Other Exhibits:
From Model to Masterpiece:
The Work of Thomas Hoyne and Erik Ronnberg
Previously exhibited at Mystic Seaport
Enter our Mallory Exhibit Hall and discover the newest exhibit at Mystic Seaport. From Model to Masterpiece: The Work of Thomas Hoyne and Erik Ronnberg, brings together the work of two artists - the maritime paintings of Thomas Hoyne and the ship models created for those paintings by Erik Ronnberg. You'll have the rare opportunity to see the paintings and models displayed together in the same gallery.
From 1972 until his death in 1989, Thomas Hoyne created close to 100 maritime paintings. He acted as a 'visual reporter,' recreating historical maritime scenes on his canvases. Hoyne took great pains to create images that were true to life. After Hoyne researched a particular vessel or maritime event he wanted to paint, he would often commission Erik Ronnberg to create a scale model of the vessel. Using Ronnberg's scale model, Hoyne would sketch the vessel in a variety of positions by placing it in sand or cat litter to capture the 'movement' of the ship as it cut through the water. To show proper stances and body positions of his figures, Hoyne would work from photographs of himself and friends posed in fishing gear.
In the adjacent gallery, you can learn more about maritime art by trying some of the 'tricks of the trade.' The Art Spot encourages artists of any age or talent to explore a wide variety of hands-on art activities. You can stage a life-size maritime scene with props and then sketch it, compose a 'diorama' of a ship and sea and experiment with lighting and backgrounds. You can also slow down and take a closer look at a maritime painting, learning how to 'read' it or dive into books about maritime artists and their secrets. Also, you can experiment with a variety of fine-art materials, discover some handy tips for sketching boats, water, waves, skies and clouds, and display the finished work in our gallery.