Celebrating veterans of all eras, Chicago veteran artist paints portraits of local vets; their faces have a story to tell. "Hometown Vets" is a series of portraits painted by Don Ryan honoring local veterans from World War II to the present. From a VA hospital location to a war museum, they sit patiently while Don paints their images on canvas.

My name is Donald Ryan, a re-emerging artist, veteran and Legion member of Post 556 in the Chicago area. After my tour in the Army, I received my fine art training at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where watercolor and oil painting were my main interests.
I am writing to explain the concept for my current series of portraits of veterans ranging from World War II to the present. The purpose of this exhibition is to promote pride, a sense of community, and thankfulness for the veterans of our armed forces. The title of the exhibit will be “Hometown Vets” and will showcase 30 or more 16” x 12” paintings, in both oil and pastel. Along with each painting will be a photo and short bio of each soldier of when they were in the service.
The show will be at the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago (1012 N. Dearborn). The opening reception is Nov. 11, 2023, from 2-5 p.m. The exhibition will run Nov. 3-13. The show will also be featured at other venues. At the end of all the shows, the veterans who sat for the paintings will receive the paintings from me at no cost. This is my gift to the veterans who have served.
Painting sessions were at Cantigny War Museum, the Hines VA Hospital, Windsor Park and even in WWII veterans’ homes if they couldn't travel. To create each one, I painted each veteran model for two sittings; photos were used to complete the portrait.
My goal is to have a great representation of veterans of all ages and ethnic backgrounds currently living in and around the Chicago area.

For more information, contact Don Ryan at 630-303-8820 or redbuilders@gmail.com.