The Boats of Opua - Rock and Roll Star

On Tuesday afternoon, I spent some time wandering around the marina, photographing boats. This yacht caught my eye as she looked like she had just arrived in New Zealand. I watched as the sail was lowered and she continued into the port under power.  Her name and port were on the hull; Rock and Roll Star, Plymouth and she was flying the Union Jack. I googled the name and found that the boat is owned by a couple who started their sailing adventure in early 2013. They were in Tonga a week or two ago.

I must admit, I cheated a bit and punched up the colour of the sea and made it a little choppier. The water in Opua is often this colour, but that afternoon the sea was flatter and grey.

The Boats of Opua - Rock and Roll Star

8" x 6" oil on gessoed board, unframed

This little study has been donated as a fundraiser for my town of Opua

The Boats of Opua - Bullion Rover

This is the seventh little oil in my latest project, The Boats of Opua. I've seen the Bullion Rover in Opua more than once, so my guess is that it is a New Zealand boat - possibly a local one.

At first I painted it with the boatyard behind it, but it was so busy I wiped off most of the other boats and just suggested a couple in the water behind the Bullion.  I wonder how it got its name?
I'm learning a lot with this latest project. My bird project was all about simplification of subject matter. Painting small oils of boats makes me concentrate on values and color, otherwise the boat gets lost in the clutter of the background, other boats, reflections, etc.

The Boats of Opua - Bullion Rover

8" x 6" oil on gessoed board, unframed

US $125 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

The Boats of Opua - #5867

#5867 has such a nice shape, I had to paint it. I saw it in the boatyard at the Opua Marina a few months ago. Perhaps it was getting a new paint job. This is the sixth boat painting I've done for my latest project, The Boats of Opua. Once I've completed a dozen or two, I'd like to use a few as studies for larger paintings.

The Boats of Opua - #5867 The Anna Marie

8" x 6" oil on gessoed board, unframed

US $125 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

Edited to add:  A friend looked up the boat on the New Zealand fishing vessels register and tells that #5867 is a trawler and it has a name - Anna Marie!  Much prettier than a number.