Ship paintings

[wefalck]

Thanks, Jim. Interesting indeed. You work essentially then on the dry paper ? How do you develop the preliminary drawings of the ships. In some cases there would be photographs, but of course not for the historic subjects. I know that some marine painters work from models - and you ?

[Vegaskip]

I work mostly from photographs. For the old ones I use old paintings or prints from books or the net for reference. I find that you can usually tell which painter has been at sea and which is painting from a description. I must admit I have been tempted to 'do' Trafalgar with a submarine surfacing, or an MTB darting out between a couple of three deckers!.

jim

[lmagna]

4 hours ago, Vegaskip said:

I must admit I have been tempted to 'do' Trafalgar with a submarine surfacing, or an MTB darting out between a couple of three deckers!.

jim

It must be hard to keep the imagination in check when you have as much talent as you do. You could always do the charge of Nemo's Nautilus as depicted in the Disney 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea film. I always loved the night scene where the water is flowing over the lit conning tower while they build up to top speed to ram the naval ship. 

[GrandpaPhil]

5 hours ago, Vegaskip said:

I must admit I have been tempted to 'do' Trafalgar with a submarine surfacing, or an MTB darting out between a couple of three deckers!

That would be awesome!

[ccoyle]

Jim, with your skill and considering the recent headline I read over the weekend about the finding of the wreck, I think it would be something special to do HMS Urge departing Malta.

[Vegaskip]

I work mostly from photographs. For the old ones I use old paintings or prints from books or the net for reference. I find that you can usually tell which painter has been at sea and which is painting from a description. I must admit I have been tempted to 'do' Trafalgar with a submarine surfacing, or an MTB darting out between a couple of three deckers!.

jim

[Vegaskip]

Return Cargo
Return Convoy. Steamer with a Deck Cargo of timber from Northern Russia. With escorting Corvette. Timber for 'Pit Props', was vital for the coal mines. Coal was essential to fuel the factories and and heat the homes of Britain. The former supply from Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, was no longer available being now occupied by Germany.
14”X10”w/c

[Vegaskip]

Ship's Lifeboat.Somewhere. Mid ocean. Any ocean. War or Peace. Remember!.
W/C 15” X 11”

[Vegaskip]

Norwegian Steamer Anna loaded with Timber in a gale. 1917 she was stopped and boarded by U16 on a voyage from Almeria to Glasgow with Esparto Grass. She was sunk by scuttling, no casualties.
W/C 10” X 7”

[wefalck]

I only recently learned, when visiting the London Canal Museum last weekend, what Esparto Grass was used for: paper-making. It is mainly grown in SE Spain, in the provinces Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, and Almeria. The Spanish name is atocha. Perhaps, this is why Madrid's main station for trains to the South is called Atocha, leading to the plains, where Esparto Grass grows.

[Vegaskip]

The Ship Alice with a couple of inshore fishing boats of a coast.
w/C 14” X10”
Jim

[lmagna]

Thanks and keep them coming Jim.

 

I  seldom do anything other than mark the like box as constantly saying "fantastic" does not seem to fill the bill after a while. But I NEVER get tired of clicking on the entry and seeing what you have created to show us this time. Your efforts always seem to please

Edited November 15, 2019 by lmagna

[Cavalcanti21]

Thanks Of sharing this fantastic Works

[Vegaskip]

Thank you all for taking the time to comment.

 

Jim

Edited November 24, 2019 by Vegaskip

[Vegaskip]

The Schooner 

watercolour 14” X 10”

[GrandpaPhil]

Excellent!

[BETAQDAVE]

    Jim, this particular painting brings to my mind the old phrase "See how she scoons."  Once said to be the origin of the name schooner.  Scoon was an old time word meaning to skip across the water. 

    I think that most of your paintings seem to bring out an emotional response in the viewer, as this one does for me.  Keep it up!

[Vegaskip]

HMS Coldstreamer A/S Trawler

jim

[ccoyle]

Jim, we missed your regular painting updates! Armed trawlers on the North Atlantic convoy routes figured prominently in the latest book I just finished reading.

[Vegaskip]

Sorry, been off painting since before Christmas, just one of those things. 
Here’s the latest

 based on 'Fort Grahame' and HMS Acute J106

[reklein]

Glad to see that you're back in the game.

[Edwardkenway]

Still got it though, good to see you back 👍😁

[amateur]

The others already told: nice to see a couple of new ones.

 

Jan

[G.L.]

That's a nice one, is that an Algerine class corvette?

[stuglo]

such talent. such beautiful work. thank you for sharing

[allanyed]

Hi Jim, good to see you back.  Your latest paintings reminded me of one of my merchant mariner heros, Edwin O'Hara for which the athletic hall at the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY is named.    He was an 18 year old cadet of the SS Stephen Hopkins which was in a surface battle with a German ship in 1942.  The Hopkins went down with much of her crew, including O'Hara who took over the manning of their 4" gun prior to going down.   I believe the Hopkins was the only Liberty Ship credited with sinking a German ship as the German ship Stier was so heavily damaged by the Hopkins that she was scuttled.   The painting below can be seen at the academy and I thought as an artist you would appreciate this tribute to O'Hara.  Cadet Edwin O'HaraSS Stephen Hopkins

[cotrecerf]

Very nice to see you and your works back on board! I especially like the atmospheric aspect of your paintings. Thanks!

[Vegaskip]

On 3/26/2020 at 10:50 AM, allanyed said:

Hi Jim, good to see you back.  Your latest paintings reminded me of one of my merchant mariner heros, Edwin O'Hara for which the athletic hall at the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY is named.    He was an 18 year old cadet of the SS Stephen Hopkins which was in a surface battle with a German ship in 1942.  The Hopkins went down with much of her crew, including O'Hara who took over the manning of their 4" gun prior to going down.   I believe the Hopkins was the only Liberty Ship credited with sinking a German ship as the German ship Stier was so heavily damaged by the Hopkins that she was scuttled.   The painting below can be seen at the academy and I thought as an artist you would appreciate this tribute to O'Hara.  Cadet Edwin O'HaraSS Stephen Hopkins

Thanks for posting this. ' Been There, Seen the picture. Didn't get the 'T' shirt'. In 2016 I was asked if I could paint a cover and some illustrations for a book being written about the experiencies of a Ships Engineer Cadet on board a Liberty Ship the book 'Liberty's War'. To cut a long story short. The book was launched at the US Merchant Marine Academy, at Kings point. I had the Privilege and Honour to be invited to the event, and to give a short talk about how a retired ex RN Rating from a small village in Fife Scotland came to be there. The cover painting was acquired by USMMA Museum. What more could I ask, one of my paintings among such eminent company.

some photos of the cover painting, exhibition and launch.

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by Vegaskip

[allanyed]

Super congratulations Jim!    I have been back to the Academy quite a few times since graduation, but not recently.  Wish I had known about your event and could have timed one of my business trips to NY to coincide.    Did you happen to get a copy of the book and if yes, is it a good read?    Cheers

Allan   

[Vegaskip]

On 3/24/2020 at 5:47 PM, G.L. said:

That's a nice one, is that an Algerine class corvette?

'Algerine'. Originally Minesweepers. Most Canadian ones had MS gear removed and replaced with Depth charges, and used as Convoy Escorts.

jim 

Edited March 27, 2020 by Vegaskip