Dry Docked (City of Portland)

Dry Docked (City of Portland), oil on linen, 24x36, is one of twenty one new oil paintings from my solo show at Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor running until October 13, 2012.

Dry Docked (City of Portland), oil, 24 x 36, ©Philip Frey 2012

While painting on site in Boothbay Harbor, Maine this past spring, I wandered past a compelling view. I was too tired to do another painting that day and the perfect vantage point was in the middle of the road. So, a painting from a photo it was to be.

I have been using photo reference for many years, but since last year I have been doing studies on site and then working on pieces based on the studies in the studio later. After reading Part 1 of an interview with Eric Aho I see that he has been working in the same way. He notes that he and the viewer can't tell if the work was painted outdoors from direct perception or later in the studio. That is the direction I am going here too.