The Chesapeake’s Bounty
Near the end of last December I was invited by my friend Captain Brian Dillistin to join him for a day on the bay. We would run from his home on the Corrottoman River down the Rappahannock and then to the southern Chesapeake near the eastern shore of Virginia. Our targeted species was Morone saxatilis, also called “striped bass” and locally “rockfish”. These fish are, for the most part, anadromous- migrating from the ocean in the spring up fresh water rivers to spawn and in the fall back downstream to winter in the warmer Atlantic.
It was a beautiful day on the bay with eight nice rockfish being boated ranging from 30”- 45”, several over 40”. In the past these beautiful and delicious “signature fish” of the Chesapeake suffered a severe decline due primarily to overfishing in the 1970s and 80s but after conservation measures were mandated by the Federal Government the stocks have rebounded to a very healthy fishery today.
After December 31, 2011 Brian moved his Grady White Canyon 336 to Lynnhaven near Virginia Beach, Virginia to continue fishing for rock during the Atlantic winter season. He had a record day last week with a total of 23 fish caught between 36“-43“- all but eight released. In the early 1990s Captain Dillistin was involved in helping to expand the Coastal Conservation Association – Virginia Chapter into the Richmond area. This is the leading recreational saltwater anglers conservation group in the country today.
Brian, thanks for another great day on the bay!
Fair winds! John
The view aft aboard "Hard Bargain Too".
Captain Brian Dillistin, the Ship's Surgeon "Doc" Hopkins and Master Mate Kevin Dillistin.
Mate Kevin cranking down on a rock!
Busy day on the bay.
Kevin "takin' care of business".
Brian crankin' down on "Bubba".
Brian and nephew Kevin with a 45" fish which was released for which Brian will receive a Release Citation Award from the State of Virginia.
Your's truly back at the dock.
A beautiful end to a beautiful day on Town Creek.
Winner of Barber’s “Offloading the Catch” Canvas Giclee
Gerry Stanewick with their new canvas “Offloading the Catch”.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Stanewick won the drawing for the canvas copy of my latest major painting “Offloading the Catch at Tilghman Island”. Their name was drawn from the list of emails, which have been submitted to me.
Gerry and wife Susan live in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to being a “budding” artist, Susan is an avid golfer, very active in her church and a wonderful chef. Gerry retired from Goldman Sachs in 2002 and fills his leisure time with golf. The Stanewick’s enjoy traveling and have assembled a wonderful and diverse collection of artwork, many Barber original paintings, as well as Grandmother and Grandfather clocks and antiques from around the world.
New Orleans
In September, 2010 I had a meeting of the American Society of Marine Artists of which I am a Fellow Member. The meeting took place in beautiful Sarasota, Florida where my wife Kathy and I enjoyed the company of some of the nation’s leading maritime artists for several days. On our return flight we took a side trip to New Orleans for a few days of enjoying the old French Quarter and some of the rare treats the area offers. While there, I took a half day to do a painting on Rue Royal, a beautiful old “Rue” which parallels Bourbon Street. Below you’ll see a few photos from the trip.
Photo of Rue Royal from my painting location.
My painting after four hours of work.
Me with my new creation.
Kathy enjoying beignets and cafe latte at Cafe du Monde.
We couldn't leave the "Crescent City" without breakfast at Brennan's!
Lucky Kathy winning big at Harrah's Casino!
And a final dinner at the legendary Galatoire's Restaurant.
While in New Orleans I visited the WWII Museum in which I found my painting "Tribute to a Generation". The painting is on loan from the American War Monuments Commission by whom I was commissioned to do the painting in 2004.
