On the Pickleforks

The pickleforks are the two narrow walkways above the loading ramps of the Washington ferries.  Passengers can stroll and sun and catch a lot of breeze, and look for whales and sea lions and pirates.  Painted from photos I took myself, though I admit I was inspired by the work of Alex Colville. This painting will be in my show at the Vashon Center for the Arts, Summer Arts Fest.  Oil on panel 10" x 20."  My show will be up July 31 through August 12, and the opening is August 2, 6-9 p.m.  You're invited. 

Dark Hills and Southworth Ferry SOLD

This one will be in the Vashon Art Studio Tour the first two weekends of May, May 6 & 7 and May 13 &14.  I'll be showing paintings at Stop # 23 at Dockton Pottery.  Here's a map.  See you there!
Late afternoon sun throws a shadow across the hills at Southworth.  A spot of sunshine lights up the end of the ferry and makes the view more dramatic.  A view of the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth ferry as seen from the water of Puget Sound. 

Ferry Brown Hill Lavender Water

The long summer twilight paints the ferry with warm yellow light and turns the hills behind a warm brown color.  Another painting of the ferry on the run between Vashon, Fauntleroy, and Southworth.  Painted from photos I took on location.  On my ETSY store:  http://gretchenhancock.etsy.com

Pale Ferry Hazy Sun

A ferry on the Vashon Fauntleroy Southworth run.  Haze and late afternoon sun reduce the contrast in this view and make a substantial ferry seem soft and ephemeral. 

Sun and Smoke Ferry Vashon

The Ferry Tillikum leaves the north end Vashon ferry dock.  Sunlight streams through smoke as the boat slowly pulls away from the dock.  Painted from photos I took from another ferry on the same run.  I just put this painting in the Heron's Nest Gallery on Vashon. 

Gold Ferry

A painting of the Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry near sunset when the distant hills dissolve in yellow light​, The sky is light enough to put sparkles on the water and the far side of the ferry is hit with light.15" x 12" oil on panel.

Ferry on Sparkles

A view of the Vashon Fauntleroy Southworth ferry just leaving the Kitsap Peninsula on Puget Sound.  The sun sparkles on the water and leaves most of the ferry in shadow.  This is one of several ferryboat paintings I've been doing for an upcoming project.  15 x 12 oil on panel

Two Vashon Ferries SOLD

Two ferries at the Vashon north end ferry dock.  The sky is dark, and leaves the hillside in shadow, but sunlight hits the two ferries at the end of the dock.  12" x 24" oil on panel.  This one will be in the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour, #9 on the map at Plum Lodge BnB, 14210 SW Reddings Beach Road.  Click here for map  Hope to see you there

Ferry at Fauntleroy SOLD

 Another ferry painting, this time, the ferry as it is coming in to dock at Fauntleroy.  I like the backlit subject.  Usually an object that is backlit is seen in silhouette and is dark, but by keeping the values high the entire painting seems infused with light. This one will be at the Vashon Artist Studio Tour, stop #9,  at 14210 SW Reddings Beach Road, during the first TWO weekends in December.  6" x 12" oil on panel.

Red Sunset Ferry SOLD

The Vashon-Fauntleroy Ferry late in the afternoon when the sun's rays are low. The distant hills are in shadow and the hills and ferry have turned red in the sunset light.  I will be showing this one at Plum Lodge BnB, #9 on the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour during the first two weekends of December.

Sunset Ferry and Blake Island SOLD

 A view of the Vashon-Fauntleroy Ferry as the sun starts to set behind the Cascades.  I will be showing this one at Plum Island Painters  -#9 on the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour. The tour is the first two weekends in December.  Get an online map at  Vashon Island Art Studio Tour .  24" x 24" oil on panel.

Sunset Ferry on Dark Gray Green SOLD

Sometimes the Northwest weather is so colorless that everything seems made of charcoal.  And then a sliver of sun peeks through late in the day.  Just enough to light up the side of the north end ferry at the end of the ferry dock. 

Blue-Gold Smoke Ferry SOLD

Another Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry painting.  I like the sunlight and smoke on the ferry.  Painted from photos I took from the other ferry that travels the same route.

North End Ferry

The ferry dock on the north end of Vashon juts out against narrow strips of beach and high, tree-covered cliffs.  The high cliffs shadow the beach and dock, but the sun shines on the ferry.  A view painted from photographs I took from the sister ship that travels the same route.
Click here to see this On my Etsy store

Smokey Ferry with Pale Blue Hills SOLD

Another painting of the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth Ferry.  Afternoon sun makes the hills dissolve, and turns the white ferry to blue.  Painted from photographs I took while on the sister ferry that runs the same route. 

Pale Ferry on Gold SOLD

One of my favorite subjects - the Vashon-Fauntleroy Ferry in late afternoon light.  This was painted from a photo I snapped one evening while traveling in the other direction from the second ferry that follows the same route.
Click here to see this on my ETSY store.

Southworth Ferry from Colvos Passage

A view of the Southworth Ferry from Vashon Island looking north up the Colvos Passage.  This one is a bit larger, 18" x 36", and was created from photos taken at Valerie's beach cabin.  The ferry turns 180 degrees at Southworth so that it can have traffic pointed in the right direction for offloading at both Vashon and Fauntleroy.  The turn gives a view of the ferry lit up in the late afternoon light.  This one will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts gallery in September.  Click here to send me your mailing address if you'd like me to add you to my postcard mailing list for the show.  (The mailing list will be used for show postcards only)

Ferry From Southworth SOLD

Sun shines through the clouds and turns the water silver-blue-gray.  This is a view of the north end ferry as it crosses in front of Blake Island on the trip from Southworth to Fauntleroy in Puget Sound.

On my ETSY store

Red Sunset Hills and Ferry SOLD

The north end Vashon Ferry seen from the Fauntleroy side. A late afternoon view when the sun is low and turns the hills red and throws the scene into shadow.  I have tried to paint this view previously without success, so this time I did a rendering in black white & gray and then applied multiple glazes of red, orange, brown and even a little blue.  The black & white start allowed me to control the values and the drawing without having to solve the colors at the same time.
6" x 12" oil on panel
On my Etsy store at https://www.etsy.com/listing/169045095/red-sunset-hills-and-ferry

Evening Vashon Ferry

A late afternoon view of the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth ferry at the north end of Vashon.  Light  touches the ferry at the end of the dock, but leaves the hill in shadow. 
8x10 oil on panel