Richard Yarosh Painter Could Win $25,000

Richard Yarosh sets a good example

Smithsonian American Art Museum. Image from Flickr.

Some teenagers want to skip school when they get an acne breakout. Some women refuse to leave the house without makeup. However, Richard Yarosh — who is missing the tip of his nose and his ears and has a face completely covered in scar tissue — says “I’m proud of the way I look. I’m proud of the reason for the way I look.”

He isn’t the only one. Painter Matthew Mitchell has turned Richard Yarosh’s head and shoulders into a work of art — one that will be on display at the Smithsonian. The Associated Press reports that Mitchell’s portrait “is a finalist in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, which recognizes modern portraiture at the gallery known for its collection of notable Americans.”

If Mitchell wins the competition, he won’t need to worry about finding a money lender before he can start his next series. First prize is $25,000.

What happened to Richard Yarosh?

A bit more than three years ago, Sept. 1, 2006, Richard Yarosh was in Iraq “manning the turret of a Bradley assault vehicle,” says the Associated Press. The vehicle hit an explosive device, and the fuel tank, the vehicle and Richard Yarosh went up in flames. At the time, Yarosh was 24.

Richard Yarosh miraculously survived, though he suffered third-degree burns to 60 percent of his body and had his lower right leg amputated. “His fingers are permanently bent and rigid,” says the Associated Press. To read a full account of Richard Yarosh’s accident, check out the AP story, where you can view a photo of Richard Yarosh. … click here to read the rest of the article titled “Richard Yarosh Painter Could Win $25,000“