“Tiny's At Sea”

Just two lino blocks were cut for this modestly sized sea lino print telling an epic story. The third and fourth colours were painted on to the second plate by hand for each print in the limited edition.

A final touch, amidst the rich blue, a little dab of bright warm yellow light was added by hand to Tiny's cabin window.

The appeal of seascape art

I've quite a collection of sea inspired art. One of my first artistic aspirations was to be a realist seascape painter.

Discovering a book on seascape painting in our local library, by E.John Robinson, peaked my interest initially. Many years later, I tracked down a copy of the book, and it's now a treasured acquisition on my book shelves.

My library find prompted me to research the work of Winslow Homer (1836-1910) and Edgar Payne (1883-1947), both American, and both incredibly talented seascape artists.

I chose not to go down the realist seascape route in the end. One of many artistic decisions I've made.

I didn't live near enough to the sea, and felt I couldn't study it sufficiently to achieve the realism I wanted.

Whatever it was that was awakened however, it ebbs and flows continually inside me somewhere. I'm constantly drawn to the sea, and the hours I spent studying masters paintings guides my seascapes today.

Both Homer and Payne painted lively seascapes full of movement, and that's what I'm always focussed on when making my seascapes.

Exhibited: Jury selected Scarborough Open art exhibition 2011, Scarborough Art Gallery.

…small and exquisite [print] titled Tiny’s at Sea shows a boat tossed about on the crest of a wave. It appears to be perilously poised, but what you find yourself focusing on is the exuberant bouncy playfulness of the sea.  Scarborough Evening News, December 2011.