Why Militaria? It's part of my family legacy.

The military legacy of the Kirwan family.

New Creation: New Zealand Forage, Visor Cap. Pa...

In 1976 the New Zealand Police introduced a Forage Visor Cap for the senior ranks. New Zealand Police, commissioned officers holding the rank of Inspector and above feature silver oak...

Farts and Darts: Visor Embellishment. The story...

A description of Visor Ornamentation

ART GOES TO WAR, what does the name suggest?

Distinctive Glangarry Garrison or Side Cap worn by the Scottish regiments.

Royal Army Medical Corps Inter-war Cap of Staff...

This is a fine example of a No. 1 Dress Cap worn by a Staff Officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps dated from the inter-war years between WW1 and...

New Zealand Police Headwear: Helmets and Caps.

The 1975 New Zealand Police visor (forage) cap marked a major turning point in the force's history. It coincided with the transition from traditional black uniforms to the modern "vitric...

Cap and Hat Makers "Hatters"

This Officer's No 2 "Forage" Cap, shown above, is known as the "Undress" version in the UK. This was probably made by Ayres & Smith or Alkit. Morry Kirwan and...

Sun Helmet Painting, 24th Regiment of Foot. New...

This is the latest edition of Sun Helmets, this time with the 24th Regiment of Foot Insignia. This is the pencil sketch: Here is a the original. on the wall...

Home Service Helmets.

A short history of the Home Service Helmet.

Glenn Palmer-Smith Review

I have to thank Glenn Palmer-Smith for asking me a simple question. "If you like Art so much, why don't you paint?" And so I painted. Full disclosure, Glenn and...

A New Day

Lt. Colonel Russell M. Hanna O’Day was a Pilot in US Army Air Force during WW2. After the USAAF became the US Air Force in 1947, O’Day exchanged his iconic...

Homage to John Heartfield (1891 – 1968).

My First Review.

I started painting in July of 2025. In January 2026, I thought I would show my work to an olde friend from the UK who is an Art History pundit....

New Project, Foreign Service Sun Helmet 1870's ...

New project, Foreign Service Helmet, Black Watch Royal Highlanders similar to Sun Helmet displayed in the film Zulu. These white helmets were later issued onkly in Khaki, for obvious reasons....

Bombay Bowlers

Here are examples of the pith topi or 'Bombay Bowler.' One belongs to a Seaforth Highlander and the other is a British made example purchased by a US Serviceman with...

British Colonial Foreign Service Helmets

Pith Helmets of the British Empire Often dubbed the “pith helmet” or “sun helmet” by collectors, the British Foreign Service Helmet is one of the most evocative pieces of militaria...

Creating a new Salt Girl

How do you create an iconic African Salt Girl? Everyone knows the little whote girl in her yellow dress. But why not an equally iconic African girl? Here are some...

Diner Scene in Norwalk CT, Rockwell, 2026

Counter Scene at Speedy Donuts in Norwalk. I repainted this with detail above the counter.

Part 2 of New Zealand Helmet Series

This is the second and part 2 of my New Zealand Police Helmet series. This is the White Summer Version. Makes a great pair with the Winter version.

My latest project.

My sister Polly and her husband and two sons live in Greenock which sits on the Clyde Estuary about 30 miles West of Glasgow. On August 15, 1944, 63 US...

Stamford Fire Department

Stamford Fire Department Station No. 5 also Fire Truck No. 5. Fire Department Helmet, February 11, 2026.

The Hustle. New Zealand Police remove protestor...

New project based on 1967 photograph of New Zealand Police wearing their White Summer Helmets, hustling away a bearded protestor at Auckland Airport.

Scrambled Eggs, Field Grade Officer Dress Unifo...

•Visor Ornamentation ("Scrambled Eggs"): A defining feature for field-grade officers (O-4 and above) was the ornamentation on the visor. While the most elaborate "scrambled eggs" (gold bullion embroidery of oak...

Creating a painting

The process of creating a painting begins with the drawing. It forms the skeleton of the final result. The next step is coloring the spaces, layer by layer, And then...

Cap Badges and Insignia in US and UK and Common...

In the United States, Cap Badges denote the Service, being, Army, Navy and USMC. There was no Air Force as a separate entity until 1947. During World War Two the...

Caps and Helmets

Military head wear is categorized into Visor Caps, Side Caps, Berets, Utility Caps and Helmets. They are called ‘caps’ rather than ‘hats’ unless it is a ‘helmet’. ‘Visor Caps’ are...

Medal Ribbons, what are they?

Medal Ribbons are abbreviated forms of the full version metal and cloth Medals which soldiers wear on the left side of their dress uniforms just above their left breast pocket....

Why I paint

As a Plastic Surgeon, I always appreciated Art and drew and painted before I went to Medical School. During my busy Plastic Surgery practice, I had little time to indulge...