It’s What I Do

“It’s What I Do” reflects the separation between operational life and the expectations of ordinary society. The isolated figure standing above the forest symbolizes someone who no longer fully belongs inside the structured rhythm of normal civilian life after decades spent operating inside instability, danger and uncertainty.

The forest represents the constant pressure of explanation, the repeated questions about danger, risk, settling down and why someone would voluntarily continue living this way. Over time, the answers become shorter because the lifestyle itself no longer feels temporary. It becomes identity.

The elevated position of the figure does not represent superiority. It represents distance. The understanding that some people are simply built for movement, exposure, unpredictability and operational purpose rather than comfort, repetition and routine.

The painting reflects the quiet realization that after enough years, the work stops feeling like something you do and slowly becomes the only environment where your mind fully recognizes itself.

Created on canvas using acrylic paint applied with an axe, a combat knife, a compass and Kalashnikov rounds. The forest textures were created using branches and leaves collected from an actual forest. I use real operational materials to leave something of myself behind in the canvas to give the art a soul.

Dimension 40 X 30 cm on canvas