Blog

This was painted en plein air in Armstrong Woods near Guernville CA. I had to work quick being that the light is contanlty changing in the forest.

I painted this a couple of days ago at Fisherman's warf in San Fransisco California. The Submarine in the forground is the USS Pampanito (SS-383) that served during WW2. It is now a museum open to the public. In the background you'll the liberty ship SS Jeremiah O'Brian that is also a museum.

Looking at this seen one could say that "there is only grey" however I would argue that we are seeing every color in the rainbow. This helps me separate colors by asking myself, "What are the color changes from one surface to another?" Even this can be overwhelming so I'll start with the basic priciples of temprature and establish the warm area and cool areas and fine tune my over all composition.

History of the USS Pampanito-

During the late 1930's, the United States was gradually building up its fleet to the limits authorized by the Washington Naval Treaty. The pace quickened when in 1939 World War II began in Europe. However, it was the fall of France in June 1940 that caused the full mobilization of the nation. By the 7 Dec 1941 Imperial Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States had started an enlarged submarine building program. Pampanito was built in 1943 at the Navy Yard Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in just 9 months, and at a cost of 6 million dollars. She was one of the most advanced fighting systems of her day. By 1943, the role of U.S. submarines was to control the shipping lanes, gather intelligence, and a few special missions. The same roles played by submarines today. Far beyond any expectations at the start of the war, the U.S. Navy fleet submarines were instrumental in the Allied victory in the Pacific. Today, Pampanito serves as a museum and a memorial to the submarine service of the U.S. Navy -- which we proudly call the "Silent Service".

World War II submarines typically carried a crew of 70 men and 10 officers. The submarine service was a small, well trained, elite group. They represented less than two percent of all U.S. Navy personnel, and yet they were responsible for fifty-five percent of all Japanese tonnage sunk, including one third of their warships. This was not without cost, for the submarine force recorded the highest percentage of men lost in the U.S. military, 24%: more than 3500 men in 52 submarines did not return. They are said to be on eternal patrol. To this day all submariners are volunteers.

USS Pampanito and her crew were successful during her 6 war patrols in the Pacific. When the war ended she returned to San Francisco. From 1945-1960 she was unused, mothballed, but maintained to be reactivated if needed. From 1961-1970 she was used as a shore side training platform, never to dive again. After that she was again unused until she became a museum and memorial in 1982. With the exception of the hatch and ladders used by visitors to enter and leave her, the submarine is virtually as she was in 1945.

I painted this last weekend at Fort Ross that is located north of Jenner California. This is a view of the fort from the cemetary on a warm summer day.

Fort Ross is a former Russian establishment on the Pacific Coast in what is now Sonoma County, California, in the United States. It was the hub of the southernmost Russian settlements in North America in between 1812 to 1841. It has been the subject of archaeological investigation and is a designated National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, and in Fort Ross State Historic Park.