Gone Fishin’
Dear friends,
Last week Kathy and I headed north to deliver two paintings to clients in Delaware and Maryland. We also visited old friends, Marcia and Jim Dudley at Bethany Beach, Delaware and while in the area, our host arranged a chartered offshore fishing trip for us out of Ocean City, Maryland known as the “White Marlin Capital of the World”! Our crew of six arrived at the dock early and by 5:45 AM last Monday we were aboard Ocean City Girl, a 50′ custom Carolina built vessel and heading east. An hour or so later we were 35 miles offshore and our lines hit the water. Not long afterwards we had our first knockdown to the yell of “fish on”! That was the first of the 27 or so False Albacore caught that day. These fish, which are not normally highly regarded as table fare, were wonderful blackened as I prepared them last night for dinner. Our fish were not huge but in the 4-10# range but tremendous fighters tearing out at 40 miles per hour after the strike.
We also caught seven magnificent Dolphin Fish, [calm down Friends of Flipper- not the Dolphin mammal] also called Mahi-Mahi in Hawaii as well as Dorado in oceans around the world. Again, smaller fish but beautiful and delicious, just the same. So with a little work and play behind us we returned to Richmond and back to the grindstone.
Many thanks to Marcia and Jim Dudley!
JMB
Sunrise off Ocean City, Maryland
Ed Mulheron fighting an Albacore
Jim Dudley with a "keeper" and Mate Aaron
The fish box with Albacore and beautiful Dolphin
Paul Quintus with a nice Dolphin
Charlie Kohlhoss, "takin' care of bidness"
Jim and Scott Harper "tag teaming"
Have you ever seen such a beautiful fish and an "unbeautiful" crew of fishermen?
Ed with another Albacore
Back at the dock and no joke- these were the small fish for the mate who had already cleaned the main catch
And "yours truly"- what a day!
Barber Family in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Barber Clan: John, son Joshua and his wife Melissa, son Adam, Kathy and Adam's wife Mizuha and their son Yoshitaka [with his new Mohawk hairstyle
In mid July the East Coast Barbers — son Joshua and his wife Melissa and my wife Kathy and I– headed west. The West Coast Barbers– son Adam, his wife Mizuha and their son Yoshitaka, of Portland,Oregon– headed east and we all collided in the town of Jackson, Wyoming. While much of the nation was smoldering under record heat we were enjoying warm days and evenings in the 40s-50s. We rented a home near the Snake River with a wonderful view of the Grand Teton Range.
Yoshi riding Desperado
For one week we tried to do everything Jackson Hole could offer.We gathered for family horseback riding and then broke into smaller groups for target shooting and fly fishing for Cutthroat Trout. Some of our group headed north to Yellowstone for hiking while others spent time with Yoshi at the house doing puzzles and crafts.
Shopping is huge in the town of Jackson with unique shops offering their exquisite wares to the tourists. White water rafting is big on the Snake and we couldn’t resist the class three rapids- the water being low after the spring runoff had ended. We all attended a chuck wagon dinner in a horse-drawn wagon, of course, and attended the J.H. Rodeo and watched in awe as cowboys and cowgirls busted broncs and bulls, barrel raced, roped and gave us a wonderful evening of entertainment and horsemanship. And of course there were the constant sightings of wildlife outside of town: moose, elk, wolves, bald eagles and even grizzly bear!
Evenings found us enjoying a quiet meal at home or dining in one of the area’s fine restaurants. We had a celebration evening out and supped on Prime Rib of Bison, Elk Chops and Venison Sausage!
Wow- what memories! And after a week, when the boys and their families departed for home, Kathy and I headed north for a few days of painting. We took a room at the beautiful Jackson Lake Lodge overlooking the magnificent Jackson Lake in the shadow of the Tetons. I did three paintings from this leg of the trip. In all a wonderful time with our family. JMB
Visit the “Portfolio” portion of this website and click on “Wet Paint” where you’ll find the three new paintings from the Tetons!
John with sons Adam and Joshua.
Mrs. Moose
Melissa practicing - Springfield XD .40 cal.
Some of us up at Eagle Rock
- It may not be huge but it’s a Cutthroat!
Heading out for dinner on a covered wagon.
