First Life (25×30 off-set lithograph on paper)

Thomas Hoyne was an American landscape and vintage boat painter who expertly encapsulated the turbulent waves of the ocean and the men who soared upon them to capture fish. His understanding of the anatomy of the ocean and realistic looking vessels helps create an incredibly immersive experience for any viewer wanting to see the legendary feats of fishermen from the past. He started his fascination with the fishing industry and marine art when he met artist Gordon Grant and visited his Gloucester and New York studios, where Grant’s knowledge of ships and skills with painting vessels influenced Hoyne. It’s also cited the 1938 film “Captain Courageous” further enthralled Hoyne’s fascination with fishing fleets, specifically in Gloucester. For most of his career, he worked as an illustrator in advertising in Chicago (where he created portraits for 16 American Nobel Prize winners) until he changed to making marine paintings through his life. This was due to his befriending of many sailors, his immense research he found while sailing himself, and his initial fascination with the lore and traditions behind the fishing industry. Hoyne is highly praised for the level of realism shown through his paintings. Viewers even say that the water depicted in his work “feels wet”, which solidifies and tributes how well Hoyne was able to capture the smaller details of the natural ocean and sail boats.