Early Morning Run
For some months I’ve been wanting to do a painting of our ferry, the Whatcom Chief. It was a difficult subject for me. There were the usual problems of many angles of view to choose from, time of day, lighting and weather, etc. However, it was also difficult because it’s a man-made subject, not a natural one. The Chief is a work boat, and was designed that way. It was not designed for beauty, like a yacht or a sailing sloop. At the same time, I wanted to paint it as attractively as possible, because we Islanders love the Chief. It’s a crucial part of our lives, and–in heavy weather or emergencies–our lives sometimes depend on it.
For these reasons, I spent much more time than usual planning this painting. It’s also the largest pastel painting I’ve done so far. I hope you enjoy it!
Original painting. Soft pastels on Dakota pastel board, 18 x 24 inches. Completed 11-10-2008.
Private Collection.