Miz, Yoshi and Adam at the summit of the Tramway, Teton Village.
At the Jackson Hole Gun Club.
John painting at Oxbow Bend.
As John painted this elk strolled up to check on progress.
Adam looks like he was born in the saddle.
Yoshi searching for "treasure" with his new cowgirlfriend.
Kathy and Miz at the chuck wagon.
After our "game dinner" at the Gunbarrel Restaurant.
Plein air
John painting in plein air in Rome, 1998.
“Plein air” painting is a distillation of the painter’s entire experience. Through working in the field I’ve learned much about the essence of what we do as artists. Because the sun is moving, clouds are coming and going, and wind and insects are all conspiring against us, the painter is forced to quickly create his “virtual reality” on canvas. The artist must immediately get down the shapes of the subject, inject them with dimension through the use of hue and tone, and create distance and atmosphere – all within a finite timeframe. It is due to this immediacy that the painting is not overworked or overburdened with extraneous detail- the result being a spontaneous piece of art capturing the essence of the subject.”
-John Morton Barber
The artist painting at Notre Dame, Paris, France 2005.
National Maritime Historical Society
Gary Jobson- world-class sailor, television commentator and author, presents the National Maritime Historical Society’s Distinguished Service Award to the artist at Washington, D.C. Army & Navy Club.
A belated entry to gratefully acknowledge The Society for their presentation to me, in the spring of 2009, their Distinguished Service Award. This honor was bestowed upon me for my artistic efforts in “Preserving the maritime heritage of America”. The presentation was made by Master of Ceremonies and past recipient Gary Jobson at Washington, D.C’s Army and Navy Club.
Kathy and John Barber with the NMHS award.
Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, received the NMHS Bravo Zulu Award in recognition of "Heroic and inspirational performance in the fine tradition of the sea services".
Barber vs Barber
What a pleasure it is for me to announce the first ever, father & son exhibition of our artwork!
When: Opening Reception 5:30-8:30 PM October 9, 2009. Exhibition closes November 13, 2009
Where: Gallery 5800/ upstairs at Suitable for Framing, 5800 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226 804.285.0774.
To learn more about the event, please visit http://www.BarbervsBarber.com
Barber vs Barber:
I, primarily a painter of the Chesapeake Bay, will join son Joshua R. Barber, painter of modern icons, October 9 for this unique opportunity. The exhibition, “Barber vs. Barber,” is my first major Richmond show in seven years and Joshua Barber’s first local show in three years. The exhibition will feature approximately 50 original pieces of artwork.
I am a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists and have painted professionally for more than 30 years. I had great success in the 1980s painting the characteristic seascapes and historic vessels of the Chesapeake Bay, most notably the now-rare skipjacks. I have also painted Virginia landscapes, Richmond cityscapes and scenes from our travels in Europe and elsewhere. I’ve painted for President Reagan and the Clinton administration; but one of my fondest memories is of the eleven days I spent with Walter Cronkite while creating a painting of his beloved sailing yacht Wyntje entering Edgartown Harbor on Martha’s Vineyard.
Our son Joshua Barber paints modern icons. His stylized figures depict microcosms of memory both whimsical and dark. He has held two solo shows in Richmond and been selected for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ “Art After Hours” for three consecutive years. Joshua has most recently shown his work in New York, Los Angeles and London; his last exhibit was held in August at Knifesmith Gallery in Bristol, England.
Please join us if you can, John
The Barber Family
The Extended Barber Family- Standing: Shigeru Nakajima, John, Joshua, Adam, Melissa, Sitting - Kathy, Yoshitaka, Mizuha and her mother Setsuko Nakajima.
John's wife Kathy Barber - Lucca, Italy 2008
My Days with Walter Cronkite
"Returning Home", Wyntje sailing into Edgartown Harbor, 1999 Oil on Linen, 16" x 26" from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cronkite
There is certainly nothing I could add of any substance to the public mourning of Walter Cronkite’s passing. However, I would like to say a few words about the man and to recount some of my favorite memories.
