ArtSites Updates

We received a lovely email the other day from one of our artists, Malcolm Armstrong.

Hello Rochelle, Geoff and Connie,

Much of my work is commissioned, very often a private yacht or a ship with which the customer has a personal interest. My most recent commission was unusual because it was to paint a private sailboat but I did not meet the owners or see the boat until after I had finished the painting. The owners visited an exhibition of mine and admired my marine paintings. I was not at the exhibition at the time but the wife decided she would like to have a painting done of their boat and present it to her husband.

The boat was built in the 1930s and the owner restored it; but a few years ago he was caught in a storm and abandoned the boat which subsequently went aground and was badly damaged and almost a total loss. However it was salvaged and he spent two years restoring it again in his spare time. It was a labour of love. I had to rely on a few photos that were available of the actual boat and some that I found on line of similar boats of the same class (a Danish Spidsgatter). Detail was hard to come by because the wife was not very familiar with details of rigging etc. and she did not want to let on to her husband about what I was doing. I chose the background because I was familiar with it.

When the painting was finished I delivered it personally to Olympia, WA. I was able to see and go on board the boat that I had painted. I took paints and brushes with me in case of any required changes, but husband and wife were both very pleased with the painting as you can see in the attached photograph.

Best wishes
Malcolm

Thank you, Malcolm, for sharing this WONDERFUL story with us!