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Ever since I was a boy watching my Dad building models of sailing ships, battleships and Aircraft Carriers I have found them a great help and inspiration. I work a lot from models either those I have seen in collections I have visited around the world or those I build myself. They provide both inspiration and an incredible amount of information and reference to work from. @shanecouchmarineartist #herreshoffmarinemuseum #yachtmodels #marinepainting #classicyachts #americascup
Minerva study
Normally the ideas for a painting begin with me working from race reports or yacht plans. In the case of yacht plans, I draw my chosen vessel from various angles so I get to understand her shape and form completely. Its during this part of the process that I begin to get excited about how and from angle I would like to portray her. These sketches are a little like the preliminary sittings a portrait artist will do with his sitter before going on to the actual painting itself.
One of the paintings planned for my upcoming show will be a small study for a future larger painting depicting Minerva. Built by William Fife in 1888 Minerva was set to change the history and future development of yachting and launch the careers of the relatively unknown skipper Charlie Barr who had brought the Scottish cutter across the Atlantic to America and the yacht designer Nat Herreshoff. It was Herreshoff who after Minerva’s domination of the 40 foot class in 1889 answered the call for “ Anything to beat Minerva” with his famed 46 footer Gloriana.
When I completed my painting depicting the Herreshoff schooners Elena, Eleanora and Mariette racing off Palma in 2016 that one day I would visit the paintings owners house and meet Halsey Herreshoff the legendary Americas Cup veteran and grandson of the famous Wizard of Bristol Nat Herreshoff. It was a day I’ll never forget and one I could never had envisioned when I stood in front of the freshly completed painting in my studio.
A little behind the scenes look at some of the crazy things that go into creating a painting. The cameo scene is Mrs Hope Iselin wife of Oliver Iselin the syndicate leader of Reliance in the 1903 America’s Cup. Mrs Iselin was a pioneering photographer and was actually on board Reliance with her box brownie during the races for the 1903 America’s Cup. I’ve depicting her looking back at Charlie Barr as Reliance approaches the windward mark. To set the scene up I specially commissioned the costumes and built a mock up deck in my back garden. My partner Caroline posed for Mrs Iselin. We had a lot of fun getting into character for the shoot.
As I gear up for my show @thomsenfineart in March I look back at the remarkable time I had last year when the gallery hosted the American Society of Marine Artists @asma_americanmarineartists . It was a remarkable event where I got to meet many of my painting hero’s like ASMA president Patrick o Brian, Sergio Roffo, Bill Farnsworth, Len Mizerek, Michael B Karas and Debbie Daniels to name but a few. The night of the show was capped of with a great dinner together.
Fresh start for the New Year
2026 is here! 10 weeks to show date last canvas on the easel and it’s a big one. This will go to the wire. Here we go.💪🏼 @shanecouchmarineartist @thomsenfineart #showtime #letitgo
In this new painting I’ve depicted Herreshoffs first purposely designed schooner Ingomar racing the schooner Elmina off Greenwich Point 1907 . This in the next instalment of my ongoing Charlie Barr Project .
Ingomar off Great Greenwich Point 1907
A remarkable day at Marblehead, home to the Eastern Yacht Club. During its history the Eastern Yacht Club has played host to some iconic regattas and has played host to the New York Yacht Clubs annual Cruise on many occasions. It was here that the 5 great J Class yachts Ranger, Rainbow, Yankee, Endeavour 11 and Endeavour 1 had their last race in 1937. It was such a special moment to be at this venue and imagine all the history unfolding around me.
Reflecting on an incredible research trip on Cape Code and Rhode Island with Colin Thomsen of Palm Ave Fine Art. During the trip we visited many of the iconic locations from Yachtings Golden Age such as Marblehead, Buzzards Bay, Newport and Bristol to name but a few. I owe a great debt of thanks to Colin who made this trip the great success it was.
I’m really proud to have two of my paintings exhibited with the Cavalier Galleries at this years Palm Beach show. The show which runs from February 13th to 18th is known as the most luxurious and sophisticated showcase of its kind in the United States. The event hosts the most sought after dealers in the world exhibiting important art, antiques and jewellery.
