The next day, when I walked up to and alongside the sleek, black ship with Virginia carved and painted in gold leaf on its bow, I witnessed all 122 feet of hull majestically stretching along the Portsmouth dock and a new version of the tall pilot ships of yesteryear.  She was magnificent!

I took all the detail pictures from every angle I could think of.  The ship was open to the public that day and I was kindly allowed by the crew to tour the entire ship, including the quarters below.  Completely jazzed about my new discovery, I wasn’t quite sure what would come of it.  After all, the grand ship wasn’t under sail.  I could only imagine what she would look like flying her flags with her sails pulled tight. 

Not too long after, a good friend commissioned me to paint something for our club that I felt would represent our area and be of interest to the club’s members.  I immediately thought of the new Schooner Virginia.  Since it was winter time and the Virginia was in dry dock for the season, I only had a few photos (courtesy of the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA) of the original Virginia schooner to work from with her sails set. 

I ordered a copy of the ship’s plans from the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation and then set about creating a sizeable model from the plans that I could turn to the desired angle that I wanted.  I then photographed the ship tilted to represent her listing to her starboard side and developed a drawing based on my photographs of my ship model. 

It was a rudimentary way of creating a desired effect that would have been much easier if I could have used a CAD/CAM software package, plugged in the ship's specifications and turned the ship 3 dimensionally on a computer screen. 

After much research on sails and rigging for the 1916 pilot schooner, I completed my 30” by 40” painting on a hardwood board.  It was quite a long project from beginning to end but I enjoyed it immensely.  The owners of the painting have generously lent it to our club where it is displayed prominently.

In the last few years the Virginia has been struggling to stay afloat financially.  I was flattered when the Foundation asked me to produce a limited edition print of my painting for their annual fundraiser.  The following year the state funding was cut due to the recession.   In order to keep her wonderful programs going she needs all the help she can get.  You can visit the Schooner Virginia website or see the ship in person at this year’s OpSail 2012 in Norfolk, June 1-12, along with many other tall ships. 

When we bought our nearly 200 year old house in downtown Camden, ME, along with it came my own little Giverny.  Like Monet (but on a much smaller scale) I found myself surrounded by beautiful gardens and blooming trees.  I would look out the front window (my studio) and see the daffodils in the spring along with pink and white peonies standing tall against our white picket fence.  The peonies were so beautiful, one time I looked out and a lady that lived up the street felt the urge to cut an entire bouquet for herself to take home and enjoy!  It was premeditated as she had her scissors in hand.

Occasionally, I would take a coffee break from painting and wander downstairs into our living room to gaze through the picture window.  It was one of my favorite views in the house.  Colorful tall Hollyhocks would catch my peripheral vision as I took in the annual beds on either side of the old stone steps that lead down to our greenhouse and our perennial beds.  Beyond were two church steeples that for me made the view serene. 

On some of these occasions, I would see our 6 foot tall gardener and friend Anna in the middle of the perennial bed with her arms in motion and seemingly talking to herself.  I would always laugh when I realized that she was talking to my 5 foot tall wife Jen, who couldn’t be seen among the phlox.

Other times, I would see tourists meandering down our driveway to take pictures of the perennial flowers in bloom, continuing on into the yard like they lived there. 

Surrounded by hostas, daylilies, beds of impatiens, rose bushes, extensive perennial beds, purple lilac trees etc… I guess it was only a matter of time before I started painting flowers.  One day we were at a good friend’s house and I noticed a beautiful floral still life print on her wall.  When I examined it closer I was surprised to see that it was a Renoir!

I wasn’t aware of Renoir’s magnificent floral still-lifes.   Renoir must have been inspired on his frequent visits to his good friend Claude Monet’s house, Giverny, for he produced some of the most spectacular florals that I’ve ever seen.   I was so inspired that I called up Anna and asked her to put her creative genius to work to create a floral arrangement for me to paint. 

Next thing I knew I was painting flowers!  Being a very slow painter, I quickly realized I had a limited time before all of the flowers shriveled up.  I chose a 30” by 40” inch board to give the piece some grandeur.  Between the short lived life of cut flowers and the sizeable scale of the board, it created an hour glass effect.  I took photos for backup but I sketched and painted as fast as I could in order to work from real life three-dimensional flowers and not two dimensional photographs. 

It was my first floral still-life.  It was inspired by Renoir, created by Anna and a joy to paint.  We ended up buying a print of Auguste-Pierre Renoir’s floral entitled, Spring Bouquet, and it hangs in our guest bedroom.  Seeing his masterpiece daily, makes me want to try again for even though I’m happy with the painting, I know I can do better!

