An American Portrait

A collection of heartfelt firsts

A first memory leaves a lasting impression—from the first day of school to the first goodbye. In this series, Terry Redlin draws from his own memories to tell a story of heartfelt firsts. Each painting in this series is unique yet builds upon preceding images of a house and the changing seasons of life.

Many of the men and women who fought for our country’s freedom have paid the ultimate price. Terry painted this series as a way to honor veterans and their families. His painting, "His First Goodbye", specifically tells the emotional true story of a young man leaving his mother and father’s home after joining the military.

Explore the seven paintings in An American Portrait series and recall many of your own firsts.