Whitbeck Notes
Winter 2021-2022
Eastern Light
18" x 24" oil on panel
Happy New Year everyone! This Whitbeck Notes will be a brief one, concentrating more on the informative. Believe it or not I am already looking forward to and preparing for the 2022 art show season and all that that entails. As I had mentioned in my previous email the Florida Tour will be happening, and so instead of 2022 starting in June with the Chicago shows I will be hitting the road in March and heading south. With all this my studio time has been shortened some and I now must be ready in a month or so opposed to four months from now. But no worries. I feel very good with the number of pieces I have finished so far as well as with the ones that are in near completion, all with a uniqueness and quality that I am very satified with.
I am not sure what happened, but as of late I have felt the desire to add in stone and marble carvings to the still-life set-up's. As I think on it, it could have to do with just having finished reading Homers The Iliad. Or it could have to do with listening to a book-on-tape in the studio about Alexander the Greats Heculean push eastwards out of Macedonia. Both of which could very well have influenced the idea of incorporating notes of ancient history into the panels and canvases. With images of the feats and intrigues of the heros of old it is easy to understand how the head of Aphrodite could end up amidst pomegranates and oranges. For me, this is the beauty of it all and what gives each painting its own uniqueness! You never know where the muses will lead you. And I hope you you like it.
Nymphs and Tritons
18" x 24" oil on panel
With the cold weather we have been having here in Massachusetts (below zero at times) the wood stove in my studio has had a bit of a time in heating things up. Starting it at 6AM, by 10 it is still chilly on the fingers, so frequent trips to the stove pipe for a warm up are often in order. But even still the painting must go on! And indeed it does! In between now and leaving in March for Florida I hope to finish a few more paintings at least, so be sure to keep an eye on my website www.jameswhitbeck.com to see the latest.
And for anyone interested on attending either of the two Florida shows here are links to their websites for more information:
Vero Beach Under the Oaks March 11.12.13 website
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival March 18.19.20 website
Persimmons
20" x 16" oil on panel
For the future, and to those who might have an interest in maritime paintings, I am planning on working on a few sea-scapes this year with the crowning jewel being 16th century galleons. One of my projects over the past year has been working on a 1:64 scale wooden model of the Elizabethan galleon called the Revenge built in 1577, with my plan being that once it is finished (slowely but surely!) using it as a model in the studio for the ship in the paintings, positioning it accordingly which will offer up the best of details and realism. Very excited about this new project! Below are a couple maritime pieces I had done some years ago using photos of a reproduction of the 17th century Dutch ship Half Moon as the model. Below, too is my "Revenge" at its current state of build.
