Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher Miniature Nautical Oval in Silver-leafed Handmade Frame

The Whalers 

This is a painting that I am going to donate.  I painted it specifically for the Wilton Historical Society fundraiser that will be held on Friday evening at the historical society in Wilton, CT.  

This is a great event with food and lots of artists!  What more could you ask for?  You 

can have a fun night out and contribute toward the preservation of the Historical Society.  All funds from the auction help this worthy cause continue to exist! I think it's fun thing to do on

a Friday night in New England! 

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/event/american-artisan-show-preview-party/

I had a little bit of trouble with the lighting on this piece and blurriness.  Sorry.  

The frame is handmade in Italy and silver-leafed with beautiful paper on the back.  The frame is very beautiful.  

This picture above gives you an idea of the scale.  It is about 5-inches square (but round). 

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/event/american-artisan-show-preview-party/

Check out this show! 

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Original Whaling Scene, Maine, Post 3

The Whale from Curtis Light 

Thanks for looking at this blog entry.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you are interested in your water scene being illustrated! 

This post is going to represent several days worth of work.  I think it's better than dragging it out.  

The color is starting to be added a little at a time. 

I like to paint around things instead of painting from the back of the painting to the front.  I feel that the image pops more using that method.

In this picture, you can see how the grass has a warmer feel.  

After the painting was about finished, I added the script.  Often times, I write little sayings in the grass or sky or water.  This painting was no exception.

The colors are not correct in this picture, however, look at the guy falling off the ship into the water! 

In the original painting (where you will see below),  the colors are not as 'antiqued' and the water is not as red/blue.  However, I wanted to show you the writing in the water.  In case you cannot read my writing, it says THE WHALE FROM CURTIS LIGHT.

WRITING HERE READS,
SHE GUARDS PENOBSCOT BAY 

I love the little guy up on the tower.  I read that this light can be seen for 6 nautical miles.  I think that is very cool.

On this page you can clearly see the folky bricks as well as my signature.  

The red really pops on this painting.  I like it.  The customer may want it toned down.  We shall see!

The colors are about correct in this shot

I always like to show what I am working on along side one that I have laying around.  I do this so that you can clearly see how this painting will blend with any piece of my original artwork that you might own.  I really enjoyed painting this one!  I think you can tell! 

Here is the painting in its entirety BEFORE antiqued...  

The question for me is this.  Should I antique this more? 

I welcome input! 

So ***today, November 4, 2016, I decided that the sky was too washed out.  I brightened it up a bit.  That doesn't mean that I won't go back and tone it down some, but here are a few changes. 

See the difference?  It makes the lighthouse stand out instead of blend in! 

Again, the ship stands out from the sky being darkened in the background 

I think this is done... 

Enjoy :) 

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Dapper looking Sailor/Whaler

Worthy Whalers Wanted 

Navigating the Shoals 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/478764983/kolene-spicher-original-one-of-a-kind?ref=shop_home_active_1

This antique frame is in amazing condition with the exception of a few flaws in the corners.  It does not
affect the overall look of this painting.  

For sale on Etsy 

I love this #whalersailor look that I have painted over the years.  I have included this item for sale on my Etsy store because it helps the buyer to see how to include various paintings in group settings.  I happen to like the way this picture looks with the painting WORTHY WHALES WANTED,  also for sale on ETSY.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/461914254/kolene-spicher-original-ship-painting?ref=shop_home_active_2
(This is the link for the top picture on ETSY) 

Using the antique frames is fun.  Often times you find frames that are one of a kind.  This gives your home a unique look that is not cookie/cutter, which I tire of quickly.

Navigating the Shoals 

Holding a book that has maps of the Shoals was very important in early America.  Many dangerous shoals, for example, surrounded the whaling port of Nantucket.  This painting is a story of a boy Sailor/Whaler who navigated the shoals of Nantucket.

These closeups show the naive style in which they were painted.  Not all of my paintings are done this simply, but this is correct for the time in which I am depicting.  It falls into that category of #folkart that was #selftaught and lends itself toward #outsider art.  

Also for sale on ETSY 

I feel that this frame is not photographing well.  The piece in person looks really unusual because it has specks of real gold leafing on it. I find it very pretty.   The pieces that stand out and are lighter are actually gold leaf.  Here's another shot.  (below) 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474363435/kolene-spicher-original-mermaid-painting?ref=listing-shop-header-2

Thanks for looking today! 

ENJOY. 

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Nautical Artwork for Doylestown, PA showing September 20 and 21, 2014

Sea Captains, Whales, and Ships 

Closeup of one of my FAVORITE pieces

I have a friend that had visited Williamsburg recently.  I was inspired by one of her pictures to do this painting.  At first it was all about Williamsburg, but then it sort of morphed into something different~ship Captains!  Can't help it, I just end up on the water every time! 

I had to add the ships and the little telescopes that a typical Sea Captain might carry.  This painting is very much like my earlier work.  When I first got started,  It was all about EARLY and less about whimsy.  I started out doing Frakur, pen and Ink-type drawings, and that was 22 years ago, plus.  I still love this style even after all of these years.  

The frame is veneer and wonderfully simple and in VG condition! 

THE DRAPED ANCHOR PIECE 

I am in love with drapes.  I paint them INTO  many of my pictures.  You all know this if you follow my work even a little bit.  

Here is a rework of a painting that I did last year and kept.  I was staring at it one day and decided that it must be reframed and a drape added.  Really, I changed it so much, that the feel of it is totally different than its original state.  HAHA.  I am allowed to do that! (as much as I want). 

Hope really does anchor us.  It gives us a reason to push forward! 

Again, you cannot see this, but the whole bottom section has all these tiny little cracks.  You can see it a little above the cursive words as on.  I ALSO LOVE THE WATER AND THE COLOR OF THE WATER. 

More Drapes

I loved this frame with the stripes going all along the outer edges.  It reminds me of an old sailor.  It looks like something that he would have done on his ship while waiting for the whales to swim past.  That's what they did…wait.  Think about how often you see and whale.  Even when you go on a whale watch, you are fortunate if you see them.

I love whales.  Maybe it's because I fell in love with Nantucket. 

Check out the floating anchor.  

I have a whole section of this show that is devoted to ANCHORS!  I LOVE THEM, like I love sailors and mermaids.  You cannot see the title of this painting, but it is called  ANCHOR AWAY!  It's a play on words indicating that this whale is not happy where he is anchored.  "Anchor, AWAY!" As if it would go somewhere...

Lastly, here is a shot of the three above all stacked one on top of the other! 

See how wonderfully simple the frames are!?? 

THE FRAMES ALL work so well together.  It took some time to pull this off but now that I have done it this once, I am going to continue to try to frame them all similarly.  My anchors are next to blog about.  They are not simple frames but they look so unique.   I can't wait to blog about them.  

Enjoy, and I hope to see you at my show! Introduce yourself, if you make it! 

KOLENE! 

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