Sailing Ships

by James Williamson

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Price

$1,400

Dimensions

22.000 x 15.000 inches

Title

Sailing Ships

Artist

James Williamson

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

Out from the mooring, dock, and slip, through the harbor they glide, drawing seaward to the swirling tide, steering for the open sea, where salty winds blow.
Excerpt from a poem by Bliss Carman.
Tall Ship sepia watercolor painting by artist James Williamson.

Artist James Williamson ASMA,
Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists

Sailing Ships Our Heritage the Sea
To the men and women who know the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song, this painting is dedicated.

“Wind-ships & Windjammers” Square-riggers & Topsail Schooners: Became representative of Pacific Commerce built for West Coast Pacific Ocean service basing their operations at West Coast Ports. This gallant fleet of sailing vessels represented the majority of the finest and largest vessels ever built

Vessels were owned by West Coast shipping companies until the end of the sailing ship era. As steamers and motor-ships began to take their toll on the wind-ship, many of the last of these great winged beauties faded from Pacific Ports. Ports from California to British Columbia became repositories for the square-riggers. When there was no place for them to sail, they were cut down to barges and many of these aging ships lasted well into the twentieth century.

Among the great fleet were the statuesque grain ships, that for many years, carried the trade from the West Coast to the United Kingdom and Europe; the square-rigged lumber ships that lifted their cargoes at Washington, Oregon and B.C. lumber ports for the far corners of the world; the coal packers and the grubby uninsured breed that took any kind of cargo that was offered, asking only a breeze to fill their oft-patched canvas.

The lusty old days of sail filled lives with a hearty yearn for the open seas and adds a bit of maritime memories to fill this great void in our maritime history. In this ‘nuclear-space age’, amid our pleasant surroundings, it can be difficult for one to imagine the rugged life of the underpaid, underfed, seafarers of old. Among them were the scum of the earth and the bravest of men; men of every nation and colors rubbing elbows in their raw surroundings. Courageous, trusted skippers or fierce masters who loved nothing better than to rule their floating worlds with an iron fist, once out of sight of land.

It took a peculiar kind of man to furl canvas in a 60-knot gale, out on a yardarm 160 feet above the sea. One hand for the ship, and one hand for himself, with only a wildly swaying foot rope between him and eternity. Freezing weather, bleeding hands and lack of sleep or food were no excuse for not performing well. Woe to the man who shirked his duties.

The original painting ‘Tall Ships’ was created in Watercolor

The achievement of command over the great ocean routes was realized by design and perfect balance of masts, spars, sails and the curving lines of a well-constructed hull. The harmony of mass and form was transformed into a ‘living creation of man’ dancing through the waves with wind whistling in the rigging. It was ships such as these that have inspired marine art, song, and literature. Sailing Ships captures the lusty old days of tall ships transporting you to an enchanted time of great wind-ships, adventure, tall tales and courageous captains and crews.
Square rig is a type of sail and rigging arrangement in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars which are perpendicular, or square, to the keel of the vessel and to the masts. A ship mainly so rigged is called a square rigger.
A barquentine (alternatively barkentine) is a sailing vessel with three or more masts, with a square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged main, mizzen and any other masts.

Uploaded

August 11th, 2012

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