It was fall 1998 when Wyntje, Cronkite’s 60′ English built sailing ketch, passed through Deltaville, Virginia on her way south to Tortola, British Virgin Islands. I met the captain of the vessel whose mission it was to deliver the boat safely to the Caribbean. He gave me a tour of the boat at which time I was pleased to find one of my skipjack prints hanging on the bulkhead in the main saloon. I dropped a note to Walter, whom I’d met at an awards dinner in Washington, D.C. a few years earlier, and expressed my pleasure at seeing my art aboard his boat and that if he had interest in having Wyntje painted that I’d be happy to accommodate him.
Shortly thereafter he called and we discussed the painting and what would be the setting- Tortola [the boat's wintering location] or Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where he and wife Betsy had a lovely summer home. During that winter we continued to discuss the project and possible settings. The decision was made to paint his beloved yacht at Martha’s Vineyard the following spring.
Among Walter’s many attributes was his acumen as a sailor. He had a great appreciation for the most minuscule details of a boat’s design and rigging and how they related to the vessel’s performance. He realized that for me to do a proper painting of his boat that I would need to see her under sail- thereby he invited me to sail with him and a few friends with his captain and mate for the final leg of the journey north: from Annapolis, Maryland to Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard.
Walter Cronkite and John Barber
We departed Annapolis harbor May, 27 at 10:00 AM as Walter had calculated the current in the East River [NY] which can make headway impossible for sailing vessels. Under fair skies we sailed up the Chesapeake Bay, through the Chesapeake/Delaware canal and down Delaware Bay where nightfall overtook us. I recalled a wonderful dinner of roast pork tenderloin, freshly baked bread and a very nice Cabernet- Walter’s paid captain also had been trained at Paris’ Le Cordon Bleu! First Class! Wine was limited as we were at sea and soon passed Cape May, New Jersey, where we turned north
up the Atlantic coast for New York City.
All aboard, except Walter, stood their turn on watch that night and the sun arose on May 28 to find us north of Atlantic City. That day was a delight as we all took our watch at the helm of Wyntje, including Walter, when he wasn’t on his cell phone trying to convince Donald Trump not to continue the high-rise across the street from the Cronkite’s apartment in Manhattan which would block their view of the Empire State Building! What a day- stories of Henry Kissinger, General Eisenhower, the bombing of London… names and stories flowed like pages of history being turned by the salty sea breezes which propelled us. That afternoon we sailed into New York harbor, the Stature of Liberty off our port side, the East River ahead and our port of City Island Yacht Club at which we arrived about 8:00 PM and picked up a mooring.
Walter left the boat that evening to spend the Memorial Day weekend with wife Betsy at their home in Manhattan. Sunday evening they returned with daughter Nancy and her friend. We all turned in early, had a good night’s sleep in order to head out the following morning for Essex, Connecticut. During that day, sailing eastward through Long Island Sound- I enjoyed getting to know Betsy and hearing her talk about their wonderful life together. Nancy too, a very interesting lady! After docking and showers we all trouped up to the famed Griswold Inn for dinner. Such heady times, traveling with the Cronkites!
The following morning found us heading out for Mystic as we picked our way through a literal sea of lobster pots in a pea-soup fog heading eastward. We moored Wyntje at the dock at the Mystic Seaport Museum to much fanfare as the Cronkites were frequent visitors there. It was amazing to see the public and their response to Walter. It was clear that, without exception, everyone who saw him admired and respected him- and he was so patient and respectful of these people who simply wanted to be in his midst!