So if you must, call me a quiche eating artist who paints flowers.  It sounds like a great way to spend a day!

The exhibtion is sponsored by Manhattan Arts International which is led by Renée Phillips. She states, “We believe in the healing power of art, not only for the artists during the creative process, but also for viewers. This exhibition of positive images offers viewers the opportunity to experience a powerful transformation. As a juror, I looked for those images that impacted me viscerally in a positive manner, as well as those that showed technical prowess and originality. Winning images range from realism to abstraction, from bold geometrics and colorful humor to breathtaking vistas. The diversity of expression in the exhibition is one of its best features.”

Phillips adds, “We are delighted to promote these 44 exceptional artists and give them exposure to an international audience of art professionals and art enthusiasts."

I am truly honored to be a part of this wonderful exhibition.  You can view the exhibition here.

The paintings I submitted to this exhibition that I felt best met the qualifications of having a "healing power" are: Montepulciano Vista, Rooftops in Rome, Tuscan Sunflowers and Columns in Capri.

I hope you enjoy the online exhibition.  I would love to hear from you.

It all started with my trip to the Muscarelle Museum in Williamsburg, VA, when I saw the Impressionist exhibit and wrote the following blog, Finding Inspiration in Art.   Beautiful landscapes by Degas, Sisley, Hassam, Robinson and others that were so painterly and serene that I thought to myself, I’d like to paint something like that!

The town of Lexington is “Small Town USA” and I could write a blog about it but on this trip I was focused on the surrounding countryside of Rockbridge County.  I got up early to make the three hour trip, attempting to time the morning light just right upon arrival.  Winding my way toward my brother’s home down Route 252 off Highway 81, I had my camera ready. 

Within minutes of turning off the highway, I was winding through the rolling hills, along little creeks and pastures and I soon realized this might be difficult.  It was hard for me to keep my eyes on the road with so many photo opportunities.  There were no shoulders to pull off on.  I drove by a few photo opportunities just because there was no place to pull over.  Already frustrated, I then spotted a single horse standing next to his white barn, looking at me across the mirrored pond that reflected the weeping willow tree that helped frame the shot.  I drove by and then backed up, mustering up the nerve to pull into the farm’s driveway and park, blocking the entrance just for the few minutes I needed to run along the side of the road snapping pictures.  Of course, all hell started breaking loose as the three barnyard dogs came running down the driveway, all barking at me and notifying their owner of my arrival!  Would they stop or would I find myself with them clamped on my leg????  I then pictured a farmer with a sawed-off shotgun running toward me.  I would have loved to have taken more pictures but it was rapid fire and I was on to the next scene. 

Rain set in and I headed to Tom’s.  After showing him my shots he said “We can do even better”.  When the weather cleared up, we hopped in his pick-up truck and that afternoon and the next morning Tom took me on a guided tour of Rockbridge County.  Tom is the kind of guy that can be driving 50 mph over a winding country road and spot a wild turkey off in the woods or a hawk going after its prey.  I’m the kind of guy that has two hands on the wheel and is looking for the oncoming truck coming around the corner! :-)

Tom is a residential builder of beautiful homes and knows the area backwards and forwards.  He is also a nature guy, loves the outdoors and appreciates the beauty of his surroundings.  So with my camera in hand, the two brothers set out on our photo expedition. 

He took me out old Route 60, took a left on Beatie Hollow, we merged onto Turnpike Road, took a right on Sugar Creek and went up and back, then up and back on Bird Forest Road and took a left on Collierstown Road, right up Kyger’s Hill, left on South Buffalo, right on Spring Branch Road, right on Blue Grass Trail and then headed back into town!  The road names I thought would fit nicely into a country western song. Only a local could have mapped out such a pretty course!

Tom said everyone in the area thinks they have the best view in town.  I can certainly see why.  The area is full of picturesque and panoramic views.  Even though the weather didn’t fully cooperate, I arrived home full of inspiration and new painting material. 

Thank you to my brother Tom for going out of his way for me.  Like Maine, going to Lexington, Virginia feels like you’re stepping back in time.  It makes you think of the “good old days”.  The heartening thing is that there still are wonderful places like Lexington to visit and to live, not to mention to set up an easel and paint!

Sisley was known for his rhythmical brushwork, vibrant colors and strong compositional balance.  There is an immediacy to the application of his paint, often his paintings completed in a day. 

