Daily Catch - Alicia Out of Boston

Alicia Out of Boston

 This painting depicts a fishing crew docked at the fish pier.   With lockers full of the daily catch all around, there is barely room for the fishermen to maneuver.   They hoisted the containers via wenches up to the massive dockside set up.  Harbor seals were alert to the occasional fish that slipped off the conveyor.   It was a fascinating scene for all of us onlookers.

I liked the top-down angle of this photo and the steel on the boat prompted me to use a new substrate aluminum.  Anything new introduced to the usual process means it is an adjustment.   On the upside, it was immovable, smooth and solid, like a masonite panel.   The downside for me, using oil, was that the surface was slippery and did not absorb any paint.   Hence, it became a multi-step process - sketch, let dry, underpaint, let dry, top painting, let dry.    I also was mindful about letting the aluminum shine come through for various elements - water shimmer, and boat rails. 

If the painting doesn't look free and easy, it's because of all the extra thinking that was going on!! :)