Mayflower II

[caption id="attachment_135" align="aligncenter" width="387"] Mayflower II, 9.5" x 12"[/caption]

In March 2013, a ship was being repaired in Fairhaven.  It looked elegant and out of this world;  I had an urge to paint it.  Later found out that the ship is the Mayflower II, a full size replica of Mayflower.  Many hours from May to July was spend working on this painting, until Mayflower II was taken back to Plymouth in the end of July.  Finally, I revisited the painting today and added some finishing touches to complete it.

 

Learning about a Sinking Ship - Challenge

[caption id="attachment_108" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Sinking Ship[/caption]

View of New Bedford port is enjoyble from the other side of the water in FairHaven.  Growing up in a land-locked country, Nepal, I am fascinated with marine life.  I have been spending some time painting near a shipyard and I was drawn to an old ship.  It is sinking, falling apart and looking abandoned.  Ironically, the name of the ship is Challenge.  I am happy to have completed two paintings of my favorite ship earlier this summer.

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Sinking Ship, 9.5" x 13.75", Oil, 2013[/caption]

The ship has been there for a year or two.  It is not repairable and no longer salvageable.  I think it may be cut up for scrapes next year.  Thanks to a gentleman John who has been living in this area for a long time, I have learned a lot  about this ship including a picture posted below.

[caption id="attachment_106" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Challenge in its glory[/caption]

 

• Built in 1964 by Newbert & Wallace, Thomaston, Maine


• Length  x Breadth  x Depth    56.7 x 17 x  7.8


• 350 Horse Power


• Owned by Challenge Inc, New Bedford, MA

Chief & Clyde has been repaired

I went back to the ship yard today and I was disappointed to see that Chief & Clyde had already left.  Fortunately, the painting already has most of the ship's structure and there are few other similar ships in the yard for references.  I focused on the surrounding of the boats.  The house was repainted with different shades of yellow couple of times before settling on the darker shade of green.  The placement of the window is still not ideal, it has been moved a few times.  I will come back again with fresher eyes to add finishing touches.

 

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Chief & Clyde and Dictator

Chief & Clyde and Dictator, these are the names of the two boats I am currently painting in a ship yard.  The ship yard is large. There are all kinds of ships:  sail boats, fishing boats and commercial yachts. When the boat is on land, the view is magnificent.  You see the other half of the boat that is usually in the water.

I spent a few hours on Saturday drawing the two boats.  I love to draw.  I usually spend a few hours drawing and getting the composition right.  Once I start painting, the drawing underneath disappears.  However, I am already familiar with all the details from the drawing process.

Today I spent a few hours in the morning adding the first layer of colors.  It was a good start.  I used to finish a plein air painting in one day, yet for the last two years it is taking me longer.  I used to paint what is in front of me.  Now I am spending a lot more time editing and thinking.  This process is a lot more enjoyable.

 

Last day of Brimfield Antique Show 2013

Sunday, September 8th was the last day for this year's outdoor antique show in Brimfield, Massachusetts.  It is considered one of the largest outdoor antique shows in the world.  There are vendors from all around the world; Afghanistan, Nigeria to name a few.  Unusal and rare items can be seen in this show.  I especially enjoyed looking at old telephone, lamp, bicycle and typewriter.

Film Projector

Rotary phone

The smallest sewing machine

  

Judgement vs Dexterity

"That painter who does not doubt learns little. When the work surpasses the judgement of the worker, that worker acquires little and when the judgement surpasses the work, that work never cease to grow better, unless avarice prevents it."~ Leonardo Da Vinci

I could not find the original author who found this quote.  The description states that it is from Da Vinci's own Trattato della Pittura standard edition of H. Ludwig, Vienna 1882, paragraph number 62.

There is a similar quote by Michelangelo but I prefer Da Vinci's.
"A man paints with his brains and not with his hands." ~ Michelangelo

Third time is the charm

I was back at the same spot for the third time.  The weather was different than it was the last two sittings.  However, I only needed to borrow a few elements to finish the painting.  The yellow building seems a bit void so I added two different windows.  After a few hours of working, I was pretty happy with the result.



Sometimes, you are working on your painting and your work is going in an unfamiliar territory.  You don't know what to do next.  That has happened to me a few times.  I usually stop and then look for more inspiration or look at other artists that could shed some light.

The painting below looked a bit different than my other work.  I really enjoyed the open space and raw lines for the spiral staircase, yet I was stuck.  I began this painting at least 5 months ago.  I brought it  along with me again,  eliminated a lot of surface work and removed repeated lines and shapes.  After few hours of working, I feel stuck again.  May be the third time will be the charm!

[caption id="attachment_25" align="aligncenter" width="300"] May 2013[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_24" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Second Time[/caption]

 

 

Eighth Summer in Maine - Part II

Foggy days are my favorite time in Stonington.  It is quiet, gray, water rises and fall, fog rolls in and out; everything is so poetic and mysterious.  Friday was one of those days.  I went back to my favorite ledge in the morning.  I remember while setting up my easel, there was not much to see.  Fog has enveloped most of the surroundings.  However, it was not dense and it kept on changing like someone playing peek-a-boo.  I loved every minute of it.

Eighth Summer in Maine - Part I

I am back from a painting trip in Maine.  This is my eighth summer in Stonington. The first week was a painting workshop with Jon Imber.  There were 19 other artists in the group.  It is inspiring to see everyone's work and to have a critique with Jon.  I always come back with more energy and motivation to keep working.