BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Ask any deployed airmen about a famous artist and they may mention Vincent van Gogh or even Pablo Picasso. Although this may be true, the Air Force has many artists through a program of their own, which many don’t know about.
The Air Force Art Program started in 1950. Its mission was to capture the story of the Air Force through the universal language of art.
These paintings and drawings are created by American artists like Michael Kane, founder of Custom Interior Murals based in Denver. He was introduced to the program back in 1997.
”I started out in the Society of Illustrators as an independent artist,” said Kane. “My first painting was for the 50th anniversary calendar for the Air Force association, they donated my paintings and that’s how I got into the program.”
Kane’s first trip overseas was to Osan, Korea, back in 1999, since then his love for the Air Force and his determination to tell the Air Force story through art has grown.
“Instead of having a snapshot to build a picture, I take numerous pictures to build a painting that will showcase the total range of what these airmen do every day,” he added.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Jonathan Ward, an air medical evacuation technician with the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, who recently flew on a mission with Kane, likes the idea of having artists there to capture the essence of a mission.
“It feels great to know that what we are doing gets out to the public. Not a lot of people get a chance to go on missions with us,” said Ward, a native of Greenville, S.C. “I’m looking forward to seeing how [Kane] draws us.”
Kane’s drawing motivates airmen of all ranks.
“It’s an honor that the AFAP has taken this opportunity to come on our mission and capture an artistic impression of what I do,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Timothy Talbert, a native of Richmond, Va., and a flight nurse with the 455th EAEF. “Sometimes, just telling someone about what I do on a daily basis is not enough so having the moment captured in art goes a long way.”
Kane knows that his paintings give the American people a chance to see what goes on during deployments.
“Once I return home after a trip like this and see how the everyday lifestyles of civilian people are conducted, I think to myself that we really don’t have a clue of what goes on over there,” said Kane.
Kane never served in the Air Force, which he says he regrets, but being able to draw and paint what the airmen do daily makes him feel as if he is part of the team. “I always say the Air Force is my team. It’s a special honor to see what the military does in person,” said Kane. “To be able to give something back to my team is the most important thing to show my appreciation.”