Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Voyage of the Manticore


The Sinking of the Bafflethwaite
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
2009
Available

I'm happy to announce that my new show, The Voyage of the Manticore, will be hanging next month at Joe Bar in Seattle's Capital Hill.

The Voyage of the Manticore chronicles the adventures of a fictitious 19th century schooner. The series takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the romantic exploits of the great Age of Sail. From the melodramatic to the absurd, each vignette illuminates a brief moment in the untold story of the Manticore. Based on the schooner Chasseur, a historic blockade runner, the Manticore is a 14-gun Baltimore Clipper typical of the early 1800’s. Inspired by 19th century maritime art, the paintings draw from both vintage and contemporary sources to tell a story that is equal parts tall-tale and satire.

Come down on for the opening reception.

The Voyage of the Manticore
Wednesday, March 4th
6PM-8PM

Joe Bar Cafe
810 E. Roy
Seattle, WA 98102
(206)324-0407

4 comments:

mb said...

i'm glad your smoke is billowing in the right direction given the port tack... but where are the shrouds and stays? ;D

Michael McDevitt said...

That was a conscious decision. You will notice that there in no rigging at all in this painting-- running or standing. Other paintings have lines down to the reef nettles, but on this one I chose to omit all. I'd probably paint them in if someone bought it and asked me to, but the series is as much about the mythologizing of sailing as it is about the actual boats. I'm sure it'll drive sailors crazy, but them's the breaks. (and to be quite frank, I've knowingly incorporated minor errors in other paintings... things such as the incorrect number of cannon hatches)

mb said...

well, since it is painted, the masts are probably not going to fall over. and i think a lotta little lines would run the risk of detracting from the eerie lighting of this one. and i heartily approve of what you called taking "a tongue-in-cheek look at the romantic exploits of the great Age of Sail". arrrr b dar.

Hungry Hyaena said...

Fantastic, Michael! I wish I could be there for the opening. It would be great fun.