Creativity becomes a powerful healing journey in this intimate conversation with Bryan, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant whose miniature dioramas transform military experiences into art. After 22 years of service, nine deployments, and multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bryan discovered that crafting detailed miniature scenes offered both creative fulfillment and therapeutic relief from PTSD.
What began as a way to honor Medal of Honor recipients he personally met evolved into a passionate artistic practice. Bryan shares the meticulous process behind his creations—from scratch-building his early works to embracing 3D printing technology, while maintaining his commitment to authentic details in uniforms, equipment, and environments. Each model tells a specific story, whether commemorating fallen comrades, recreating battlefield moments, or playfully transforming their French bulldog into "Boba Thor."
Tracy, both podcast host and Bryan's wife, offers unique insights into how this artistic outlet has helped him process military experiences and emerge from his shell. The exhibition at Brewtifully showcases not just his 22 models and selection of bonsai trees, but also represents the healing power of creative expression for veterans.
For those inspired by Bryan's journey, he's teaching a model painting workshop on September 29th and welcomes commission requests. Don't miss viewing his remarkable work in person or through the YouTube slideshow—each piece bridges military experience with artistic expression in profoundly moving ways.
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Episode Transcript
Welcome back to Brutally Made.
I am very excited to have myhusband, brian.
He is our September ExhibitingArtist of the Month, so welcome
to the podcast, hon, thank you.
I wanted to be able to sharehis work with everyone and I
really appreciate that he agreedto do this, and I would love
(00:30):
for him to share a little bitabout his really military
history and what he has sharedminiature-wise in all of the
display, and I will be sharingpictures on the YouTube channel
of some of the pieces that he'sgoing to discuss.
So dear, please talk about yourmilitary service in the.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Air.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Force.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I am a retired Master Sergeant, did 22 years in the
Air Force active duty.
I had nine deployments duringthat time, spent two separate
one-year remote tours in Korea,14 years apart, and after I
retired couldn't find a jobanywhere.
The only job I found was withNaval Star Defense.
(01:13):
Went right back to Iraq.
I've been to Iraq three timesand Afghanistan once and
multiple other deployments.
I deployed with the Army fivetimes but after I retired I got
a job with Naval Star Defense asan instructor and field support
rep for the MAX program in Iraqand Afghanistan.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes, and a lot of the pieces that you will see on
display and we're actuallyhaving a reception this week for
him are those vehicles, becauseyou really know them inside and
out, and so let's talk a littlebit about, really, the very
(01:53):
first miniature diorama I don'treally know a better word to put
it.
What made you make it?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Oh, that was after we met.
I think it was 2014.
We met Master Sergeant LeroyPetrie.
He received the Medal of Honorfor his actions in Afghanistan
in 2008.
He ended up losing his righthand during that battle.
But after meeting him, I juststarted making models.
I made it I wanted to make.
We've met 14 Medal of Honorrecipients and I'm trying to
(02:23):
make a little diorama of eachone that we've met, the ones
that are still living with us.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yes, and how long did that actual?
I mean you crafted everythingfrom the building because it was
based on a piece of art.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, that was all.
Yeah, I took a painting fromJames Dietz.
It was a painting he did ofLeroy Wynn.
That battle was going on and Imade the model look like that
painting.
But that one took a whilebecause I made the ground,
ground effects, the buildingsall by hand.
And then that was before I hadmy 3D printers.
So I was buying different modelkits, trying to find each
little piece that I needed.
(02:59):
That's why it took forever.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, you were taking things apart and reassembling
and building really yeah fromscratch.
And then I did.
I gifted you a 3D printer forValentine's Day a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Now I make my own parts.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It's a lot cheaper it is, but I think you get a lot
of satisfaction from getting thepieces and parts that you need
and building the look that youwant.
Yeah, I do.
How long do you feel like ittakes you to paint all the
details?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Oh, that's the and that's what takes the longest,
because I try to make theuniforms look like they should
like the real uniforms, all thekits and everything.
Yeah, not just the uniforms youactually like.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, their faces yeah their faces, their tattoos,
their hair.
You've done one with resin thatlooks like water.
That's phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Oh yeah, there were two of them out there now.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah, yeah, and really no one taught you how to
do any of this.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
you just really dived into it and well, taught
yourself we opened the the storebrutally last august 2024 and
tracy's working long hours, soI'm sitting at home with the
dogs.
The grass is cut, the dogs arefed new kids, like I'm watching
a movie, making a model.
So I ended up with 22 modelsand 18 bonsai trees.
I got to stop.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
No, you don't.
I think that it's really goodfor your PTSD.
It is yes.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I think that it's a good hobby for you.
I concentrate on the modeluntil it's done.
It's like I need another one.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, and you're starting to rebuild friends.
I mean, you've done memorialones, you've got family members
you've done.
Memorial shadow boxes for.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, I got my uncles .
I made a little soldier thatlooks like my uncle who was
killed in World War II in France.
I made a shadow box with hisribbons and stripes and stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah, I just love how you're combining art with these
pieces that have so muchmeaning.
You know it's resonating with alot of people.
I think that they're connectingand feeling.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Oh yeah, Most people haven't even seen these.
