Elaine Marie Lighthouse Art - Lighthouse Travel

Elaine Marie Lighthouse Art

Ambassadors of Goodwill

11/23/2020

The Blue Angels certainly lived out their motto “Ambassadors of Goodwill” during 2020. Their “American Strong” salute honored healthcare workers, first responders, essential personnel, etc. They flew over hard hit states like Arkansas, California, Florida, New York, Tennessee and more.

The team is station at Fort Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida during air show season. Their mission is bring aviation to men, women and children across America. For 74 years they have mesmerized over more than 450 million spectators.

I too have been mesmerized by the Blue Angels. Although I've been to many air shows, I was spellbound by the sight and sounds of the Blue Angels performing on their home turf.

My experience of watching the Blue Angles influenced my lighthouse painting. The drips of paint and splashes of color allude to their magical yet patriotic and majestic performance.

Shadows of History

11/6/2020

Established in 1856 in the New Dorp (taken from the Dutch Nieuwe Dorp for "new village") section of Staten Island, the lighthouse stands guard on a hill.

New Dorp Lighthouse was part of a system of three sets of lights. It was a family station located two miles from the shore. In 1997 it was named a New York Landmark as a unique vernacular building with unusual design and outstanding architectural character. (Jeremy D'Entremont, the Lighthouse Handbook, Hudson River and New York Harbor.)

It is a New York Landmark that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Yet the average onlooker wouldn't see much significance to this lighthouse. Shrouded in the woods and mystery it is somewhat difficult to see at all. My son and I overcame many obstacles to paint this lighthouse and were rewarded with a vista of shadows and sunlight and an awe inspiring view of the lighthouse.

New Beginnings

10/29/2020

In 1830s, German and Irish immigrants built a new canal to connect Lake Pontchartrain to the city of New Orleans. Before completion, Congress authorized a light at the entrance to New Canal. The lighthouse has been rebuilt several times and one was auctioned.
The current New Canal Lighthouse is a replica that was built after severe damage from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005. The pilings were destroyed but the lighthouse remained mostly intact until a cold front destroyed what was left of the lighthouse. The wood from the 1890 lighthouse is now a part of the current lighthouse. Through the efforts of the Lake Pontchartrain Foundation the lighthouse was restored and reopened in 2013.

A Purpose in Paradise

10/3/2020

Built in 1907, the Hillsboro Lighthouse has an idyllic setting. Swaying palms trees and calming azure water, belay it’s noble purpose. The lighthouse was built after four centuries of wrecks on area reefs. It has a black and white day mark. The top of the lighthouse is painted black to make it visible above the trees. The bottom white half contrasts against the trees.

The lighthouse, also called "Big Diamond" is unique. With of a beam of 28 nautical miles, it is has the strongest light beam of all US lighthouses. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

The lighthouse was built after four centuries of wrecks on area reefs. It has a black and white day mark. The top of the lighthouse is painted black to make it visible above the trees. The bottom white half contrasts against the trees. My painting contrasts the day mark of the lighthouse against a peaceful and tropical setting.

After the Rain

10/2/2020

I painted Cape Florida Lighthouse after a week of rain. I drove to Key Biscayne to see the lighthouse on a sunny Florida. Standing behind a canopy of palm trees, the beautiful lighthouse towered against a clear blue sky. The lighthouse was surrounded by mangroves and not condos, thanks to the park's namesake, Bill Baggs. The Bill Baggs State Park was opened in 1967 foiling efforts by developers.

Cape Florida Lighthouse has witnessed many struggles, hardships, and endured a fire. It has withstood more than 4 dozen hurricanes, including Hurricane Andrew. Its existence predates the founding of the of Miami. During the Second Seminole Wars in 1836, the lighthouse was destroyed. The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1846-47.

A Fallen Lighthouse is More Dangerous than a Reef-Navjot Singh Sidhut

10/2/2020

After falling in the Gulf of Mexico, Cape St. George Lighthouse was restored in 2011 with the support of the local community, state and federal governments. The current lighthouse was constructed from the remains of the second lighthouse in 1852.

In the 1800s the Gulf Coast of Florida the third busiest port in Florida for transporting cotton. The Cape St. George Lighthouse was built in 1833 to mark Apalachicola Bay. Because the mariners could not see the lighthouse it was rebuilt in 1852 at the southern extreme of St. George Island. After powerful storms, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1852. Hurricanes, storms and beach erosion would eventually take its toll on the lighthouse. In 2005 the 1852 lighthouse collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico.

This Lighthouse Makes it to the Bucket List

9/29/2020

The Gay Head Cliffs in the town of Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard are so spectacular that they make it to the bucket list. It's no wonder that Gay Head Cliffs and Lighthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The beach near the lighthouse was featured in the movie, "Jaws." There's a shot of the lighthouse in the movie.

By happy circumstance, I was visiting Martha's Vineyard when they were moving the lighthouse. It was in danger of falling off the magnificent cliffs.

Moving it was nothing short of a miracle. The lighthouse was put on a track to move it to a safe place. What a feat. After cheers and champagne, the Gay Head Advisory Committee got a list of more needed repairs.

This is not the first time the lighthouse was moved. After being completed in November 1779, lighthouse was first moved in 1844.

Invasive Species

9/23/2020

After a short boat ride, I arrived at Anclote Key State Preserve and debarked at the pristine beach. A scenic nature trail to Anclote Key Lighthouse. I drew several sketches and took photographs of the fuel house before scaling the 102 foot lighthouse. The steel framed lighthouse offered a panoramic view of the tiny pristine island. I was delighted to be able visit during the reopening.

When I painted the lighthouse I thought about the signs that I had read along the nature trail. They warned that Florida’s natural habitat was being endangered by invasive erotics. These erotics endanger the vibrant ecosystem that supports some of Florida’s great wildlife, such as manatees, sea turtles and shore birds. This inspired me to used green in the painting to symbolize Florida’s lush natural habitat and to add a few palms trees that were prevalent on the island. The swaying palms seem to protect the lighthouse from the invasive erotics.

Anclote is the Spanish word for anchor. The lighthouse was built in 1887. The tower was fabricated in the north and shipped to the island. It took just three months to assemble it. (www.lighthousefriends.com)

Hidden Agenda

9/18/2020

My trip to Amelia Island Lighthouse reminded me of playing “peekaboo” with my children. The impossible task of hiding behind a mere pair of hands came to mind as we were driving in circles trying to find a 67 feet tall lighthouse. It seemed like there was a decision to make the lighthouse inaccessible and hidden.

Surely this caper was a ploy by the US Coast Guard and the upscale neighborhood to keep visitors at a minimum. True to form the were no directional signs for getting to the lighthouse. The GPS was cahoots with their plan and proved useless in the search. Still the paper map indicated the lighthouse was nearby.

Finally, after noticing a narrow unmarked road, my sister and I discovered the beautiful lighthouse at the road’s end. The lighthouse stood on a peak behind a forest of trees. I breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed a dose of Florida sunshine and blue skies.

In the painting above, the Amelia Island Lighthouse is camouflaged. This contradicts the mission of a lighthouse. It sole purpose is to be seen.