New Article about Sailboat Artwork in Latitude 38, "Old Charts Become Works of Art"...
Dividing her time between the helm and her studio overlooking the yacht club, Denise paints beautiful scenes of places they’ve sailed with family and friends, including the California coast, San Francisco Bay, Hawaii, Narragansett Bay, and Long Island Sound. The scenes are all painted on NOAA nautical charts. Not surprisingly, she calls it “sailing art.”
Recent article about Sailboat Artwork in Latitude 38. Please take a moment to read and I hope that you enjoy.
Denise
https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/old-nautical-charts-works-art/
Old Nautical Charts Become Works of Art
By John 'Woody' Skoriak | July 10, 2020 | 1
When NOAA decided to ‘sunset’ paper nautical charts and transition to electronic charts, many sailors wondered what to do with their old charts. Recycle them? Use them to wrap gifts? Make a table top? But for Richmond-based artist and sailor Denise Kramer the choice was easy — paint on them.
It’s not often we see such beauty on a nautical chart.© 2020 John Skoriak
While a recent transplant to the Bay Area from the East Coast, Denise has been an artist for many years. Her impressive résumé includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Atlanta College of Art and a Master of Arts from the City University of New York.
But it wasn’t until 2014, when she met and married her husband Chris Kramer, an avid sailor and racer, that she decided to combine sailing with her love of art.
“Sailboats in motion became my focus after I met my husband, Chris, and started racing with him. Between tacks is where I find my inspiration.”
Is the cat an artist too? Denise Kramer clearly enjoys her work.© 2020 John Skoriak
Before moving to the Bay Area for Chris’s work in the tech industry, the couple had spent plenty of time ‘between tacks’ on sailboats. They lived, worked and sailed in Rye, NY, and their ‘home waters’ were Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. They flew the burgees of the American Yacht Club and the prestigious New York Yacht Club. And being competitive sailors, their boat was a Columbia Carbon 32, Six Brothers. When it came time to choose an ideal place to relocate and sail in the Bay Area, Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) was at the top of the list.
As RYC members Denise and Chris jumped right into the local sailing scene. Since their arrival in 2016, they have raced Six Brothers on the Bay, the ocean, and offshore in the California Offshore Race Week. They’ve also competed in many OYRA, YRA and SSS races around the Bay and offshore including the Farallones and Duxship races and Pac Cup 2018.
Dividing her time between the helm and her studio overlooking the yacht club, Denise paints beautiful scenes of places they’ve sailed with family and friends, including the California coast, San Francisco Bay, Hawaii, Narragansett Bay, and Long Island Sound. The scenes are all painted on NOAA nautical charts. Not surprisingly, she calls it “sailing art.”
Imagine this framed piece of art hanging on your wall!© 2020 John Skoriak
Recently Denise and Chris decided to trade their high-tech Columbia Carbon for an equally competitive but less crew-intensive Alerion 28, Sweet De. But Denise claims they still manage to sail it at least twice a week.
And to round out the family fleet, they also bought a Melges 26 power boat that Denise says she loves “to explore on” when she is not painting. But the Melges has not yet been painted on a NOAA chart, as sailboats in action in every size, color and event still dominate Denise’s art.
As well as being works of art, Denise’s paintings represent many of her own sailing adventures.© 2020 Denise Kramer
This is surely just a small sample of Denise’s work. If you’d like to know more, you can check out her website at https://www.sailboatartwork.com/.
Quarantine day 75
Over the past 7.5 weeks I have spent hundreds of hours building my business by perfecting my website and creating a lot of new paintings: the Grand Princess sailing into SF Bay, our Alerian 28, a One Design Regatta, three of American Magic’s DEFIANT, Point Richmond’s Ferry Point, the Farallon Islands, my first perpetual trophy, and in the next few hours a gorgeous acrylic painting of the RP 52, VITESSE on a chart of the Hawaiian Islands (all posted in gallery below).
Unlike many places around the world, we have been fortunate in San Francisco because our authorities permitted access to the water and our boats throughout the quarantine. In the absence of a packed racing, travel, and errand schedule, my wonderful husband and I are spending more time together anchoring, cruising, paddling and finding inspiration on San Francisco Bay. Also, Facetime, FaceBook, WhatsApp, Zoom, MarcoPolo, Group Text and Google Duo-ing with friends and family fill my day with laughter, fellowship and much needed advice. Because of the SIP, I appreciate my life and love more than I ever thought possible. Don’t get me wrong: COVID19 is a terrible thing, but am doing my best.
What really brightens my workday is hearing from you, my fellow artists and friends. Some of you have told me that my work takes you back to a time/place on the water. You have shared wonderful stories of marriage proposals, family, hard fought victories in past regattas, and hopes for sailing events yet to happen. Others have complimented me on my imagery, technique and ability to capture motion in my art. Of course, it would be great if some of you would show your support by commissioning a custom painting of your boat, purchasing an original from my online store, or buying prints and merchandise from my print store. But that is not the only way to show your support and help me reach the rest of the world. Please like, share, subscribe, or follow me on social media. Make my art your screensaver, cover photo or tack it on your fridge. Please tell others about me - your support is my most valuable asset.
In the next few weeks I will be starting several new paintings on charts from around the world: Italy, Lake Michigan, Diamond Head, California Coast, Bermuda, Bahamas and even the Jersey Shore. Please check back to see my new work.
~Denise
#sailboatartwork
Staying Home
In this new #stayhome world, I feel fortunate that the Sailboat Artwork Studio is in the solarium of our home. The light in the studio is perfect for painting and cat napping, so Bandit and I spend most of our time here. What really makes the Sailboat Artwork Studios so special is that just outside the window are some of the most beautiful views on the planet. Having so much natural light and ever ready nautical references outside the window definitely influence the art that is created here. What I am really missing here, though, is my sailing community. A group of serious yet fun, tough as nails, awe inspiring individuals. Their skill and creativity on the water; managing wind, adrenaline and going fast, all while enjoying the fellowship that comes from sharing a common passion, is the real reason that I paint. To all my fellow sailors and lovers of the sea, I miss you. Please let me know how you are managing in this new age, ways you are staying connected to the water, and stories from your favorite sailing adventures.
With kind regards,
Denise
The Sailboat Artwork Staff. Artist, Denise Kramer and Shop Kitty, Bandit.
View from the Studio at Sunset.