The Masters in Marine Art

 

That sailed into my Life!

I grew up in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Far away from the blue horizon of the ocean.

Far away from tall ships and sailboats.

Far away from stories of the sea.

Far away from regular visits to the beach.

Far away from sand in my shoes.

Far away from the smell of sea breezes.

Though the allure of the ocean

and all of it's romance and glory

was never far away from my heart.

  

The romance of the sea

was celebrated and decorated

select walls, mantels and table tops,

in the house where I grew up. 

The Masters in Marine Art

that graced the walls, mantels and table tops,

of my childhood home,

and had their hand in

helping to launch

my artistic endeavours 

were as follows.

. . . . . . .

Alexander Dzigurski (1911-1995) 

'California Coast'

. . .

An original oil painting

by Alexander Dzigurski,

a Yugoslavian artist

graced the mantel our the dining room.

. . . . . . . .

‘Jack’ John Charles Robert Spurling (1873-1933)

'Titania'
. . .

A set of six coasters with small prints

by J. Spurling graced the dining room table.

. . . . . . .

Montague Dawson (1895-1973)

'The Thermapylae Leaving Foochow'
. . .

 A beautiful print by Montague Dawson

graced the mantel of the front parlour.

. . . . . . .

And last, but not least,

John Stobart (1929-)

'Decks Awash'
. . .

A few prints by John Stobart

were peppered around the house.

. . . . . . .

These four celebrated

Masters in Marine Art,

all had their own influence on

the direction of my own art

both subtly and greatly.

I feel lucky and honoured

to have had the chance

to study, learn and draw from

with these four

Masters in Marine Art.  

To this very day

 I still revere their

individual talents

and the impact

they have had on me,

even as a female marine artist.