This watercolor is depicting the action of local Lobsterman Alfred Stanley and his grandson launching their skiff early in the morning on Fish Beach on Monhegan Island. They use these skiffs to row into the deeper channel where their lobster boat is moored in the harbor. The skiff is white, and has a beautiful mint green shadow wash reflected on its side from the sand of the beach.
It is a watercolor on 300-lb Fabriano Cold Press handmade paper made in the 70’s and has a beautiful grain. It is 19 x 26 inches and is painted with pure Holbein watercolors due to their being no ox gall mixed with the gum arabic binder to alter the pigments. Michael is using the 4 -color Zorn palette and realistic side-lighting effects to increase the dynamic quality of the figures in action. This painting was recently created in 2022 and is a part of Michael’s current Monhegan Figure portfolio.