You make models.
You have bonsai trees.
Yeah, come to the shop tomorrownight.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah, that's true, and you've incorporated
some of the models into thebonsai displays too, so those
are really cool too.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Like one girl at work I think it was Marissa she goes
.
I didn't even know you were inthe military.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Right, yeah, yeah, some outlets you know you find
to discuss those thingsdifferent ways.
So this is a good way for youto bring up those conversations.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
It is, and I like to make the MRAPs.
I make the little small ones, Isend them to my buddies from
the military.
We all used to work on them,yeah yeah, and we're having a
class.
Oh yeah, september 29th, youare going to show Showing you
how to paint them.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Yeah, which I think is phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Make them look realistic I.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
That's a huge transition.
Brian and I have known eachother since we have been 12
years old and he was one of theshyest guys I ever knew and I
talk way more for both of us.
But he has really come out ofhis shell.
Get to discuss things with him,that has really got his heart.
(06:17):
It's phenomenal to hear youknow how passionate he is about
it.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And then each.
I think.
I think there's 20 models outthere.
Each model has a story to it.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, yeah, and some are from film, some of them are.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
you have a lighthearted side A lot of them
are people that we've met orstuff that I've done.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
And you take commissions.
You've taken requests and youlike having that, I think, as a
challenge and working on yourskills to do 3D modeling.
So you did get an upgradedprinter.
A nice one.
A nice one, yes, so that's beengreat for you to experiment
(06:58):
with.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
After I printed them, I'd take them off the plate and
I'd have to spray them withalcohol and then clean them that
way and use her fingernail UVlight, fingernail polish UV
light to cure it.
But now I have all that in onestation.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
So it's a lot quicker .
It is a lot quicker and you'redoing a beautiful job and I'm
really really proud of You'rewelcome.
Is there anything that youwould like to build that you
haven't tackled yet?
That is something that's beenon your mind, because I know
you've got a few more Medal ofHonor recipients to do.
But is there something else?
(07:33):
Another movie, I mean.
He's printed our dogs, he'srepainted figures of us.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I have Boba Thor yeah .
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Our French bulldog turned into baba fett we have a
french bulldog.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
My favorite character from star wars is baba fett.
So I took thor's head and puton baba fett's body, and that's
the biggest um thing out there,yeah, the biggest model out
there.
That's true, and tracy made itwell.
Tracy made a painting fromyears ago for my birthday.
I think it was.
Yeah, it was the same picturethor's head on bob fett's body.
It's like I can make a model ofthat you did too.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
It did turn out good.
It's really cool.
But any any other projects ormovies or any other scenarios
that you want to tackle orshowcase anything through work.
You know you, you are still amechanic.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I was trying to think of other other military ones to
do, because those are myfavorite ones to do, but yeah I
can't think of any he even hasan action figure that he rebuilt
.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Um, we had the head 3d printed before we ever had 3d
printing, and it's him and thedetail in all of the pieces.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
He spent so long.
It took me two years to findall the pieces, because every
piece on that action figure.
It's not a doll, it matcheswhat I had on my kit when we
were doing convoys throughoutIraq.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
But it took two years to find all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yeah, it's pretty phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
But I bought like a $10 GI Joe body, ripped the head
off and stuck my head on it andthen flight suit and all the
gear.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yep, you can see how we roll around here to make
things work.
But yeah, I just wanted to.
You know, I love having thisoutlet for you and me.
I think it's really importantand it just reiterates the
importance of having a creativespace so you can do mindful
(09:32):
things like this, and I thinkthat this is a really strong
show and it's beautiful.
You really did a beautiful job.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I'm better than I was expecting.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, he's a beautiful wooden flag that he
built and it's on the wall aswell.
And just, we're really excitedabout the reception.
I can't wait to share picturesof that.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Five bonsai trees.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, out of I don't know how many we have at home he
brought a few 18.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I even have one of the models has.
I needed a tree for it and oneof my bonsai trees died this
year, so I kept the trunk andjust put the trunk in there.
Yeah, it looks like a tree it.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
It's really good, it really is good.
So, and then we have a seriesof shirts that are available.
Uh, I designed an mrap ohioshirt that he wears and so I
made a bunch of those so peoplecan purchase those.
And, uh, yeah, just share indifferent ways that you know you
can be creative and, you know,make a little money doing it,
because you do have some piecesthat are for sale.
(10:25):
And, um, taking commissions andum, yeah, I just love watching
you work and doing things thatyou love, so I'm really proud of
you, thank you.
So, uh, if you want to, um, askfor a commission, please just
uh, send a message or email, letme know and I'll get in touch
(10:47):
with Bri.
And, yeah, just excited to havehim on the podcast too, because
I don't think you've everreally even been on talking or
anything.
So it's great that he's herewith me and such a huge support,
because this is just a bigendeavor and we're working
(11:08):
through all kinds of stuff rightnow and he's been just by my
side 110%, so I love you.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I love you.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
All right, stay Brutally, bade.
I hope that you enjoy theslideshow on YouTube, so check
that out and check out thesocial media pages that you can
see at work, and I will talk toyou next time.
Take care, bye.
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