June 2, we departed for Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and the fog on Rhode Island Sound persisted- still wonderful to be aboard this magnificent yacht! In the afternoon we spotted the island to starboard and eventually rounded the northern most portion and into Nantucket Sound. We sailed down the eastern side of the island still shrouded in fog and eventually picked up the Edgartown Lighthouse which led us into the harbor. Once inside, just off Walter’s yacht club, the sun broke through and the skies cleared. This would become the scene which I’d replicate in my painting. Just a bit south of the center of town we finally arrived at the Cronkite home, a stately cedar shake clad home standing proudly on the hillside overlooking the harbor.
Walter and Kathy Barber at the Cronkite home on Martha's Vineyard
My wife Kathy arrived on the island the following day and we were treated to an additional five-day stay with Betsy and Walter. We toured the island; shopped, lunched with the family and friends and of course I sketched and photographed Wyntje and the area for my painting. The four of us visited Ray Ellis and his wife for cocktails one evening. Ray is a fine watercolor artist and a close friend of Walter’s. He also illustrated Walter’s sailing books.
After our visit Walter drove us all out to his favorite restaurant in the little town of Menemsha. While having dinner, I asked him to retell the story of his visit to Yellowstone Park for Kathy. “Well Kathy”, Walter related
“Betsy and I were at the park with some of our grandchildren, outside the visitors center, when a lady walked up and said ‘excuse me sir, has anyone ever told you that you look very much like Walter Cronkite… before he died?’ I looked back at her and with what must have been a look of surprise said that I’d heard that from time to time. She then added ‘however he was quite a bit thinner’. The lady then turned and looked quizzically at Betsy and inquired, ‘Mr. Cronkite, he is dead isn’t he?’ Without a second’s hesitation Betsy, with her inimitable wit, answered ‘oh yes his is, quite, I understand he died of ‘thinness’!”
I wonder if that lady now realizes that she was speaking with the Man himself?
Sorry if I’ve been too longwinded. These eleven days were something that I will never forget and I will forever be in the debt of this great man who means so much to so many!
John M. Barber
Betsy and Walter Cronkite, Kathy and John Barber at the unveiling if the painting. Christmas, 1999 NY, NY.
Betsy and Walter Cronkite, Kathy and John Barber at the Cronkite’s Christmas party 1999. The gathering was held at the Cronkite’s mid-town Manhattan home and was the first public showing of the artist’s painting of their sailing yacht Wyntje , seen to the left.
La Dolce Vita- The Art & Wine of Italia!
Chef Pepinno, John, Kathy and Alberto Mastromano
I was invited to attend a wine tasting on June 23, 2009 at Little Venice Restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. This wonderful restaurant is owned by our friends from Capri, Italy, Peppino and Alberto Mastromano. Kathy and I attended this sold- out affair with six of my paintings from our travels in Italy. We enjoyed the most delicious dishes from Peppino’s kitchen such as Marinated Swordfish, Orecchiette and Roasted Hangar Steak in a Barbera Demi Glaze. Wines were paired with the menu which ranged from a most refreshing Insolia from Sicily, a lovely Pinot Grigio from the Alto Adige region, Barbera From Piedmont with its elegant smoky, red cherry and rhubarb notes to the essence of Tuscany- Chianti Classico, the famed wine of Italy.
Wine tasting at Little Venice
The convivial group munched, swirled, sipped and viewed six of my painting from the north of Italy in Venice, to the central, Tuscan Region in Lucca and Siena and the south of Italy in Positano and the Isle of Capri.
“Crossing the Chesapeake- 1948″ Major Painting
A client from Bethesda, Maryland approached me in spring, 2008 with a concept for a painting. As a young boy, during the latter part of the 1940s, he and his family would spend summers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with relatives. They would drive to Sandy Point, near Annapolis, and take the auto ferry across the Chesapeake Bay to Matapeake and then on to Aunt Joan’s home. On one crossing in 1948, my friend made a photo of the ferryboat itself as well as a locally built wooden crabbing skiff which he found near his Aunt’s home. The photos were lost for over 50 years and once found, he conceived his plan. He presented the photos to me and explained his vision. We researched the ferry and found it to be the Gov. Harry W. Nice which ran across the Chesapeake until 1952 when the Bay Bridge opened and the ferry was sold.
