The
thatched roof cottages of rural England have charmed and intrigued
me; the splendid manor houses scattered throughout the countryside
have tantalized me with their taste of noble living. But I have never
before painted the great English metropolis, the bustling, light filled jewel
of nostalgia and history that is London.
London is the rarest of contemporary cities – at
once rich with picturesque landmarks and invigorated by modern energies.
I set up my easel at just this spot to capture its two faces. I painted
within the shadows of Westminster Bridge, ancient and massive,
while a regal sunset illuminated the reflections of the House of Parliament
and the Tower of Big Ben in the silvery water of the Thames.
A stately old tugboat passed by as I painted and I decided
to include it in my London. I had some fun with the river,
hiding the periscope of a vintage submarine in its depths – perhaps
an outgrowth of my recent readings regarding London’s
participation as our ally during the war my father fought in – World
War II. And does that bottle
bobbing under the bridge hold a love letter to my wife Nanette, or
is it instead a love letter to this glorious city?. |