Sal

I questioned as well but do know there were select officers eligible as the military leaders providing higher level management of boards etc. I thought as a reserve officer may have been volunteer in his civilian capacity and the second LOM may be a retirement type award. 

And mine, 1/2 ct tdw. It was a custom ring I got in Kuwait while working there. Gentleman never came to get it so I got it for a song 

Not just paintings either

The mask is a local made piece from an antique shop; the female is a local glass artisan I seek out at the 2 major art shows here

Great topic aesthetically and intrinsically 

I'm partial to diamonds and sapphire. Here's example 1; attached to my girl's finger. Natural yellow center with yellow and clear accents on the halo, baguettes along the shank. Local jeweler friend custom made to a design I made. 

Pastel from Heather Harris

A cute painting from a 10 year old Juvenile Diabetes sufferer. I won this at a JD fundraiser. She was amazed anyone bid and when I met her and her mom, was floored I bid what I did. It's just so special in it's simplicity and innocence 

Another local artist Ruth Hoffman. 

Ruth M. Erb-Hoffman (American, 1902-1968) artist, painter, sculptor and educator known for figurative, landscape, and still life paintings. She was born in 1902 in Buffalo, NY, and received her B.A. from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, 1922-circa 1926. She also studied at the Child-Walker School of Fine Arts and Crafts (graduate fellowship from Wellesley) in Boston, MA. In addition, she studied with the sculptor Arthur Lee (Norwegian-American, 1881-1961), artist Agnes Anne Abbot (German-American, 1897-1992), artist Edwin Walter Dickinson (American, 1891-1978) and the famous Buffalo artist Charles Ephraim Burchfield (American, 1893-1967). Hoffman was one of the original founders of the Patteran Society of artists in 1933, and had many successful solo and group exhibitions along with several awards at: The Art Institute of Chicago, the Albright Art Gallery (now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, prizes 1939, 1940, and 1946), the American Federation of Arts (traveling exhibit), the Riverside Art Museum, the Carnegie Institute (prize. 1941), the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Butler Institute of American Art, and the Terry Institute (prize, 1952). Collections can be found in the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY, and in the Northwestern University Hall of Fame (busts), Evanston, IL. She was married to the orthodontist Dr. Burton A. Hoffman (1903-1967) who had his practice in Buffalo, NY, and they also resided in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.
 

A small but special painting by an Iraqi shop owner, he painted it as a gift to me. 

Chris

Thank you for you kind comments. Ironically, I was just about to comment that very thing. I've run out of walls, so I rotate paintings throughout the year. Except I leave my favorites up all the time without changing them. 

While not necessarily a religious art collector, this was a must have. It is entirely done in pencil. Even close up it's difficult to tell but was so unique I brought it home from a local estate sale. 

The second is an interesting interpretation from a local artist named Alex. Another estate sale buy; the local bistro that held a showing for her couldn't recall her last name so it remains a mystery

Unknown artist from an auction in NC while stationed at Ft. Bragg

Another Alix Martin, I'm a fan of the framing on this one

Buffalo, NY artists George Grace & Heather Harris respectively 

Another Martin favorite "Masquerade"

A funky one, abstract impasto by listed artist Stephen Slomko

Stephen W. Slomko is a New Jersey treasure. He is an award winning, self taught artist.  Born in 1929, he waited until after his retirement to fulfill his desire to paint. His art is stunning synthesis of folk art, impressionism, and post impressionist styles. His unique and vibrant color palette visually delights and incorporates both the style of pointillism (small dots closely painted) and impasto (a thick application). 

Mr. Slomko is a prolific painter but is equally comfortable in three dimensional papier mache sculpture and wall hangings. He hand forms each piece from sketches, papier maches them, and then paints each one. They are dazzling and unique.

Mr. Slomko's art is a stunning tribute to innate gifts and personal tenacity. By his own admission when inspiration strikes he must create because he is unable to do anything else.

He has won many awards for his art and is part of many collections across the United States.

Outside the OMD community I'm an art collector focusing on local and listed artists. I have gravitated toward one artist, a friend named Alixandra Martin. She's a certain unmistakable style that appeals to me so we've slightly over 20 of her pieces in our home. 

Im also socking away $$ to purchase a watercolor from Tony Bennett under his true name, Anthony Benedetto, if Niagara Falls

first up Alixandra Martin Lady in Pink, my favorite

Its certainly worth the process to make sure we get it right. The assessment of the acts and criteria must be consistent. Interpretation of the level of danger and the gravity of each situation is subjective so it is difficult. Nonetheless if we have lower awards for MOH acts, we must right the record and honor them appropriately 

Another interesting but unattributed. The Selective Service Medal on the set is scarce for active personnel except for those serving in specific positions 

The Neyer version is good as well, the last one is the only one that smells wrong IMO

Thats a great find 

I have not seen one with such small stars. Looks to be machine stitched, has the look & feel of foreign made IMO

Thank you for the kind words; there should be a V on the BSM, the impression is still there too

A nice Vietnam custom set

Hi Paul

Yes correct they are likely for long service, but still round out his wartime service well. It's actually not correct group for this thread so if you need to remove it please do.

ill be posting the correct civilian group soon

Many thanks to Bill Garvey for this information 

Nikolai Konstantinovich Matveev, born 1923, Junior Regimental Radio Technician, 371st "Vitevskiy" Red Banner Order of Suvorov Rifle Division, 3rd Belorussian Front, awarded Order of the Red Star, #1050857, November 18th, 1944. Awarded Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, #575866, April 26, 1945, 65th "Kovno" Rifle Corps, 5th Army, 3rd Belorussian Front, as Radio Technician, 930th Artillery Regiment. Was also awarded an Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, 1985 Jubilee issue.

More close ups

Paul

they were identified when I bought them, I didn't do the research so I assume previous custodians did it

A

Another interesting set with the scarce AF Outstanding Airman of the Year award dead center of the ribbons

ADM GW Steele (top)

ADM Yates Stirling (bottom)

Gents thank you

no idea yet, haven't started the work. I'd think the VN DSO would help narrow it

One of my favorites by NS Meyer