Crewmen, 1983

This painting was inspired by three voyages I undertook on a large sailing topsail schooner. At times the sea cut up rough and, on one occasion, reached Force 10, resulting in my first bout of seasickness. This painting depicts that storm with deckhand figures waist-deep in crashing water. Also, it shows that no matter how well you zip your storm jacket, the wind still gets in and inflates it.

I apply the acrylic paint in a liquid form, as the board absorbs the paint, so there is no need to worry about breaking down the paint binder. Pastel has been used sparingly for some highlights. I use the artist's large hogs-hair brushes to manipulate the work to give it a robust rendition. However, because this work is on a Studland board, no varnish finish is applied because of its absorbency. So the painting should be framed with a mount and placed under glass. I recommend at least an 80 mm-wide frame; narrow frames on large paintings do not sit well and have a tendency to warp. The painting was revised in 2022.