To all you brave soldiers out there that give your best in the pursuit of peace for the homefront as well as for the rest of the world, our latest fly girl Danni offers fond wishes for a safe journey.

Truth is, Danni called upon me to create this classic piece of WWII cheesecake pin-up art with one particular man in uniform in mind: her beloved husband of fifteen years. As a matter of fact, here's Danni herself to explain how this piece of art came to be.

"I discovered Les Toil about three years ago but it wasn't until the early part of 2006 that I finally had a really good reason to contact him about a portrait.  You see, my husband is a member of the USAF Security Forces (that’s the Air Force version of a police force but these days they are more like Army Infantry).  He was deployed for the second time to Iraq in December of 2005 for a minimum of six months (thankfully that’s all it was this time) and this seemed like the perfect welcome home gift.  And it was.  For the first time in the entire time we've been married I actually surprised him!!".

Imagine my pride and gushing glee when the lovely Danni called upon me to produce such a lofty gift for such a brave and noble man. Among the photos Danni sent me to help create her portrait was an image of her handsome family. The photograph was labeled "departure" which fully explained why their infant son was anything but enthusiastic to turn and smile for the camera. As he wrapped one arm around his wife with the other clutching their son to his chest, Danni's husband visably beamed as much love for them as he did strength and courage for the continuing mission that lay before him.

Even though I put as much heart and soul as I could muster into Danni's portrait, I guess I was somewhat convinced a piece of artwork might be the last thing a highly trained member of the Air Force security force would want to see when returning home to his doting family after a stint in the most volatile place on the planet. But apparently her husband had been an admirer of my work for some time now, and coupled with the fact that it was his beautiful wife I had rendered, his response to her portrait was quite favorable. He even took the time during his homecoming to write me an email conveying how much he appreciated the effort. To receive such a thing was quite a stirring moment in my life as an artist and as a person who believes deeply in peace, liberty and democracy--three things Danni's husband fights so dilligently for.

As smitten as I was by Danni's husband's response to her portrait, the greatest gift came from the subject of the rendering, Danni herself. It's far and in-between that I receive the kind of thanks for my humble skills that Danni had given to me. To say I was moved by her words of gratitude is a gross understatement. Danni made me feel as if I had just delivered to her a work of art akin to The Last Supper. To have read her words of praise, one would assume her's was a granduer portrait including a thousand angels with harps and hundreds of dancing ballerinas leaping through the air. I was very humbled by such heartfelt compliments.

In closing, I think we'd all appreciate Danni telling a little something about herself.

"Hmmm, I grew up an Army Brat (I was born in 1968 in Germany) and I've been an Air Force Wife for fifteen years (we were married in April of 1991).  I've lived in Germany (twice), North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Belgium, Canada, and currently Oklahoma. 

I love to read, play on the computer (Paintshop Pro anyone?) and I'm a full-on movie junkie.  I like good music and I don't care if it’s oldies, rap, country, jazz – if I like it, it’s on my IPod. I love to curl up with a good book (biography, thriller, mystery, romance….as long as it grabs me, I'll read it).   I love to have a house full of friends and family (Les, the door here is always open to you should find yourself in the area) and spend time with the people I care about.   I am stubborn (but I prefer the term “Strong willed” and you have to be to be a military wife), caring, passionate, and somewhat nuts. And I am a Toil Girl. 

Before I had this portrait done, when I looked in the mirror, I saw me.  Not bad, not good – just me.  Then I saw the portrait that Les created and my reaction was “Wow, is that what I look like?” .

I thank you Les, for caring about the work you do and the people you create it for.  You are an awesome artist but you're an even better man."
  

Danni, you are one of the most awesome people I've ever had reason to give my best for. Thank you very much.