In 1995, I had a little time to kill in the Wilmington, DE area.  I had heard that the Brandywine River was picturesque, so Jen and I spent a few hours driving around looking for painting material.  We stumbled upon this Wilmington bridge arching over the Brandywine River and it immediately reminded me of some of the paintings in my Alfred Sisley book

After reviewing some of the brushwork by Sisley in this book, especially in his painting The Provencher Watermill at Moret, I was inspired to paint this painting in a similar style.  I was going for strong lighting and implied movement in the water by applying the paint the way Sisley might have.  Sisley used white highlights to create movement in the water and create a sense of bright light.  I carried this technique over into the trees to create a rhythmic sense of light throughout the painting.

I especially appreciate how Sisley dealt with strong architectural perspective, being structurally accurate while at the same time impressionistic in style.  When asked by Matisse “Who is a typical impressionist?” Pissarro named a single artist, Alfred Sisley!  He was appreciated by his fellow artists but struggled to get recognized during his lifetime. 

I’ve always considered myself a safe and careful driver but the first time I drove into Shaw’s parking lot in New Harbor, Maine, I was so captivated by a dark green lobsterboat leaving the quintessential fishing village that I forgot to put the car in park.  It was the perfect picture!  I grabbed my camera and jumped out of the car with the engine still running and the gear still in drive.  If it wasn’t for Jen’s cry for help the car would have ended up in the harbor with her in it!  I missed the shot.

On another occasion, I wanted to take some photographs of a beautiful view of Curtis Island Light in Camden Harbor, Maine, from a charming grey shingled estate owned by a friendly acquaintance.  She had painted wicker furniture on the deck with flower baskets hanging from the porch.  The quaint porch with Curtis Island Light in the background set against the Penobscot Bay, I thought would make a gem of a painting.  We wanted to commission our artist friend, Ed, to paint a watercolor painting of this scene for us.  I was also considering doing my own painting of it, so we both decided to go photograph it one day.  On a previous occasion, Jen and I had gotten permission to photograph the property but we called to make sure it was OK.  Of course, when I called there was no answer.  Nobody was home.  Perfect, I thought.  We’ll go photograph her home and the magnificent view and not bother anybody.  We told Ed not to worry if someone finds us taking pictures and that we already had permission.  Well sure enough, as we were both photographing this wonderful woman’s home from the driveway, a car pulled into the driveway.  Ed totally panicked and started running for our car as I yelled “No Ed, don’t run”!  We looked totally guilty.  I was mortified.  After a few minutes of damage control our day was made by a guided tour of her beautiful home.  When we look at our commissioned watercolor that Ed painted, we always picture our artist friend trying desperately to make a quick and unnecessary getaway!

On a business trip to Boca Raton, I was on a mission to photograph the MBNA office building within a limited time period.  I only had a few hours in the afternoon to get the shots needed for a quarterly report cover that I was to paint.  When I arrived on location the lighting was perfect.  I knew it was now or never and I grabbed my camera and started taking as many pictures as I could before the lighting changed.  In doing so, I neglected to follow the MBNA protocol and check in with security upon arrival.  Next thing I knew, I was in the security office getting patted down and peppered with questions.  Of course I didn’t have my MBNA badge on me to identify myself, so a call to headquarters was required to prove I actually was who I said I was, the resident artist.  It really was comical how it all went down. My painting is pictured below.

My good friend Charlie, the Schooner Hunter, took me out one day on his 13 foot skiff to photograph the Maine Windjammer Fleet on Windjammer Weekend.  It was unusually rough water and super windy that day.  The schooners only raised their sails half-way because of the stormy seas.  I had my camera bag wrapped up in a plastic bag to protect it against the elements.  Charlie worked us out as far in the bay as he could, knowing how much I wanted the shots.  I was standing up in the bow of the skiff facing the stern, with my camera and zoom lens in hand, when a large wave splashed over the bow and hit me hard on my backside.  Next thing I knew the boat was half flooded and we were heading for shore.  While this was all going on, Jen was back on shore talking to a Maine friend with a lifetime of nautical experience, who asked “Where is Bill?”  When Jen said I was out in a 13 foot skiff photographing the schooners she said “Are you kidding!  It is way too dangerous to be out in a small boat in these conditions.”  She went on to say that a number of years ago, Camden would have issued a small boat warning on days like this but they stopped doing it.  “I hope he’s OK.”  Jen was so glad to see me drive up and see that I hadn’t been lost at sea.  The shots were all a little crooked due to the rocking of the skiff but I lived to tell about it. 

Whenever I have unusual experiences like these, Jen will invariably say to me in jest “Why couldn’t you have just been an accountant or a lawyer or something other than an artist?”   I hope you found some humor in my mishaps and misfortunes!  It was fun reminiscing.