I began sketches showing the two vessels passing on the bay off Sandy point with the old brick lighthouse in the background. Against all odds my client located the ferry, renamed Olympic in Seattle, Washington on the Puget Sound. The modern-day photos from Seattle were very helpful in filling in the blanks pertaining to the details of the vessel. After review and approval of my sketches and a subsequent oil study, I completed the major painting.
My friend and client is a collector of art, a boater, a fisherman and lover of the Chesapeake and Atlantic shore. He now enjoys living with a visual representation of some of fondest childhood memories. This is his second Barber commission.
The “Crossing” study is oil on art board, 4 5/8” x 7 5/8”. The major painting is oil on linen canvas 16” x 27”, overall framed size 22 ½” x 33 ½”. Illustrated is an image of major painting.
IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE MY “WET PAINT” EMAILS SHOWING NEW ARTWORK IMMEDIATELY OFF THE EASEL, CONTACT ME AT johnbarberart@rcn.com AND ADD “WET PAINT” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
John M. Barber
Fellow ASMA
“Reaching for the Finish”
"Reaching for the Finish"
In 1898 Edward Hogshire opened a sail loft in Norfolk, Virginia and began making canvas sails for working craft such as skipjacks, bugeye ketches, freighting schooners etc. In 1938 R. B. Hogshire, son of the founder, took over the firm. During the 1950s R.B.[Happy] Hogshire, third generation became involved in the family owned business. By now the firm was making, in addition to other awning products, modern Nylon and Dacron sails for pleasure boats since the days working sail were but a memory.
An active member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Happy enjoyed racing his locally built Hampton one-design sloop and in 1952 he won First Place in the National Hampton One Championship. In this painting we see him at the tiller of his Hampton # 506 leading the pack of his NYCC competitors on his reach to the finish line. Happy’s sails and those of many of the other boats in the fleet were made by Hogshire sails. This painting replicates those days during a race in the 1950s on the Lafayette River off the Club’s property. Hogshire still operates in the Norfolk, Virginia region. This painting was created expressly for Happy Hogshire. Canvas Giclee prints are available- visit http://www.johnbarberart.com/ for information.
By John M. Barber
Summer 2008
“Custom” or Commissioned Original Art “Afternoon on the Sassafras”
Nellie Crockett
Since I no longer publish or distribute prints of my paintings personally, virtually all my time is now spent creating new artwork. Earlier in my career all my art was conceived and created for my studio and sold at auction once every two to three years in Richmond, Va. During those years one could rarely purchase a painting outside this private event which was held in the Grand Ballroom of Richmond’s prestigious Commonwealth Club. This was partly due to the demands of our print business which was all consuming- we published 136 limited editions [or different images] of my art during those nearly 30 years. Due to the staff required to host these occasional, private sales and my desire for a slower paced lifestyle, I no longer stage the auctions.
Today, I still paint originals for myself and offer them via my “Wet Paint” emails directly to the buyer as well as on my Website. However, most of my art is created specifically for “the client”. I enjoy working, one on one, with the person who wishes to own my painting and I enjoy the challenge of bringing their “vision” to life on canvas. This post will discuss the creation of a painting from concept through completion and for reference I’ll use a commission from last year which the buyer and I particularly enjoyed collaborating on.
It began when the current owner of a 1925 vintage Chesapeake Bay buy boat came to me asking if I would do a painting of their beloved vessel. I knew this boat in an earlier day when she was owned by Captain James Ward who berthed “Nellie Crockett” at his dock on Jackson Creek, Deltaville, Virginia. After my friend Captain Ward “Crossed the Bar” as Tennyson phrased it, the boat was purchased by this new family from the eastern shore of Maryland.
