Fresh Off the Easel – Plein Air Painters Deliver Again

One day last week, I was on kind of a “scavenger hunt” on Museum grounds. My job was to find some of the 27 award-winning artists who were chosen to participate in the annual Plein Air Painters event at Mystic Seaport.  I didn’t have to go far.

Across from the Galley Restaurant was Howard Park. The focal point of his oil painting was the waterfront scene immediately in front of him, but off in the distance the Morgan still made her presence known on his canvas. As I sat next to him on the bench, I marveled at this artist’s talent and concentration despite my interruption and questions; his paintbrush never stopped working.

 Howard Park is no stranger to Mystic Seaport. He has lectured at the Museum’s Maritime Gallery and over the years has had many of his paintings exhibited there. Still, like other artists I met, he considers it a “treat to paint on campus” and feels honored to be among those chosen for the annual Plein Air Painters event.

"Seaport Scene" by Howard Park

Moving on, I found artist, Neal Hughes, fine tuning his oil painting of the Life Saving Station. In my eyes, it never looked so good! This is the 3^rd year that Neal has been a part of Plein Air Painters. He teaches oil art classes in Moorest, NJ, and says he enjoys meeting fellow artists at Mystic Seaport. He feels that the Museum grounds offer many great choices in where and what to paint.

"Tilghman Island Sunrise" by Neal Hughes

After watching over the shoulders of these talented artists, I, for one, am looking forward to viewing their completed works at the Museum’s Maritime Gallery. The exhibit will be featured there until the end of August. Undoubtedly some paintings will have been sold, but perhaps you will still find just the Plein Air painting you’ve been looking for to complement your home or office décor.

Mystic Seaport’s Maritime Gallery is open daily from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do yourself a favor. Come take a look.

Blog posted by Trudi Busey.

At Last……Spring Has Sprung!

 You may consider seeing your first robin or a blooming crocus as your harbinger of spring. Not so at Mystic Seaport.  Here it’s the news that spring/summer hours go into  effect starting Saturday, March 27.  The Museum will again be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Also on March 27,  two special events are happening – one on grounds at the Museum’s Maritime Gallery; one off-grounds at the Mystic Art Cinema in Olde Mistick Village. 

An artist, painting in a public setting, often draws some curious onlookers. I’ve done it; you’ve probably done it, but have you ever thought about what goes on ‘behind the canvas’, so to speak? For instance, what inspires an artist’s creativity from sketch to finished painting or how is painting on location different from a studio environment? 

To answer those kinds of questions, to watch live and slide demonstrations of painting techniques, and to talk one-on-one with master painters are the opportunities provided by Mystic Seaport’s Behind the Canvas series. “The Moment of Inspiration with Robert Noreika” is the second installment in this four-part program and takes place Saturday, March 27, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Maritime Gallery. 

Robert Noreika, "Low Tide, Maine"

Also on March 27, ESPN television commentator and world-class sailor Gary Jobson will focus his presentation at the Museum’s Maritime Matinees program on his new documentary Maine Built Boats. Undoubtedly, his many ocean sailing adventures, like the 1977 America’s Cup with Ted Turner, will be included. Jobson’s talk will take place at the Mystic Art Cinema from 1 -2:30 p.m. Jane Wellehan, president of Maine Built Boats, and other boat builders from Maine will join Jobson in a lively post-program discussion. 

Gary Jobson

So many special events and programs are always happening at Mystic Seaport, year ‘round. And it’s finally SPRING! So if you’ve been hibernating, it’s time to come out and take advantage of all the Museum has to offer.  You’ll find a calendar of events, descriptions and all the details on our website: www.mysticseaport.org. 

Blog written by Trudi Busey

Not for Artists or Collectors Only

I am neither an artist nor a collector of fine paintings, but that doesn’t exclude me from appreciating and admiring works by talented artists. Today I visited the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport to view the Museum Purchase Award Collection, on display until the end of March. (The Maritime Gallery is located next to the Museum Store, open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free admission.) I have some words of advice:  Don’t miss this exhibit! It’s a rare opportunity to view these exquisite maritime selections all at the same time.
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The selection process begins during the Maritime Gallery’s Annual International Marine Art Exhibition in September.  A member of the Museum’s curatorial staff honors one of the artists by selecting for purchase his or her painting for the Museum’s permanent collection.

So I picked two works as my own favorites from those chosen during the years 1983 to 2009. One is oil by artist, Douglas Purdon, titled “Tugboat Alley” and the other a graphic by William H. Ewen,  Jr. titled, “Tug Coming Alongside.” I admit I may have been influenced a bit in my choice by the special exhibit Mystic Seaport has planned for later this spring: the opening of the new Tugs! exhibit  Saturday, May 8, and Tug Blast held the weekend of May 22 and 23.  You’ll be hearing more about that; so stay tuned. 

Douglas Purdon, "Tugboat Alley" Oil 22 X 28

Right now though,  do get yourself to the Maritime Gallery to view  the Museum Purchase Award  Collection.  Pretend you’re a judge and choose your own  award  winner  in the collection.  It won’t be easy. These are magnificent works  representing  a mixed medium of oils, water colors,  acrylics and graphics. Most selections have historically focused on ships, sailing or a nautical  commercial  theme,  although the 2009 selection hints of a broadening in scope.

Mark your calendar.  The Museum Purchase Award Collection  remains up until March 31.  The Tugs! exhibit will  be tooting into Mystic Seaport in May.

There’s always something new happening at Mystic Seaport.  Check our website  often so you don’t miss out.

Blog written by Trudi Busey

The Plein Air Painters are Just Plain Talented!

If you’ve stopped by the Maritime Gallery recently, you may have noticed that all of the art in the current exhibition, Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery, has a central theme – the beauty of Mystic Seaport. Open through September 1, the exhibit details the Museum’s picturesque scenery, all of which was painted on grounds  this past June. (For those unfamiliar with the term, plein air artists follow the tradition established by painters in the 19^th and 20^th centuries – choosing an outdoor venue rather than an indoor studio to work their craft.)
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I was able to observe some of the painters at their easels last month and learned a little bit more about their craft…

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I spoke with William Hanson, who has been a part of the Mystic Seaport Plein Air Painters for all of the 13 years it has been a Museum event – more recently by invitation only.  At the other end of the spectrum, I met Brechin Lee Morgan, for whom this was an “exciting” first.

Maritime Gallery artist Leonard Mizerek painting on grounds last year.

Both extolled the virtues of natural light for capturing the essence of their paintings. “So inspiring” is how William describes the Mystic Seaport setting.  Brechin feels the realism of on-site painting trumps studio paintings, where imagination is the key component.

Maritime art is William’s emphasis. Today, near Mystic Seaport’s shipyard, a rowboat with a wood-filled shed as backdrop caught his attention. He thinks the smaller 6” by 8” size he mounted on his easel may have greater “sale” appeal in today’s economy, although his repertoire includes paintings of different sizes. 

Brechin chooses his subject by walking around the Museum until a scene strikes him as being dramatic enough to capture on canvas with his acrylics. This day the huge live oak timber in the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard was his subject. “It reminds me  of timbers I imagine were used to build Noah’s Ark.”  He considers himself fortunate to be included as one of Mystic Seaport’s Plein Air Painters.

William’s and Brechin’s paintings, along with those of their fellow Plein Air Painters, will be on display and available for purchase in the Museum’s Maritime Gallery all summer. Come take a look. 

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/gallery or call 860.572.5388.

Blog post written by Trudi Busey.