A painting of U.S. Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Adam Lee Brown is now on display at Whittington Gallery, bringing a yearslong goal of its artist to fruition.
New York-based artist Jonathan Stasko has created a number of paintings of fallen service members, which he said "Adam Brown is to thank for."
In 2014, a friend of Stasko's gave him an audiobook of "Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown."
"I listened to it within a day," he said, adding that the book's "impact was profound on me."
Stasko said that Brown's story of his service, as well as his battles with addiction, were "really impactful." He also said that reading the book was the "first time I took an emotional look at (what) Gold Star Families endure."
Brown's story motivated Stasko to paint portraits of fallen heroes for Gold Star Families, and the following year he started working freelance with the American Fallen Soldier Project. In the first two years Stasko was with the project, he painted around eight portraits.
While he said that he hasn't been as active with the project over the past few years, Stasko said that he is still in contact with them and intends to create more portraits for them. Brown's portrait was not a part of his work with the project.
"This was completely a personal endeavor for me," he said. Stasko said that while he was painting portraits of other fallen soldiers, his goal was always to eventually paint one of Brown. Since this one was made independently, he said that it gave him more creative freedom.
While it took him years to get around to the Brown painting, Stasko said that he never stopped thinking about him.
"I've reread or listened to the book at least six times now," he said.
In 2018, he reached out to Brown's family to ask if he could make the painting, and with their blessing, he started working on it.
Settling on a design took months. The painting shows Brown handing a pair of shoes to one Afghan child. Stasko said that he debated how to show Brown. One idea was to show him surrounded by children that he gave shoes to. After talking with his wife, though, Stasko said he went with a more personal moment.
"He wasn't out for photo ops or a personal agenda," Stasko said, adding that Brown helped these kids because "he saw them shoeless in a cold time of year."
"It's more telling of Adam's character," Stasko said, adding that Brown helped these "children regardless of who sees him."
Stasko said that after settling on a design for the painting, he estimates that he spent "easily over 200 hours" painting it.
After he finished it, he and a friend -- who had posed as Brown for the painting -- rented a van to drive the painting from New York and "drove 20 hours straight" to Hot Springs. He said that night when they got in their hotel room, they saw President Trump declare a state of emergency.
"We kind of knew it was up," Stasko said. The next day was the 10th Annual Adam Brown Shamrock Run, which had to be canceled due to the pandemic. Stasko said that it was disappointing, but he did find a silver lining to it.
The race was allowed to hand out items to participants, so there was a small number of people at the event. Stasko unveiled the painting there in a more intimate setting with Brown's family.
"For me, I was walking away feeling, sure, disappointed that more people couldn't be there, but finally being able to meet Brown's family was something really special," he said.
Stasko and his friend returned to New York the following day, but they left the painting with Rachel Mundy, the race coordinator. He said that he had two reasons for making the painting. One was for Brown's family, but the other was to help spread Brown's story.
In leaving the painting with Mundy, he tasked her with finding ways to share it with the community. This month's Gallery Walk was the first time that she has been able to do that due to coronavirus.
"The goal was to make this a painting that would be accessible to the public," he said.
Stasko said "I'm really thrilled" that the painting is finally on display for the public to see. He also said that the painting should be at the 2021 Shamrock Run.
Stasko also wanted to let the Brown family and Mundy know that he appreciates all the support they have shown him in this project.
John Faginkrantz, owner of Whittington Gallery, said that the reception to the painting during Galley Walk was good. "We had a good crowd, for coronavirus," he said, adding that around 100 people were in attendance. Faginkrantz said that "We had a lot of people come in just to see" the painting.
When he was asked about displaying the painting, Faginkrantz said "I think it was a great idea." He said that his son was in the military for 15 years, and served in Afghanistan. "I've got a special place in my heart for the military guys."
The painting, which Faginkrantz praised, will be at the gallery for the entire month of November.
"So, it'll be here for Veterans Day. We hope people come in for Veterans Day and take a look at it," he said.