Utah artist freely pays U.S. heroes their due

Manti artist Kaziah Hancock compares her compassion to a bottomless artesian well to explain how she's able — for free — to complete painting after painting of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and still remain upbeat.

"I have to do other things in between — I find things that make me laugh," Hancock said over the phone. "To be so closely associated with death constantly ... I tell ya, it wrings me emotionally, but when families receive paintings, they come back with the sweetest, most loving tone of voice when they call or the most elegantly selected words in their letters."

One person told Hancock that if their house was on fire, her painting would be the first thing they would save.

Hancock's money fount, however, is running a little dry.

So, to keep on painting portraits at no cost to the recipients, Hancock started the nonprofit Project Compassion Soldier Fund. Anyone who wants to donate can go to any Wells Fargo Bank in the country or to Utah Artist Hands in downtown Salt Lake City. Checks can be made out to the fund name.

People can also send tax-deductible donations to her mailing address: Kaziah Hancock, P.O. Box 153, Manti, UT 84642.

Hancock, who has painted works worth more $10,000, currently has five more fallen soldiers she's preparing to paint. You can see finished paintings at www.kaziahthegoatwoman.com — click on the link "Portraits of Heroes."

Each of the 27 paintings she has done so far has started with a family member or friend sending her a letter and a photo of the soldier.

"I bawl when I see the photography and read the letter," she said. "When I start on (the painting), I burst into tears — and when I get the face completed and I stand back, I burst into tears.

"When it's totally completed, then again it hits me and I weep like a baby. I just release it — what else do you do?"

In April 2003 Hancock began offering one free 18-by-24-inch oil painting, worth about $2,000 each, to any relative or friend of a military member killed in active duty during the Iraq war.

She started with four Utah soldiers, but word has spread across the country.