"Some of my Plein-Air paintings are, if I can put it this way, a matter of
'love at first sight.' I happen upon a scene, am entranced by it, and begin to
paint in a kind of creative fever.
My Fisherman's Wharf, Marina is another matter altogether. I know the ins
and outs of this picturesque harbor as well as I know any place in the world.
I've visited it since I was a boy. I know the feel of its salt spray, the
colorful departure and return of the fishing fleet, the mix of aromas provided
by its world-famous restaurants, its panoramic view of the bay.
I have detailed San Francisco landscapes in a number of studio pieces. The
impulse that moved me to set up my easel and create Fisherman's Wharf, Marina
in just a couple of hours was different. All too often, the weather in San
Francisco is windswept and foggy. This was a dazzling day. A brilliant sun
shimmered on waters that rivaled the sky in the intensity of their blue. The
magnificent span of the Golden Gate Bridge was etched on the horizon; the
distant shores of the bay stood out clearly.
Picturesque little schooners were tied up at the piers. Fisherman's Wharf,
Marina didn't look like a tourist attraction that day. It was, instead, the
perfect image of a fishing harbor, just as you see it in the painting.