Mystic Flagships ~ Bound for Mystic Maritime Art Gallery!

I’m excited to announce that my painting entitled Mystic Flagships, featuring the Charles W. Morgan, will be included in the Celebrating the Charles W. Morgan exhibit at the Mystic Maritime Art Gallery which opens on July 19th and runs through September 8th.  

Since November 2008, the Morgan has been undergoing an extensive restoration.  In celebration of this historic launch there will be a public ceremony on July 21st at the Seaport along with the exhibition of works at the Maritime Gallery that feature the whaleship in a wide range of media.  

The Charles W. Morgan was built in 1841!  She is the last of the American whaling fleet that numbered more than 2700 vessels.  She survived 37 voyages, some lasting as long as five years and is known as a “lucky ship”.  

When I painted Mystic Flagships in 2009, I had already been fortunate enough to be included in the 27th Modern Marine Masters Exhibition and juried into the 26th Annual International Exhibition at the Mystic Maritime Gallery.  I chose this image to paint because it was from a photograph taken by a Mystic native, professional photographer, and a good friend.  He kindly gave me the rights to work from his image.  

Mystic Flagships by William R. Beebe

I loved painting it.  The double-topsail bark rigging was a real challenge.  I worked hard on accuracy, while trying to keep all of the lines soft against the sky.  I wanted the painting to have an Impressionist feel without compromising the amount of detail.  

Mystic Flagships (detail shot) by William R. Beebe

Being the “lucky ship” that she is, my painting of the Charles W. Morgan depicted docked at Chubb’s Wharf in Mystic Seaport will be viewed by those who appreciate the Morgan the most.  Patrons of the museum and Charles W. Morgan admirers will be viewing my painting along with many other gallery artists’ paintings in the Celebrating the Charles W. Morgan exhibition!

It is one of those Highs I talked about in my blog entitled Highs and Lows.  I have re-framed Mystic Flagships with a more appropriate frame, one fitting for a museum show and I will be shipping it off next week to the Mystic Maritime Gallery.  

I just had to share my excitement.  Being a part of the Mystic Seaport celebration is a real honor.

Thanks as always for all of your interest in my work and for following my journey!!!

William R. Beebe alongside Mystic Flagships