Memorial Day

Last year on Memorial Day I went with my wife Lori to visit the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in South St. Louis, where 182,000 American soldiers have been buried since the Civil War. I made a variety of drawings, few of which turned out, but the day served as a worthwhile scouting session. Some day I'll go back with a camera and a sketchbook, and something more significant will come of it.

A funny thing: in almost all cases, I make useful things on the second or third trip to a given location, and very rarely the first. Fact is, my experience of the place is more important than what it looks like, even though the latter matters plenty.

The drawing at the top of this post was made as folding chairs and the full complement of state flags were being taken down, after the ceremony.

More soon.