Harvesting the Oysters a Work in Progress

Harvesting the Oysters, Session 2

Mark Kurlansky wrote about oysters in his book, "The Big Oyster: History of the Half Shell".  I highly recommend it as a beautiful story tying our nourishment to the health of the natural world.  I learned from this book that the oyster spends the first 2 weeks of its life at the mercy of the currents, tides and waves.  After, it settles on a surface where it will remain.  Because of this settlement, it is the only bivalve that is not symmetrical. And, this lack of symmetry made for the ability to ship oysters around the country prior to air transport.  If the oyster is shipped with the convex side of its shell face down, the juices of the oyster will remain inside and keep it moist and living.  We regularly eat the oyster from Little Harbor.  They are succulent, briny and a delectable delight.  

Harvesting the Oysters, a Work In Progress

Harvesting the Oysters, 16" x 24"

I live adjacent to Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts.  Feeding off that bay are thousands of inlets, one of which, Little Harbor is my neighborhood.  That little harbor is quite shallow and and low tide one can walk across it.  There also is where an oyster farm is situated.  Oysters, unlike other bivalves settle into one place two weeks after birth.  So, once they are clinging to the baskets, they cooperatively await the harvest. This takes 18 to 24 months for oyster to become adults or grow to market size, approximately 3 inches. In this painting the men are harvesting for the market.  In the distance is Buzzard's Bay.

Bayou Dorcheat

Bayou Dorcheat, 2020, Oil on Panel, 16" x 24"

The Bayou Dorcheat's headwaters are near where I grew up in Southwestern Arkansas.  The Bayou runs south through Arkansas ending near Monroe, Louisiana.  It is practically inaccessible except near Dixie Inn, LA.  One needs a proper vehicle and a boat to truly explore Dorcheat.  This is probably what has protected this beautiful force of nature.  Fortunately, my brother knows every water hole and secret place in the area.  He drove me into the dense areas thick with cypress, old growth pine and high quality bottomland forest. The green was all encompassing and the slow movement of the water mesmerizing.

This piece has been submitted to the Copley Society for juried selection in their Member's Summer Show, Reflections.  The show will be virtual from July 30-August 31.  

Bayou Dorcheat in Progress

I'm not happy with the large tree on the left.  The reflection is to large and dominant.  I may lower the tree to about the middle of the panel, thus reducing the reflection,  Or, let the reflection get lost in the water toward the bottom of the panel.  

Bayou Dorcheat in Progress

For the past few years I have been painting on gesso prepared panels that I have prepared the ground with layers of color.  Once that ground is established I will begin to paint the subject using both glazing and opaque techniques.  I am again using a gessoed panel to paint Bayou Dorcheat.  However, this time I am applying the paint directly onto the gesso ground.  Because I glaze a lot, the paint is sliding around and not clinging to the board.  This is making for a very interesting affect with the glazing.  Going to be fun. The blue reflection of the sky will be very important in establishing a focal point, balance, and contrast.

Bayou Dorcheat In Progress

I grew up near Bayou Dorcheat in Arkansas. It is a beautiful stream that has its origin in Arkansas and eventually empties into Lake Bistineau, Louisiana. Practically all of the Bayou is inaccessible except by boat.  Back in 2014 my brother, John, the ultimate fisherman, camper and explorer drove me into areas he knew to be accessible with only a 4 wheel drive truck so that I could take photographs.  I have used these photos as reference for an earlier painting my other brother, Bob, had commissioned.  Bayous like Dorcheat are simply the most beautiful examples of water, plant, animal life that mingle and reflect.  The cypress that rise out of the water are straight, strong and topped with delicate leaves.  I chose to paint the Bayou again to meet the requirements of the Copley Society of Art's call for the summer member's show, Summer Reflections. I'm going with the literal interpretation of reflections.  

Coming Out of the Darkness

Coming Out of the Darkness, 2020, Oil on Panel, 10"x10"

When the little Goldfinch fly they do so with a swooping up and down motion that resembles a scalloped edge.  They flap their wings for momentum, then relax wherein they begin to drop.  This guy had just left a perch on a branch.  I have submitted it to the Judith Klein Gallery in New Bedford, MA for consideration into the show, "Into the Light".  It is a thematic show to hopefully celebrate the end of the most critical Covid-19 times.