Nautical folk Art- A Coastal Homeowners Passion

Nautical folk art from Skipjack nautical Wares & Marine Gallery

 A carved and painted contemporary "Sailor's Valentine" (pictured above) was created by Jac & Patricia Johnson, two of my favorite folk artists working today. Their work is simply wonderful. The double heart-shaped valentine with carved lace edge features a hollowed out center with angels and painted verse with country and marine designs. As the poem reads "I hold you in my heart for god hath placed you there; I hold you there my darling for I know you truly care. You have been so very faithful through each passing year. I love you more than ever, In my heart I hold you dear." You can only imagine such verse written and given to a loved one from a saddened sailor before heading out to sea for an undetermined length of time...maybe forever!

Placed below the sailors valentine is a vintage ships in a bottle featuring a pair of  racing schooners. This fine work of art even had  sailors up in the masts! To the right is one of my all time favorite items, a lamp made with an antique birdhouse modeled after a famous New England lighthouse and mounted onto a thick piece of old driftwood pine. These pieces are displayed upon the owners 19th century paint-decorated blanket chest.

This whaling diorama that is displayed above a blue plaid sofa in the family room was also created by Jac and Patricia Johnson. It features a carved "harpooned" white whale and whalers skiff applied to a painted board with sailing ship in background and a sailors account to the event written across the total art piece.

The simple rounded and stylized contours of this primitive whale perched upon the top of an oak Armoire convey an impertinent energy. This handcrafted weathervane was created by New Jersey folk artist Steve Hazlett from a single 100+year old heart pine board salvaged from a barn located in Bath, NY. Antique copper flashing was applied to the tail and outer edge of whale. Blue and gray buttermilk paint was applied in numerous layers to give the piece a dry and crusty as-found appearance.

An antique New England schooner weathervane stands sentinel by the living room fireplace. The weathervane was created with a painted wooden hull and tin sails. She is still attached to it's original metal roof mounting base.

Visit these other articles by the author featuring American folk art:

http://skipjacksnauticalliving.blogspot.com/2010/04/nautical-folk-art-dealers-passion.html

http://skipjacksnauticalliving.blogspot.com/2010/02/sailors-valentines-gift-of-love.html

http://skipjacksnauticalliving.blogspot.com/2010/02/from-sidewalks-to-rooftops-outdoor-folk.html