It was this gentleman who came to me for a painting of her. He was familiar with my art and even had a limited edition print of one of my early paintings of his boat “Nellie”. He explained that he’d like to see her portrayed at his dock on the Sassafras River. I visited the family, toured the boat which I had not seen in years and was treated to one of the most delicious venison dinners I’ve ever had. The deer was felled by my host and during the meal we discussed what “Nellie” meant to himself, his wife and their two sons and how he’d like her portrayed. I explained to my client and his wife how I wished no surprises for myself and certainly not for them during the creation of their painting. We discussed how the following day I would make additional photos [I had many from the past when she was in Virginia waters and I had painted her] and how I would do sketches and color studies to be sure I was “on track” before I attacked the final canvas. This brought them much comfort as they had never “commissioned” a painting before and since they were not “art collectors” they felt reassured by the process which I outlined. A price was then decided upon. I do all in my power to relive the client of uncertainty at each step of a painting.
After returning to my studio I did the initial sketch. It is simple ink on paper and I emailed it to my friend explaining that this was a but “doodle” intended to determine the basic elements and composition which I felt represented what the client was envisioning. A more finished drawing would follow but only after they’d agreed that we were of a similar understanding. He did approve the “doodle” with a couple comments; one being that he would like his son’s radio controlled model of “Nellie” to appear in the painting. During my visit I had enjoyed seeing the proud young man pilot his home-made model of Dad’s boat around the harbor. It does not appear in this version but “Lil’ Nellie” is on the left in the reflection of the boat house in the second sketch on the right.
The pencil sketch shows much more detail than the initial “doodle”. I emailed [ in the 'old days' I would have visited the client or shipped the drawing to them!] the new drawing and they were thrilled with the image and wanted to proceed to the next step which was the oil or “color” sketch. This would give us all our first look at how the piece would come to life with color and atmosphere. The pen and pencil sketches were about 4″ x 8″ and the oil study about 5″ x 10″.
As you can see we have a beautiful afternoon on the Sassafras River and to the right background you see another buy boat which is owned by my client’s best friend who lives across the River in Georgetown, Maryland. The boat model is more visible in the left foreground and the Captain’s two sons’ skiffs
are tied alongside the pilothouse. Again, thanks to digital photography and email, the image was viewed immediately by the family and was met by much favor by all four members. There were discussions concerning minor rigging details of the vessels but for the most part it would be painted on the final canvas just as you see it in the preparatory, oil study.
I then prepared the larger canvas, 14″ x 28″ and drew off the image in pencil directly on the prepared canvas surface. Before long, the finished painting emerged and was photographed. Again, it was emailed to my friends and was a hit all around. You can see this image below. After the client’s email approval, the piece was beautifully framed , the hand- lettered nameplate attached and
properly lighted. Then the clients visited my studio in Richmond for the final “viewing” of the actual piece [ for the first time] and were quite happy. The two originals now hang in their lovely home overlooking “Nellie” at their dock.
So, you now see how the process works! I take great pleasure and pride in my art and have enjoyed the many clients with whom I’ve worked over the years. I feel very fortunate that many of them have become long-time friends.
Another interesting aspect of this project was that the owners of “Nellie Crockett” wished to have a dozen high quality prints on canvas made to be given as gifts to friends and family. There is a studio in Richmond that creates beautiful Giclee prints of artwork. This is a technique for making magnificent reproductions of originals and one may order small editions- as few as one up to 100. I was happy to have these prints made for the buyers and they were able to share their new possession.
*Caveat- do be aware that when one purchases an original piece of art, the copyrights do not automatically convey with the sale. Permission must be granted by the artist before any reproductions may be legally made.
If you’d like to discuss my recreating your vision on canvas, return an email [ use a subject such as “Original Painting” or similar so I’ll not toss your inquiry out with the many offers for Watches or Vitamins. I’ll be happy to add your email address to my “Wet Paint” emailing list which I send out often showing new art straight off my easel!
It’s back to studio for me and to you I wish Fair Winds!
John