"The Blue Skies" and "The Blue Ocean" are two of the Eastern-rig boats that still fish the waters off the Cape. They are great looking boats.
Stop by the gallery in Orleans, MA and the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, MA if you have a chance. The guys have turned out a bunch of good looking art for the shows. It will all be up on the gallery web site soon. Some of the guys wait till the last minute to send in their images.
The crew of the Blue Ocean were working on the boat on this particular morning and I was hoping they would be motoring out soon. I aligned myself so I could get a good reference photo of them leaving the dock. I thought it would be a good way to make the design a little different than the paintings I have done of her before. The Pilgrim Monument and the masts of the Razor's Edge on the right give a nice balance to the Blue Ocean and it's a classic Provincetown view.
"Blue Ocean" 20x24" oil on linen. Frank Gardner © 2010
$2,800. Framed. Available at Addison Art Gallery. Orleans, MA
I started "Last Light on the Blue Skies" on the spot. I was really attracted to the late afternoon light on the side of the boat. It was painted on a very shaky pier with Dan Corey and Colin Page. Each time one of us moved the whole pier rocked. Not to mention every time someone came out to look and see what we were doing. It was like painting standing up in a row boat. Great golden light hitting the side of that boat though. Glad the start was good enough to bring it to completion once I got back home.
"Last Light on the Blue Skies" 8x10" oil on linen. Frank Gardner © 2010
$780. Framed. Available at Addison Art Gallery. Orleans, MA
12 comments:
Beautiful! Love those boats!
They are both beautiful, Frank!! WOW... What wonderful shows... Wish I could see them.
These boat painting are great Frank, you are super talented! I especially like how many shapes there are within the shapes for variety and harmony. I love painting boats like this also, your paintings are a delight to the senses.
Thanks Matt!
Fly on out to the Cape Marian.
You too Nancy. They really are better in person.
Thanks Esther. "Shapes within the shapes" That's what I'm thinking once I have my plan, and the design is all laid out.
great work Frank and it was worth hanging around for that light, wonderful atmosphere, probably a result of all that rocking about;)
Beautiful work Frank. I hope to get down to the show. This "Creative Convergence" idea has some real legs. Art historians take note!
Thanks Rahina! Gotta love that golden light. Too bad it changes so fast at that time of day.
Yeah, the rocking helped keep me from getting too tight. We should all have someone knocking our arms when we start to tighten up.
Thanks Jack. Hope you can get down for the shows. The receptions are a month after they hang this year. Hope there is something left to see in Feb. Actually, I hope there is not : )
I love these! Your skies are always so awesome too. Do you underpaint and let some of the undercolor show through?
Thanks Justin, Good question. Sometimes I do underpaint the sky and let some of that show through. On this one (top) I just went at it alla prima. It would be a good topic for a future post. I'll keep it in mind.
Hey Frank, these look outstanding - I shoulda tried painting some of those boats with you guys - Eric
Fantastic paintings Frank. Especially love the way you've captured the late sunshine in 'Last Light...' Superb piece.
I agree with Kevin. "Last Light" is a fabulous painting. I live in a marine environment and see boats like this all the time, and you absolutely nailed the age and beauty of that one. That glowing golden light combined with the rusty bits--just gorgeous.
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