. Eventually he began creating t-shirt designs with a friend.
“Knowing someone was out there wearing my art is a good feeling,” said Hernandez. “The feeling of pride inspired me to do more.”
As time went on Hernandez began to focus on his tattoo artist’s work, and seeing his own tattoo develop as he worked. He began to feel inspired by the artist’s focus while permanently marking a person’s skin, and this artist influenced how Hernandez responded to high stress situations, which changed the way he created art and therefore changing his style.
The way an artist lives his life can influence art drastically. Using Van Gough as an example, his environment was macabre, and you could see it in his painting. But he was still able to find the beauty in it, such as “Starry Night.”
Shortly after his first tattoo, Hernandez reported to recruit training in 2013 and knew he was about to have to respond to extremely high-stress situations.
“I wanted to be a Marine since my junior year of high school,” said Hernandez. “I also wanted to take advantage of the educational benefits offered.”
Currently, Hernandez is attached to the 15th MEU embarked with the America Amphibious Ready Group. The 15th MEU is supporting multiple missions across the 5th Fleet area of responsibility and serving as a crisis response force. For Hernandez, his role is to prepare multiple meals for thousands of Marines and Sailors every day, and it wouldn’t seem there was much room or time for inspiration or creating masterpieces.
However, Hernandez made time, and used his art as an outlet against the daily stressors and rigors of a deployment. He was really able to exercise his own style when approached by his fellow cooks with the 15th MEU. They wanted him to create shirts for them since they didn’t have any of their own. So he reached back to the experience he gained from creating t-shirts before the Marine Corps. Together he and his fellow cooks developed a concept, and he was able to create something his fellow Marines could be proud of, which also built camaraderie and a sense of identity among the team. He’s also creating a patch for their current deployment.
“I love this shirt,” said Cpl. Angle Roman, food service specialist with the 15th MEU. “I also enjoy the being able to support one of my fellow Marines achieve their dreams.”
Hernandez took the inspiration from moments in his life and turned them into a desire to create art for the enjoyment of others. He said if there was one thing others could take from his art it would be inspiration for their own, whatever it may be.
“The art – whether it is music, video production, painting … anything can be considered art,” he said. “I just want people to be able to express themselves in whichever way they artistically feel the need to do.”
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2017 07:50 |
| Story ID: | 257613 |
| Location: | ARABIAN SEA |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Drawing outside the Lines, by Cpl Dusty B Kilcrease, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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