Photo by Vojtech Bruzek on Unsplash

Art has always had the power to express and heal. For those of us who have served, the canvas becomes more than just a medium – it becomes a place to process, reflect, and sometimes, even challenge the world around us. Throughout history, veteran artists have used oil paint to capture their experiences, transforming this medium in ways that go beyond mere representation. Their works have shaped how we understand both the human condition and the profound impact of war – and left legacies that continue to inspire.

Winslow Homer: The Civil War veteran who painted America’s soul

As a young man, Homer worked as an illustrator, documenting scenes from the Civil War. His experiences as a war correspondent led him to create iconic works that reflect the resilience of soldiers and the broader American spirit. After the war, he turned to oil painting to depict scenes of post-war life. The Veteran in a New Field, for example, portrays a soldier returning to work in a field, symbolizing the difficult but necessary transition from the chaos of war to the quiet of recovery. Homer’s brushwork and use of light in his oil paintings reflected not just the land but also the soul of a country rebuilding itself after great loss.

Otto Dix: From soldier to social critic

Otto Dix was a World War I veteran who couldn’t escape the horrors of what he had witnessed on the battlefield. When Dix picked up his brushes, he didn’t shy away from painting the truth. His oil paintings often depicted the brutal realities of war, focusing on the trauma and devastation faced by soldiers returning home. One of his most poignant pieces, The Match Seller, shows a disabled veteran ignored by passersby – a comment on how society often overlooks the cost of war. Dix’s work didn’t just portray it; it criticized how war left behind not only physical scars but emotional and social ones as well.

Mary Riter Hamilton: Battlefield artist who captured war’s aftermath

Mary Riter Hamilton’s paintings are often considered among the most intimate and emotional depictions of post-war trauma. After serving in World War I, Hamilton spent years painting on the battlefields of Europe. Using oil paint, she captured the devastation left behind – not just the wreckage of war, but the haunting emptiness felt by those who survived it. In works like The Sadness of the Somme, Hamilton captured the disillusionment and sorrow of a world forever changed. Her oil paintings told the stories of veterans who, like her, had to reckon with the past to find a way forward.

Her ability to bring raw emotion to life through oil paint has made her one of the most poignant voices among veteran artists.

Jesse Treviño: Vietnam veteran who found healing through art

A Vietnam War veteran, Jesse Treviño used his artwork as a form of therapy to process his trauma. His mural Mi Vida, which adorns a public space in San Antonio, is a vibrant exploration of Mexican-American culture and identity, but it also carries the weight of his personal experiences. In his paintings, Treviño conveys a sense of catharsis that many veterans can relate to – the need to express what words often cannot.

Contemporary Voices: Veteran artists today

Today, many veteran artists continue to redefine oil painting, bringing their unique experiences to the canvas. The Veteran Art Institute, for example, has become a powerful platform to showcase their artistic expressions. Since its launch in 2023, the online gallery has featured over 2,200 pieces from more than 150 veteran artists, demonstrating the diverse ways in which art can be used to explore personal, cultural, and social themes, gifting the world a new way to understand the complexities of war and recovery.