One of my first schooner paintings, the Victory Chimes captured this moment.  The style is somewhat primitive.  I wanted to focus on the bright colors, the size of the ship in relation to the lighthouse and make it a fun painting.

The Victory Chimes schooner is now over 100 years old.  She was built in 1900 in Delaware and was originally named the Edwin & Maude.  Hauling lumber and freight, sailing as a merchant vessel and eventually a passenger ship, her history is rich.  She assisted the U. S. during WWII reporting the status of the anti-submarine mine field at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay and was on constant lookout for German U-Boats.  In 1954, she began a new life in Maine and was renamed Victory Chimes by Captain Frederick “Boyd” Guild.

In 1987, the Victory Chimes was bought by Domino Pizza and was renamed Domino Effect.  In 1990, Captain Kip Files and Captain Paul DeGaela purchased the Domino Effect and renamed her Victory Chimes, returning her to the Maine waters and the Maine Windjammer trade. 

She is the last of her generation!  The Victory Chimes is a real treasure and is now named an American National Historic Landmark. 

The more I learned about the Victory Chimes the more I thought I should try and do her justice with another painting.  I wanted to portray her from the port side in a traditional ship portrait style.  This painting of the Victory Chimes was painted on a hardwood board which allowed for a super smooth, highly glazed surface.  Very detailed and traditional in style, it became one of my favorite paintings.  I felt a real sense of pride when I was informed by my collector that purchased the painting that Andrew Wyeth (arguably the most famous American painter) upon visiting the collector’s house and studying my painting, singled out this painting as one of his favorites!

Below are a number of other paintings of the Victory Chimes that I completed over a number of years. 

For those of you interested in learning more about the Victory Chimes, she has a website www.victorychimes.com.  She sails out of Rockland, Maine on multiple day passenger sails and makes for a great summer or fall vacation.

I have never been accused of being a prolific painter, so this is a major milestone for me.  We moved to Maine for me to pursue my art career with only a few paintings under my belt and a dream.  200 paintings later, looking back over the list, I think to myself what a ride it has been and what a privilege it is to be able to do what I love to do.

There have been some paintings that I would love to do over and some I wouldn’t touch.  I have a few favorites, which I look back on and get a kick out of the detail or the composition.  I’ve loved the variety of work, which has kept the day in/day out hard work fresh and interesting. 

I would like to share my gratitude with all of my collectors out there for giving me the ultimate compliment of buying my work.  I also would like to thank all of you who have been so nice to express your appreciation of my work, whether personally or through Facebook, LinkedIn or my website. 

Hopefully, I’ve got 200 more in me! I just thought I’d share this milestone with all of you.  Thanks again for all of the wonderful comments over the years. 

Photo of the island green, 16th hole, Golden Horseshoe Golf Club

Take for example, the famous artist Salvador Dali, who wanted to paint our good friend Katharine Tucker in the nude with a clock in her belly.  Or how about Picasso and thinking one day “maybe I’ll add a third eye”!  My self indulgence wouldn’t be quite so out there.

Lately, I’ve been daydreaming about painting a famous golf hole at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.  I’ve played the course a number of times and I’m always struck by the unusual beauty of the course.  The flowering trees in the springtime, the rolling hills, the long shadows cast by the grand old trees all make for a beautiful, not so rural, Virginia landscape.  Then it would be fun to paint golf holes at Kingsmill Resort, James River Country Club and of course our own Two Rivers Country Club! 

I know, it’s not exactly like painting Katharine with a clock in her belly or a muse with a third eye, but if I were to do some fun paintings next I might choose some golf course art. 

Years ago, when I worked for MBNA as their resident artist, one of my projects was to fly down to headquarters in Delaware and photograph the company golf course and do a painting for the bank.  I was chauffeured around the old DuPont course, known as Deerfield Golf and Country Club, in a golf cart and I took pictures of each golf hole and ended up painting the 9^th hole with the clubhouse in the background.  It was a fun day and a dream project. 

Part of this romantic notion of painting famous golf holes obviously comes over me because I am a golfer. But most of it, I’m sure, is because it is springtime in Williamsburg and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.  Our Bermuda golf course has just turned green after being brown and dormant all winter.  The leaves on the trees are just about to pop, forsythias are in bloom and the dogwoods and azaleas are right around the corner, as is The Masters.  

Flying down to Augusta to paint a portrait of golfing legend Arnold Palmer or painting a portrait of the Masters’ winner, followed by a painting of the 12^th or 13^th hole at Augusta would be fun next projects! Oh well, it never hurts to think out of the box and dream big.  Off to cut the grass, weed and mulch the beds.