Fishing from the Jetty

The jetties that trim the mouth of the Green Harbor River are both picturesque and functional.   They are meant to preserve boat access from the inner harbor to the ocean by keeping sand and silt from clogging the mouth of the river.    The huge boulders are fitted together to form a wave barrier during harsh ocean storms that hit the area each year.   Although the jetties are initially set in place on a level, straight configuration, powerful storms gradually shift even the largest boulders into nature's configuration, and that is not straight and level.   It is deceiving just how huge these boulders are, and it is truly amazing that powerful Nor'easters can toss them about, such that a few of them change position from year to year.

The jetties also function as fishing piers and are very popular for teens and children who like to traverse the rip-rap style surface.   The two children in this scene were fishing from the furthest end of the jetty where the boulders were strewn about.  I was thinking that judging from their body language, these two children were brother and sister.  They had one rod between them and the girl who was older seemed to be in charge.   The little brother was squatting against a rock waiting, somewhat hopelessly, for his turn.



Fishing Off the Jetty

There are many things I like about this scene.    First of all, it includes figures which continue to be a favorite of mine to paint.  Another thing I like about it is that the subject of fishing is universal and timeless.   The scene could be any locale and it very well could be 1940, 1980 or 2014.   The composition itself was also varied and interesting. The angular forms of the rocks really appealed to me.   Hints of red and gold rocks looked stunning against the blue water and sky, and their dark values seemed to ground the children.