"Veterans" is one of the largest watercolors I've undertaken to date and, in my estimation, one of my most important. It is clearly a painting more about strength than beauty - more salt than sugar. And it was salt, as in sweat, that made America a super-power on many fronts. This image of a team of present day Amish workhorses, standing on harrowed ground, symbolizes the pioneer strength of our democracy, described by Eric Sloane as "The Spirit of America".