![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/6860c315341583.5628fc2ca3acb.png)
The inked outline of the piece, ~5 hrs
![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/f8be0315341583.5628fd0f23687.png)
About 20 hours in as of this point, and beginning to layer the face. It's always fun watching the parts of the picture emerge from the whiteness!
![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/75cb4b15341583.5628fd0f4b470.jpg)
Unfortunately this is when I started photographing the piece again, about 80 hours into the piece now. As you can see, quite a bit has developed since the last image, and the helmet is starting to take shape!
![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/a232c715341583.5628fc2c18189.jpg)
With the right side all painted in, and all the values built, decide to throw down the background. It's a hybrid mixture, consisting of 40% gouache, the rest watercolor. The semi opaqu of the background really brings the translucncy of the watercolor to life! About 120 hours into the piece now.
![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/ba73a015341583.5628fc2cc7790.jpg)
The piece here is done, some 150 hours later! Lots of time and effort went into making the piece, but the response from Vets / those who suffer from PTSD made it worth the while!
"(De)Facing PTSD" / watercolor / 16''x20'' / ~150 hours
![watercolor Military PTSD PTSD Awareness army iraq war Afghanistan War troops Support Our Troops](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/2b67d515341583.5628fac847f17.png)
Detail of the piece, showing off the name tag. The soldier's name is 'Ayudar' meaning 'to help' in spanish. PTSD is seen as a weakness in the military, and asking for help is like speaking a foreign language. I painted this piece to give troops who suffer something to connect to, and hopefully help them and their struggles. A war in a foreign country is rough, but a war inside your own head is hell.