Moby Dick depicted by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

Ahab Seeks Revenge

A Nantucket looking Painting 

His Name was Ahab and he lost his leg one day
while being stoved by this great white whale... 

Recently,  I was sitting waiting on an appointment for a test.  I waited and waited and then decided that I needed to illustrate while I waited.  Might as well make some money whilst I sat!   To my delight, there were some markers and paper designed to entertain children laying on my right.  I guess I am still a girl at heart!    While I sat, I also noticed that there was a trailer for a 2015 Moby Dick movie which was directed by Ron Howard.  This caught my interest and was my inspiration.  I like Ron Howard, Happy Days.  Anyways, I updated old Moby and Ahab, I gave him my signature polka dotted hat and put a smile of sorts on that old whale.  The bird is for fun  and so is the fish.  The book tells what Ahab was thinking.

Upon arriving home, I went into my storage area and found this yummy looking period lemon gold  frame.  YES, that will be my choice.  I love the way the golds and the blues work together.  I am using up some of my favorite frames that I have been hoarding.  

Here's another yummy antique frame that I recently picked up.  I love the watercolor tones in this piece.  Both Ahab and this ship are available for purchase.  Message me if you are interested.  

The whale at the bottom is sold, but I thought it would be fun to show you what I have been working on since getting home from Wilton, CT.  The show was amazing and I thank all my wonderful customers that came out and supported my efforts.  

Back to Ahab... 

The photo is a little dark but here it is in its entirety.  

The story line goes as follows.  Ahab's ship was stoved by this aggressive angry white whale.  During this process, Ahab loses his leg.  Bad news for everyone.  Ahab is vindictive and stubborn  just like that ole whale.  He's going after it!  He's going to avenge his leg.  That whale, come Hell or high water, is going down!  LOL.

"I know not all that may be coming but be it what it will.  I will go to it laughing.  It is not down on any map,
 these places never are!"
~Ahab 

These sentences are cumbersome and problematic.  Even as I proofread it, I want to change the wording, but it is what he said.  So be it!  I love this storyline.  I always have been fascinated with whales.  Such a glorious large monster that mysteriously roams the seas.  Aren't we fortunate to still have these creatures?

Enjoy. 

Kolene Spicher 

Tweet

Kolene Spicher original painting Whale and fisherman

His Finest Catch 

And maybe his greatest hour.

A whale of a fish! 

I love to tell a story.  True or false, it's just fun.  Today, I present my little original painting, His Finest Catch.  The size overall is 6.75"x 13.5" and I am selling it on ETSY for $525, plus shipping.  

Here are some additional pictures of this fine little painting.  By the way, I present these pictures from beginning to end and also show it hanging in various places throughout my studio so you can get the feel for size and color.  This painting was carefully antiqued at the end so as to not rob the painting of the richness of its color. 

I started out with a drawing.  

I don't know how to explain it but I go from front to back.  I start at the base (many times) of the painting and sort of work my way into the distance.  

As many small paintings usually will display well on a shelf or in a cabinet, this one is no different.  I love it displayed with my items from the sea and other nautical things.  

I wouldn't say the frame is anything really unique.  It is just a simple gold frame with great old glass which I didn't photograph because it keeps a constant glare on the painting and makes it difficult to capture the details.  

Finally, here it is with some of my other paintings so that you can see that it will blend well with my other work if you are deciding to add this to your collection. 

Look for this on ETSY at 

KOLENESPICHER 

Enjoy.  

Tweet

Whale Ship Essex

What Should we do!!

November 20, 1820

Trust me!  If you were on this little whaler (small boat with sail), you would be asking the same question.  

This Painting will be shipped  Monday to Nantucket Country, Nantucket, MA. 

Recently, I read a little about the whale ship Essex.  I have never been able to get thru the book MOBY DICK, so I felt it was  high time to at least read a few lines about this famous ship to see what all the hype is and was about.  I found the little "reader's digest" version (actually Wikipedia)  to be very entertaining.

Here's what I found over the internet.  The whale that rammed the boat ESSEX, actually struck it two times, the second time being the fatal blow. This ship sunk so fast, that it made their eyes swim…literally.  There were some eye witness accounts  that said  the whale was actually about 85-feet long.  This is at least 20-feet longer than these guys were known to grow.  The sailor's reference point for this fact was the Essex Ship, itself.  Apparently, the whale after hitting it the first time, sort of parked itself directly beside the ship but under the water. He was quite obviously stunned from the blow.  Because it was so close to the surface, it was clearly seen.  It was said that the whale from head to toe was as long as the essex which was nearly 90-feet in length.  

The captain ordered the men NOT TO HARPOON it. Why would he do this?  Well, it was mainly due to the fact that he believed the whale to be too close to the ship's hull and that it would possibly hit the ship again in reaction to the harpooning.  Obviously, he made the wrong call.  

They were all in disbelief as the whale swam away only to return with a speed of 20-25 knots.  His blow proved to be more than this ship could handle.  Most of the men met a watery grave.  There were some survivors, though, witnesses that escaped in the whale boats that were onboard the ship.  

Here you can see that the whale is nearly as long as the ship. 

Special time was spent on the water.  I wanted the whale to have a a prominence without actually being  on top of the water, as I usually depict the whales.  This painting has a lot of blue in it.  Having said that, this painting is totally Nantucket.  Nantucket has all the warm pine floors and beams and nautical pieces that will compliment this painting and bring  in the warm tones that will totally balance it.  The houses on Nantucket with their shake cedar siding and roof tops are AMAZING! Thought went into the piece to compliment the tale long ago without presenting anything that was clearly incorrect.  I am sure that there will be that one person that will prove me wrong.  Go for it.  

Today, before I pass this painting off to the next person, I present to you this piece in its entirety.  While you are looking at Nantucket Country's website, check out all the other paintings of mine that she has in stock.  If you want my original work, this is a good place to find it because I do not do a lot of retail shows.  The show in Bedminster, PA (I blogged about it last week), is the only retail outlet I do.  Nantucket Country's gallery presents an avenue where collectors can do what they do…collect.  

Thanks for looking!  

Enjoy! 

Tweet