We are bringing our boat from Hilton Head, SC north on the Intracoastal Waterway to our home in New Jersey. I am taking pictures of interesting sights along the way, with an eye toward future artwork.
I find myself taking lots of pictures of crabbers and huge fishing boats. They and the tugboats, barges and bridge tenders share our watery environment and are very exotic to this Midwesterner.
View out the kitchen door of the Drum Point Lighthouse, Solomons, MD
We are working our way through the Chesapeake Bay on this trip. This is my first time on this body of water and it has its own fascinations. We have visited a couple of maritime museums, where I learned about the rich local history and the various fishing industries. I have learned about the unique boats the watermen ply here. I love the graceful slopes of the traditional wooden vessels that can navigate the shallow waters in search of crabs and oysters.
Those creatures themselves are fascinating. I've been puzzling over how best to portray the beauty I see in the variety of oyster shells I've been collecting at dinners.
Cluster oysters at marina in Hilton Head, SC
When we dock at marinas, I like to roam the boatyards, appreciating the geometry of the mooring balls, the angles of the docks, and the vertical lines of the masts on the sailboats.
So much inspiration! Time to get home to the studio.
