Edmonds, Washington (CNN) -- For Michael Reagan, the portraits always start the same way. 

"I do the eyes first so I get this connection with the face," he said. "I am pretty exhausted after a picture. Just try staring at a photograph for five hours without any distractions." 

Reagan, a professional artist for 40 years, is known for his vivid etchings of politicians, celebrities and athletes. 

Today, he has a new subject: fallen members of the military. 

It all started three years ago when the wife of a Navy corpsman who was killed in Iraq asked Reagan to draw her late husband. 

Reagan insisted on doing the portrait for free. Then he had a realization. 

"I looked at my wife and told her what happened and said, 'Now we need to do them all,' " Reagan remembered. 

"Doing them all" meant closing his art gallery and reaching out to the families of fallen service members. 

Most of the troops Reagan draws are U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has recently started drawing portraits for family members of British and Canadian troops killed in those conflicts. 

Many families were unsure why someone would offer to do a portrait for them at no cost. They wanted to know why someone would volunteer to, as Reagan puts it, "participate in the worst time of their life." 

Slowly, word among military families spread and requests for portraits began pouring in. Reagan, a Vietnam veteran, grew to know the faces of hundreds of troops lost to war. 
How long has Reagan been an artist?
What is his new subject?
How do the portraits start for Reagan?
Did it all start 5 years ago?
How long ago did it start?
What are most of the troops Reagan draws?
Has he drawn portraits for troops from other places?
Where were they from?
What are most families unsure of with him?
Is Reagan a veteran?
Of which war?
Who first asked Reagan to draw her late husband?
Did he draw the picture for free?
What was his realization?
What is Reagan known for?
Does he feel energized after a picture?
How does he feel?
Did he keep his art gallery open?
40 years
Reagan, a professional artist for 40 years, 
fallen members of the military
Today, he has a new subject: fallen members of the military. 

He does the eyes first.
 For Michael Reagan, the portraits always start the same way. 

"I do the eyes first
no
It all started three years ago
three years ago
It all started three years ago
U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
Most of the troops Reagan draws are U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
yes
He has recently started drawing portraits for family members of British and Canadian troops killed in those conflicts.
Britain and Canada
 He has recently started drawing portraits for family members of British and Canadian 
why he would offer a free portrait
Many families were unsure why someone would offer to do a portrait for them at no cost.
yes
 Reagan, a Vietnam veteran,
Vietnam
Reagan, a Vietnam veteran,
the wife of a Navy corpsman
the wife of a Navy corpsman who was killed in Iraq asked Reagan to draw her late husband. 

yes
Reagan insisted on doing the portrait for free. 
That he needed to do them all
"I looked at my wife and told her what happened and said, 'Now we need to do them all,' "
for his vivid etchings of politicians, celebrities and athletes.
Reagan, a professional artist for 40 years, is known for his vivid etchings of politicians, celebrities and athletes. 
no
"I am pretty exhausted after a picture. 
exhausted
 "I am pretty exhausted after a picture.
no
"Doing them all" meant closing his art gallery