Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Painting Gloucester Harbor~ Morningtide


The many faces of Gloucester provide endless variety for the landscape artist to paint. Here, on the harbor, the wild beauty of the sea is tamed and harnessed. Rugged boats and machinery, equipment for the fishing trade, replace majestic waves and limber shoreline. The harbor in Gloucester is the hub of the fishing industry, which, though diminished, remains steadfast.

The landscape painting, Morningtide, reflects a characteristic glimpse of Gloucester’s working harbor. Old and sturdy houses are firmly planted in the hill, their watchful windows positioned for returning seamen with several days catch. Stout boats, the powerful Sumo wrestlers of titanic hauls of fish, rest here reflecting the light. It’s breezy, the water is choppy, it is barely spring.

The Cool crisp, and somewhat harsh morning light imparts contrast, patterning the shapes with a pulsating beat. Continuous oppositions of triangle/rectangle, dark/light, warm/cool, interrupt pathways of yellow, red, and blue-gray. The resulting syncopation in the design evokes the feeling of this neighborhood surrounding Gloucester’s well-worn harbor. It is here that tourists and artists flock, to savor a taste of life in this mythic fishing community.

A tourist detail~ the two-toned building to the left of the blue triangular blue one, houses the now famous Crow’s Nest, featured in The Perfect Storm, book by Sebastian Junger. The Crow's Nest open this morning, continuing the saga worthy of a novel.

Morningtide represents the ruggedness of generations indentured to the sea, one thread in the rich fabric of all that is Gloucester.

Melody Phaneuf is well known for her evocative Gloucester landscape paintings. Phaneuf works on location and at historic Fenway Studios, Boston, MA, painting still life and portraiture. Phaneuf has exhibited at Galerie Herouet in Paris, The National Arts Club in New York City, and with Art du Monde, a traveling exposition in Japan. Phaneuf’s paintings are regularly displayed at North Shore Arts, Gloucester, MA and The Guild of Boston Artists, Boston, MA.

Melody The Artist Home, founded with photographer and color specialist, Martha DiMeo showcases the artist’s original paintings on tumbled marble tile murals and coasters, fine art prints and handmade note cards. Online ordering at MelodyTheArtist.com/shop

Morningtide, oil painting by Melody Phaneuf, 30 x 25
To purchase Morningtide, contact Melody

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2 comments:

Art Collector said...

What is the price of this painting?

MelodyTheArtist said...

Paintings of this size are priced at $5400. Please contact me at (617)236-4322 to make arrangements~