The expansive scene depicts Boston Harbor from the fifth floor of the Boston Harbor Hotel. This venue is a personal favorite, but not a place where we, or most, can often afford. The painting depicts a busy summer vista; you name it - it's happening. On the water, along the shore and even overhead there is movement and action. At water level, there are ferries, schooners, sailboats, tugs and tankers. Along the water's edge the World Trade Center, several hotels, the Moakley Federal Courthouse, and lavish waterfront residences are visible. In the distance is Logan Airport with jets lifting off every two minutes.
"I really ought to tackle this scene in paint," I had declared on more than one occasion. I remember being mesmerized at the hotel window trying to take it all in. It would have to be a large painting and in my old studio, I barely had room to work on it. When I did put it on the easel, there wasn't space to work on anything else - how mundane. In the new, larger studio, I have the space and I was able to dedicate a corner for this project and still be able to work on other creations.
The most challenging part of this project was assembling all the reference material. I used several pictures of the harbor, covering this wide expanse. The dome-topped pavilion became my measuring unit for sizing the many pictures involved.
The lighting scheme is late afternoon and there were tropical shower clouds drifting in from the northwest. I am open to feedback, good, bad or otherwise!
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| Boston Harbor Grand View |
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