Progress update on a small study of the J Class Ranger at Palma 2014 oil on panel 8.5x15 inches
This week Ive got a third coat on my Ranger painting, The deck will get one more modelling coat before the final tints are applied. I’ll also start building up the sails, sea and sky.
First coat on my Colonia deck study. Oil on panel 12x24
The schooner Colonia
The first part of the week was spent comparing my original 3d model with the model in the Herreshoff Museum and photographs in the Library of Congress. Various differences where noticed so my model was altered to reflect these differences. Once I was happy I began the deck study. The study has had an initial coat to establish the details and now these details will be refined over the coming weeks
On my recent visit to the Herreshoff Musemum at Bristol RI I was so pleased to find a fully rigged model of Colonia. Colonia was Nat Herrehoffs first great schooner and a yacht that would inspire the great line of schooners that would include Ingomar, Queen, Elena and Westward.. Colonia had originally been built as a sloop in 1893 as a potential defender of the 1893 America’s Cup, she lost out in the defender trials to Vigilant a fellow Herreshoff design but being of sound construction she was later modified to a schooner rig and with Charlie Barr went on to have a very successful career. During the late 1890s and early 1900s Colonia raced the finest of the New York Yacht Clubs schooner fleet including such great schooners as Emerald, Aerial, Qussetta, Amorita and Elmina.
Seeing the model reminded me of a mock up I did for a painting of her using my 3d model in 2008. My recent visit has inspired my next project to bring this historic yacht to life. I’ll be using this mock up along with reference photos from last years visit to the Herreshoff Museum to produce a close in action painting of the schooner Colonia.
It’s mt intension to share the various steps of the process for this new painting on this blog
Colonia 3d model rendering
Building up the deck details
The above time lapse above shows the meticulous build up of the deck detail of my recent painting depicting Shamrock 111 racing Reliance for the 1903 America’s Cup. First starting with an empty deck I add the various deck houses and windward crew many of which will be obscured by later spar adjustments. Next we add leeward crew and helmsman before finally adding the all the rigging and sail panels.
When I have a clear idea of the design and where I want the crew I’ll pose for the crew myself
I’m pleased to have recently completeed two new paintings inspired by a recent trip to the Herreshoff Museum and the New York Yacht Club. The paintings both oil on canvas focus on the two competing yachts of the 1903 americas Cup Reliance Shamrock . The first focuses on Reliance as she heads Shamrock during the first race and the second painting shows Shamrock as she gives chase during the second race of the cup. I’ll shortly be putting together a time lapse for both these paintings.
Both paintings are available via Cavalier Galleries USA
Reliance oil on canvas 21x42 inches AVAILABLE
Shamrock iii oil on canvas 21x42 inches AVAILABLE
I am incredibly honoured to have won the “Best in Show” at the first Annual online Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artist”. To have won this award in a show featuring so many great Marine Artists is one of the high points of my career to date.
One of the highlights of my recent research trip to America was meeting America’s Cup legend Bill Koch. Bill famously won the Americas Cup in 1992 defeating the 4 times America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner for the right to defend. I was honoured to spend an afternoon with Bill at his home listening to his remarkable story and seeing his incredible collection of America’s Cup memorabilia and artefacts.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the J Class I’m embarking on a 5 year project to tell the story of these great yachts through a series of paintings that I’ll collect in a book. The book is not intended to be an exhaustive history but a celebration of the beauty and power of these incredible yachts. I hope to post updates on my website of the work as it is produced and the research behind each of the paintings.
I was so lucky to fulfil a lifetimes ambition last week, that of visiting the New York Yacht Club and spending time in the Model Room, Trophy Room and Library.
I was granted special permission to sketch the models to help in my projects to depict the history of the J Class and tell the story of Charlie Barr. The reference I gained was of great value in helping me to tell these great stories.
Endeavour vs Rainbow
Colour concept study. oil on paper
I’m currently exploring different angles to depict the famous Luff incident during race 4 of the 1934 Americas Cup.
Endeavour after changing headsails luffs 2.5 points above the course and as she gathers way Rainbow closes on her, Vanderbilt believing Endeavour would be a fault does not respond to Endeavours luff forcing Endeavour to bear away to avoid a collision. To this day the rights and wrongs of this is hotly disputed.
Rainbow passed Endeavour and went on to win the forth race and square the contest at 2 races each.
Seascape and Marine Artist
