Larry A. Smail's Blog

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The painting (colors are not true)

       The challenge of painting a Civil War battle scene has been completed. (I have mentioned the progress with a few past blogs.) The scene depicts the Wheatfield, an actual Gettysburg battle that occurred on July 2, 1863. This event was a very bloody battle with many casualities.The union forces were caught between a three-way confederate shooting area and in an open wheat field. My official title for the painting is:

THE WHEATFIELD-WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH (GETTYSBURG, JULY 2,1863).

The painting came about through a friend, Robert “Slim” Bowser. Slim is a Civil War historian representing the 62nd, Company D, Pennsylvania Volunteers of the John T. Crawford Camp#43. This was an actual camp for training soldiers for this war located in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

Slim’s interest in the Civil war was thrusted upon him as he learned of an ancestor (Sgt. Daniel Swigart) who fought with this 62nd regiment and at the depicted battle.  This distant relative is buried at the Pine Creek Baptist Cemetary in Armstrong County. He became a Baptist minister after the war. He is in the painting holding a Bible. A further quest for knowledge happened and an interest in the Civil War erupted from this quest.

Our initial discussions helped spur my interest also. The challenge would include a trip to the actual site; borrowed books and a DVD along with questions and hours of research. My biggest concern was in my ability to capture this battle and produce a good, informative painting. You will need to make that determination.

The painting for me began with some very rough and childlike sketches (scribbles to many)to capture various potential compositions.  As these ideas evolved a painting size of 40″x 24″ seemed to work best for me. The battle story could have been told much better with a larger size, but I have drawing table limitations.

Those early, initial sketches were redrawn  in the rough on the paper sized to the 40″x24″. I believe I did, at least 5 papers of this size each time refining the art in detail and adjusting positions of the soldiers. (There are over 100 soldiers within this painting.) 

With a prepared and gessoed masonite panel I roughly sketched in the hills and transferred the soldiers. The painting began with the “slapping” on the paint colors to just get the feel of the art. Then the process of adding layers and accurate colors began.

I had to constantly use my brain (haha) to try to envision what the scene may have looked like at that particular time and day of July 2nd, 1863. I had documentation of the day being hot and humid. This part of the battle occurred after 6:00 P.M. We know from reports that the smoke-filled sky created an eerie red as the sun lowered against the western skyline. We know light winds, later in the evening, gently removed smoke around and away allowing for the moon to be viewed that night.

I know, at times, the distant ridge (Emmitsburg Road) and the wooded area of the painting (Stony Hill) would have been completely obscured with smoke. I used artistic license to allow these sites to be viewed.

I realized at the end of June that the painting  could possibly be completed on the actual day of July 2, 2011… and it was! I didn’t plan the completion that way, but it just happened to work out that way! This fact was quite a coincidence and somewhat humbling

We are discussing options, at this time, as to what will be done with the art. We may do limited edition prints and tee-shirts. Time will tell.

The soldiers painting in the art represent the 62nd (Company D) Pennsylvania Volunteers many of which enlisted from Armstrong County,Pennsylvania. Slim found out one of my ancestors, Simon Blystone (See May 29th blog for more on Simon Blystone) fought at the intersections of the  Emmitsburg Road and the Wheatfield (Millerstown) Road . That site would be behind the wooded hill depicted in the painting.

The first showing of the painting will be at the Kittanning, Fort Armstrong Folk Festival on August 4  to August 7. The art will be with the Civil War group representing the John T. Crawford Camp#43. Of course, this will be weather pending and only at various times when manpower permits.

(A more professional photo of the painting will be listed in the future.)

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Flag detail-Emmitsburg Road in distance

    The painting of the “Wheatfield” Civil War art is still far from completion. However, I have had some questions as to the progress at times. I took a few photos of just to give the reader an idea as to what has been accomplished thus far. This important  battle was fought at Gettysburg in 1863 during the difficult times of the Civil War. Many of the soldiers came from the Armstrong County, Pennsylvania area where I live.

Although, detail is beginning to take shape, many hours will be needed to complete to my satisfaction.  Much of the detail  will be in the form of insignia; details on hats and uniforms. the research has taken about as much time as the painting. I am learning much through books loaned to me from my friend, Bob “Slim” Bowser. Slim is a Civil War historian.

More work needed

   The photos included here were taken in natural light with a hand-held camera. Please, be advised the quality is not the best. I took the photos as a progress detail only.

I am hoping the painting to be 100% completed sometime this summer and, probably will be. However, there is a gobbler season between now and then..plus some other art I wish to work on… plus the music..and the …………………………

Lt. J. Truitt

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Section of the Wheatfield

  On October 11, 2010, my friend Bob (Slim) Bowser and I visited Gettysburg. The primary reason for the visit was to view, study and photograph the area of the battlefield known as the “Wheatfield” or the “Whirlpool of Death”.  This battle was on July 2, 1863.

From the photo, the area with goldenrods and high grasses was, at that time, actually a wheat field. The tree vegetation area had been  timbered   This site would have been young trees left over from lumbering in the past. The fence was there during the battle. The distant ridge had Confederate artillery.     

Actual stone fence.

Monument to those of the 62nd.

   The site is currently being organized within my feeble brain waves for a painting featuring the site and the battle. Looking at photos do not make it as an artist attempting to paint such a scene. Firsthand viewing is a must, in order, to capture the magnitude of the area in paints.

After sketching and discussion, we have decided on a preliminary concept as to what will be painted.  The view will be from the edge of a wood lot from behind a stone fence looking straight into the Union forces. The timing of the painting is to be at the time when it is realized that Confederate firing is coming , not only from the wood lot of the viewer, but from behind the force. The wood lot behind the Union troops is known as Stony Hill.    

The Union force in this painting is directly involved with history from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. They were the Company D of the 62nd volunteers. They we mustered into service from Armstrong; Clarion; Allegheny and Blair Counties.

Grandpappy Slim

   The horror of war can be read below. The total of the 62nd was 1600 men with 744  casualties.

Died in action: 164……wounded in action:  503 .. died from disease: 77.

   The mini-painting depicted here is of a union soldier firing. (The photo was taken with natural light and the colors are not true.) The actual painting to be completed is a challenge for me. Much time is going to be utilized to plans; sketching to finalize then positioning of the soldiers. More time is going to be used in painting. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!

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