I was watching the armada for America’s 250th anniversary when I saw the USS Constitution.
I wanted to paint a boat. I saw this particular boat, thought about its endurance and history, and decided to paint it.
Old Ironsides has been in service for centuries. It was not made to burn brightly and fade away. It was made to endure—to hold the line when everything else had faded.
Only the unbreakable endure the long watch.
The USS Constitution was launched in Boston in 1797 as one of the original frigates built for the young United States Navy. During the War of 1812, she defeated HMS Guerriere. According to the traditional account, some British cannon shot failed to penetrate her thick oak hull, leading a sailor to declare that her sides were made of iron. The nickname “Old Ironsides” followed. Today, she remains the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat.
I painted the piece in watercolor on a 7-by-5-inch sheet of paper. There was no grand calculation behind that size. It was the paper I had at hand.
The water was the most difficult part for me. I have very little experience painting convincing moving water. Most of my landscapes focus on still ponds and reflections. This was something I had been practicing, and the painting became a test to see how far I had come.
I painted it while sitting at a vendor event between customers. Watercolor works well in that setting because the drying time between colors and layers leaves room for customer interaction.
People also like to see artists arting.
No one can doubt my credentials if they watch me do it.
The original sold immediately. I posted an image on social media, and that same day I heard from an interested customer whose son was graduating from naval boot camp. The painting would become a gift with a direct connection to the history and tradition behind the ship.
The USS Constitution is one of the most enduring symbols of the United States Navy. It seemed fitting that the original painting should go to a sailor.
Standard prints are available for $10 at the same 7-by-5-inch size as the original. I do not shrink or enlarge a piece simply because it might make a cool poster. The print remains true to the painting I made.
And boy, do I have a lot of ’em.