This painting is inspired by a time when I was blessed to be on an artist residency at sea. I was aboard the U.S. Cutter Stone during a training deployment. During our time at sea, there were several small boat launches. It was moderately rough with 15 foot swells, and this proved to be a great training ground. I was impressed by how everyone, from the captain and commander to the safety officer and engineers were part of the supervisory team.
Our coasties make this look easy. But there is a lot of thought, and many calculated steps that have to occur just to launch a small boat from a cutter. All this, before the small boat mission is even underway. When I see news of a rescue or other USCG activity involving small boats, now I think about the large group of souls who remain on the cutter. They may not be in the news, but the mission could not have happened without them.
This piece was juried into the 2026 U.S. Coast Guard Government Collection. Because congress could not come to an agreement and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security for much of 2026, these works were rolled into the 2027 collection.
This painting is inspired by a time when I was blessed to be on an artist residency at sea. I was aboard the U.S. Cutter Stone during a training deployment. During our time at sea, there were several small boat launches. It was moderately rough with 15 foot swells, and this proved to be a great training ground. I was impressed by how everyone, from the captain and commander to the safety officer and engineers were part of the supervisory team.
Our coasties make this look easy. But there is a lot of thought, and many calculated steps that have to occur just to launch a small boat from a cutter. All this, before the small boat mission is even underway. When I see news of a rescue or other USCG activity involving small boats, now I think about the large group of souls who remain on the cutter. They may not be in the news, but the mission could not have happened without them.
This piece was juried into the 2026 U.S. Coast Guard Government Collection. Because congress could not come to an agreement and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security for much of 2026, these works were rolled into the 2027 collection.