Maritime paintings are challenging excursions towards achieving a boat form that conveys grace and movement with compositional effects involving light and water. The hardest challenge is to be convincing about the form to a viewer who is knowledgeable about boats. I note here that the term maritime is not limited to salt water.
Coast Guard Boat
Oil paint on canvas, 12 x 9 inches, 2015
The Coast Guard Cutter is headed briskly downriver from Newburyport in the late afternoon.
Newburyport Boats, End of Day
Oil paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2018 • AVAILABLE
Looking beyond the rail at the Newburyport Boardwalk, three Zodiac boats are tied up at day’s end. A fishing boat is coming in; its light shines out in the evening dusk. The water detail shows depth and movement.
Sailing Yacht
Oil paint on canvas, 11 x 14 inches, 2019 • AVAILABLE
This boat is sailing somewhere in Maine, with the reference pic taken from a big bridge height.
Kid with a Fish, Released
Oil paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2020 • AVAILABLE
The glorious 62 pound striped bass was caught by a 14 year old on a day-camp outing. His father received the reference pic on his phone in real time when we were in a Saturday paint group. We were excited. He shared the pic at my request. Before starting the work, a blue tone was laid down which worked with subsequent layering of color. The work also appears in the website’s Portraits Gallery.
Friendship Bay Boats, End of Day
Oil paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2025 • AVAILABLE
The fishing boats are tied up at the end of a summer day. The water patterns and colors from a glowing, pink sky were magical to me.
CYNTHIA KOWAL 