Merrymen of Mount Rushmore: Progress Report

President Lincoln is finally looking a little less like a terrified monster and a little more like… well, Lincoln. His eyes, however, are still staging a full-blown rebellion. First, they were wide and panicked then mean. Now, the eyelids seem to hover in some strange in-between where they’re practically popping off the canvas. I can’t explain it, but at least it’s progress.

Inspiration of the crying Merrymen of Mount Rushmore.

The irony, of course, is that while in progress I am calling this piece The Merrymen of Mount Rushmore while my actual end goal is to make them cry. Slow irony, painted in acrylic, based on the picture I took when Matt and I visited Mount Rushmore back in 2020.

If you notice, the presidents are all carved in stone, but the eyes—the eyes are real. I actually “Googled” up the eye color of each one just to be sure I got it right. (Because if you’re going to make stone men cry, you’d better nail the details.) Fun fact: Lincoln’s eyes are technically gray, though some paintings make them bright blue. I compromised with a blue-gray. It felt right—and a little mysterious.

The Merrymen in progress.

As I’ve worked, I’ve realized: Washington, Roosevelt, and Lincoln all have very distinctive faces. Jefferson? Not so much. His features are harder to pin down, but his role in history was no less enormous. When you pause to consider what each of these men contributed WOW.

• Washington: Commander of the army that secured independence, first president, and pioneer of the peaceful transition of power.

• Jefferson: Drafter of the Declaration of Independence and negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase.

• Lincoln: The president who steered the nation through the Civil War, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and went to great lengths to keep the nation united.

• Roosevelt: The energetic reformer who busted trusts, conserved national parks, and put the U.S. on the global stage. The president that almost wasn't. His political history is fascinating. If you have studied anything about him, here is a quick link to learn a little: https://www.history.com/articles/theodore-roosevelt

  
  

Each one carries the weight of history in his face, which is maybe why this painting feels like it has its own agenda. My brushstrokes are slow, the expressions stubborn—but one way or another, the Merrymen will get their tears.

🦩 Thanks for reading The 3rd Flamingo—a blog for art lovers, creative wanderers, and anyone who’s ever made a beautiful mess.

If you’d like to see the Merrymen of Mount Rushmore in person (eye drama and all), visit my booth at the Village Art Festival on October 11, 2025. And stay tuned here on the blog for more behind-the-easel updates as the Merrymen slowly but surely get their tears.