Ingomar off Greenwich Point 1907

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

Marblehead visit

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. 

Palm Beach Show

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.

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

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.

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