J Class Ranger Update

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.

Colonia Update

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

Recreating Herreshoffs first schooner Colonia

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

Shamrock 111 1903 America's Cup Time Lapse

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

1903 Americas Cup

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

American Society of Marine Artists First Annual Online Show

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.

Bill Koch an America's Cup Legend

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.

J Class Book Project

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.

New York Yacht Club visit

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.

1934 Americas Cup. Race 4 the Luff incident.

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.

1934 Americas Cup, Endeavour vs Rainbow

Yachtings Goldern Era.

The Story of the J Class and the Americas Cup . Palm Ave Fine Arts, Sarasosta. March 8th

I’m very excited to share with you my latest solo show that is to tell the story of the J Class and the Americas Cup. The show will consist of 6 large paintings the first of them shown here. The canvas entitled “ She’s a Faster Boat” shows the start of the second leg of the first race of the 1934 Americas Cup. The Defender Rainbow had lead around the windward mark but was quickly past on the down wind leg by Endeavour which went on to win the first race of the cup.

oli on canvas 30x40inches

Rebirth of the J Class Newport RI 1989

My current project for an oil on canvas 30x40 inches is to tell the story of the rebirth of the J Class. The painting is inspired by the enery and vision of Elizabeth Mayer. Elizabeth had seen Endeavour an empty hull whilst sailing on the solent. She bought the hull and had her restored. in 1986 she also founded J Class Management and restored Shamrock V. in September 1989 her dream came a reality and two J class Yachts were seen to race again followed by a spectator fleet of some 3000 boats. The Js went on to sail 3 more races that year in Annapolis, ,boston and New York involving such people as Ted Turner, Gary Jobson, Ted Kennedy, John Carey, David Vietor and Ted Hood. These are the stories I love to share through my work and I’m excited to see this painting progress. I’ll be sharing the progress on my Coming Soon Section

1934 Americas Cup

Im currently working on a few concepts for the 1934 americas Cup

Concept sketches and storyboards for the 1934 Americas Cup

Richard Mille Cup

last week the solent was visited by some of the worlds most beautiful classic yachts for the first Richard Mille Cup. The event was blessed by sunshine and wind. I had such a great week afloat with my partner Caroline gathering reference images for future paintings.

Ephemeral

I’m delighted to have completed my latest commission for some very good clients. Ephemeral, oil on canvas 28x42inches was commissioned to mark a special occasion, my clients wanting a spectacular painting.

Ephemeral oil on canvas 28x42 inches

June Field Trip to Cornwall.

With a large swell forecasted for the north coast of Cornwall I could not resist a quick trip down. I was not disappointed and was lucky to capture some fantastic waves.

Portcurno, Gwynver qnd Podhu.

En Plein Air Godrevy

During my last trip to Cornwall I managed to get a little En Plein Air painting done at Godrevy

Cornwall Road Trip

I’ve just returned from an 8 day road trip along the Cornish north coast visiting some new and old favourite locations. With sunny days and big waves I had plenty of subject matter for me to paint, sketch and photograph, much of which I hope to share over the coming weeks.

Treyarnon Cove

New Print Release

It’s been a busy and productive start to the year with a second studio move and 3 new large Seascapes completed. These new works, Elation, Mirth and Luscious Blue are all available as limited edition prints. With these paintings completed I’ll shortly be making my first field trip to Cornwall to gather some new reference and material for a new series of paintings.

Elation ,oil on canvas 32x48inchs

Mirth oil on Canvas 24x40inches

Luscious Blue oil on canvas 32x48inches

New Vertical Seascape

To start the New Year of in my new Studio I gave myself a little challenge, I wanted to try and capture all the energy and movement of a big wave rolling in with a foreground of fizzing foam, for this a choose my first vertical composition. I’m very pleased with the results. This painting will be exclusively available via my website and limited edition prints will soon be available.

oil on canvas 30x40 inches. Available