Coast Guard artist and Auxiliarist Chris Demarest paints from a photo he took during his 2004 deployment to the North Arabian Gulf. Demarest chose this image because it shows a different side of the Coast Guard, with its members in camouflage uniforms, protecting the oil platforms off the coast of Iraq. (Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Etta Smith)

When most people think about the Coast Guard Auxiliary they envision safe boating presentations and vessel inspections. Chris Demarest, however, is not your typical Coast Guard Auxiliarist. Demarest has traveled to Bahrain and painted pictures of Coast Guard operations off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

Demarest is a 56-year old children's book author and illustrator who lives in Meriden, NH, and has contributed to more than 100 children's books over the past 25 years.

Demarest's relationship with the Coast Guard first developed in 2000, while he was conducting research for a children's book he was working on titled, "Mayday! Mayday! A Coast Guard Rescue."

"It was one of my favorite books to illustrate and the Coast Guard crews gave me so much support, I knew I had to continue the connection long after the book was complete," said Demarest.

Demarest went on to join Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 28 (D1-NR) in Portsmouth, N.H., later that year.

Demarest said joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary was his way of giving back to the crews that had supported him while writing and illustrating "Mayday! Mayday!"

Demarest later learned about the Coast Guard Art Program and submitted some samples of his work for consideration. "About 10 months later, I received a letter of acceptance," said Demarest. "It was a huge thrill."

In May 2004, Demarest was chosen to go overseas to capture Coast Guard operations on canvas, as patrol boats guarded oil platforms off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

"The Bahrain trip was fantastic," said Demarest of his overseas deployment. "Of course most people thought I was crazy for being excited to go to a war zone, but I saw it as an honor, maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Coast Guard artist and Auxiliarist Chris Demarest paints from a photo he took during his 2004 deployment to the North Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Demarest's art focuses on the people who carry out Coast Guard missions. (Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer Etta Smith)

In 2007, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, presented Demarest with a public service award for the nine pieces of art Demarest contributed to the art program following his deployment to the Arabian Gulf, said Mary Ann Bader, coordinator for the Coast Guard Art Program.

"Chris is a very talented artist whose contributions vividly tell the Coast Guard story," said Bader.

The Coast Guard Art Program was established in the early 1980's and contains over 2,000 pieces of art that depict daily operations of Coastguardsmen.

"The art program is a compelling visual documentation of the Coast Guard, its history, people and missions," Bader said. "Our program is indebted to our member artists who so generously give of their time and talent to make our collection an outstanding one."

Demarest enjoys being allowed a glimpse into people's lives and makes every effort to capture the moment as accurately as possible, he said. "The reward for me comes in the reaction and appreciation for what I'm doing," said Demarest.

Demarest said his art is only limited by the hours in a day. "The main problem is having enough time to paint it all," said Demarest. "One could make this a full-time job, trying to capture all the facets of the Coast Guard's work."

Now that Demarest has been afforded the opportunity to illustrate Coast Guard activity in the Middle East, he looks forward to future opportunities. I think covering drug interdictions or rescue swimmer training would be interesting," said Demarest. "There are so many operations, I'd take on almost anything."

Coast Guard artist and Auxiliarist Chris Demarest sits in his home studio while working on a painting from his deployment to the North Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The painting depicts Coast Guard gunners conducting target practice on a 25 mm canon. (Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Etta Smith)

Watercolor painting by Chris Demarest depicting three Coastguardsmen conducting target practice on a 25mm cannon off the Coast of Iraq. The Coast Guard's mission was to protect the oil platforms of the North Arabian Gulf. This painting took about eight hours to finish.