Original artwork description:

Many years ago we made a family trip to Norway. We sailed on the ferry across the North Sea. I have been working on series of paintings evoked by memories of this journey.
We sailed from Newcastle in the UK, leaving in the afternoon. As we sailed further and further across the North Sea the ship that had seemed so huge when standing beside it at the docks now seemed quite small and vulnerable upon the vast waters of the North Sea.
As much as I love the sea I find big ships and and deep waters quite eerie. We were extremely lucky as the whole of the crossing to Norway the sea was very calm and still. I could not help but imagine what it would be like to be sailing in storm force winds, particularly when I saw the safety video that was playing on screens to inform passengers what to do in an emergency.
We continued throughout the night sailing in the darkness and I thought how small the ship must look, with it’s lights shining in the midst of black skies and dark deep waters.
We reached the coast of Norway by early evening the next day and as the ship maneuvered its way towards Bergen the landscape around us was so beautiful and almost surreal. There were houses that sat very close to the shoreline and as it was starting to get dark, lights from the windows of the houses shone brightly.
We had a short stay in Bergen which was very beautiful, before sailing home. It was a bit choppy on the way back! It was a trip I will never forget.
This small study has been made on a box canvas and has lots of textures and marks. It forms part of a series of studies that inform a larger painting I have been working on in my series of works inspired by this journey.
It has painted sides so no need for framing. It is not fitted with chord for hanging as I feel it looks better just hung on two level screws flat to the wall. Alternatively it could sit propped on a shelf or mantelpiece etc. It has been signed on the back.
This artwork has a santa hat because you can win it as part of the #DearArtfinder promotion. The actual painting does not have a santa hat!

Materials used:

mixed media on box canvas

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