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C.R. Bryant (
Bob)
Modern Marine Master
Artist at
the helm of Stars and Stripes in San
Diego Bay
Artist signature often appears scribed
into wet paint
For almost sixty years....
C.R. (Bob) Bryant has followed a
lifelong journey to
perfect his ability as a visual artist.
Born in the eye of a hurricane in
Central Florida he created his first
painting at age five. Working primarily with traditional oils
on linen, using techniques of
the old
masters, learned over many
years of study, he has become a master
of realism. He has also perfected the
rare and unusual technique of painting
on copper used by early Dutch and
Flemish painters and revered as the
perfect ground for oils.
"Kentra"
Oil on Pure Copper
Known
for his ability to paint water he also
has a working knowledge of sailing ships
and today he is recognized as a leading
international marine artist. Relocating
to the Pacific Northwest in 1988, his
focus centered on preserving the rich
Marine history of Puget Sound but his
passion remains classic sailing yachts.
His
understanding and appreciation of visual
arts has been enriched while living
abroad and devoting considerable time in
the world’s great art museums, living
and painting in the footsteps of the old
masters. Bryant is a veteran single hand
sailor and never far from the sea
preferring to live on or near the ocean.
A
key
aspect of his work involves the human
figure, seldom included in maritime
paintings but frequently the subject of
his work. Many of his paintings
especially classic yachts are actually
portraits of crew and owners
unpretentiously represented within the
composition as seen in the painting "Kentra"
above.
In
1997, surviving a near fatal accident, Bryant made the decision to paint
professionally and began marketing his
work by founding Emerald Island
Studios during a long rehabilitation
period. "Painting allowed me to
focus and develop the mental toughness
to come back physically. Many of the forty
paintings I did during that year ended
up in the trash but a few were worth the
effort. I've kept them to remind myself
that anything is possible even in the
most difficult of situations".
Bryant produces a number of
paintings each year for
donation to selected causes supporting
the arts, marine heritage and historical
conservation.
In
the United States his original oil
paintings and limited edition
reproductions are represented by Mystic
Seaport, America's museum of the sea and
selected galleries. In Europe his
paintings are predominately commissioned
by patrons and yacht owners. His work is
frequently selected for exhibition at
major exhibitions in Mystic. His
paintings are included in the permanent
collections of maritime museums,
international corporations, numerous
classic yacht owners and patrons
throughout Europe, Asia, the West Indies
and the Americas. |
The Studio
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Emerald
Island Studios is located on Raft Island
in Henderson Bay north of Tacoma and
Olympia on
Washington's Puget Sound. Looking north
through the trees we can see the Olympic
Mountains and our resident family of
bald eagles that nest here and fish in
our back yard.
Looking
south there is a 180º exposure to the
sun and a small protected salt water
bay. Salmon run into the fresh water
creeks that flow into the bay in the
winter
months and harbor seals live here year
round.
Occasionally a California Grey Whale or
an Orca Pod come through and every day
the tide leaves a treasure or two on our
beach.
We have
black tail deer, black bear, otters,
every sort of duck and waterfowl plus
loads of visitors who come by kayak,
sailboat, water skis and powerboat, not
to mention the odd floatplane now and
then.
It is a
lively place, in a quiet sort of way,
and certainly an improvement over the
days we have spent living in cities like
Los Angeles, Miami and London.
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Raft Island
at low tide - you can walk across to
Deadman's Island (top) along the spit
but be sure to get back before the tide
changes or else you will have to sleep
on the beach
with the seals. The studio is located on
the lower left point. |
Our
Staff
Meet
Shooter, A First Class Sea Dog
Official Custodian of Studio Toys and Other
Essentials, Director of Studio Security,
Emergency Baggy Wrinkle and Ambassador to the South
Bay Region of Raft Island.
Shooter effectively
eliminates seagull and crow conventions on the
studio deck,
officially greets all who come ashore and he
provides a significant degree of harassment
to the big guy in the brown truck who comes to take
the paintings! |
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Shooter has two
assistants, his kennel mate Chaser and a recent arrival
Three pound Coco Channel, a treasure to all who meet her!
Meet Coco....
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