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But the quest for speed went further, so much so that they found time away from fishing to race one another and to race the great Nova Scotia fishing schooners including the well known "Bluenose". These races provide another one of the many dramatic settings that Hoyne painted. The film "Captains Courageous" brought the perilous life of the fisherman and the power and grace of these schooners to the silver screen and into the consciousness of much of America. The marine artist Thomas M. Hoyne brought the beauty and grace of these vessels, and the power and movement of the North Atlantic waters on which they sailed to the canvas. Thomas Hoyne was as much a historian as he was a painter. He spent much of his time researching the vessels and the crews of the great fishing schooners. His amazing work depicts not only the vessels but the lives, hopes and dreams of the crews who sailed them. And nobody has ever painted the water itself like Thomas M. Hoyne. These vessels and their history have been inspirational to many sailors as well as yacht designers. Many of the design elements of the fishing schooners can be found in many of the classic wooden yachts still sailing today. The artist Thomas Hoyne inspired the naming of this beautiful wooden schooner the "Thomas Hoyne", in honor of Tom’s memory. |
Hoyne’s career began as a commercial artist. In fact you have probably seen some of Thomas Hoyne’s work such as the Jolly Green Giant and the baby on the old Charmin bathroom tissue package. Tom’s heart however, was obviously always at sea. And when he received the devastating news that he had cancer, and only a few years to live, he decided to follow his heart. He stopped working as a commercial artist and instead began researching and painting the schooners that he so loved. During this period Tom painted many magnificent works. Many of them, including his most famous "The Widowmaker" were made into signed limited edition lithographs. Following this path was obviously the right thing for Tom to do as he lived for seventeen years, many more than the doctors had given him! When he finally passed he was the longest survivor of the particular form of cancer that he had in the nation. An important message from this story is to follow your dreams and to try to live your life as if you only have a limited time left on this beautiful planet. It is hard to do this, but if you do, your life and the lives of the entire world will be better for it. We have all been blessed and the world made a bit better and more beautiful by the works that Thomas Hoyne has left us. As
with many artists, the appreciation of his work and his fame continue
to grow after he has passed. This year the Independence Seaport
Museum in Philadelphia will be exhibiting the first collection of
his original works. The show starts on June 15th and goes through
the early Fall. With more then thirty of his paintings already committed,
this will surely be an outstanding exhibit. For more information,
visit the Museum’s web site at For those of you interested in learning more about the man, his art and the vessel inspired by his art, you may charter the Schooner "Thomas Hoyne". The vessel is available for day or sunset charters from Newport during the summer season. For more information, contact: © 2005 Newport Harbor Guide. All rights reserved. return to Newport Harbor Guide Articles |
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Schooners
have sailed through American history as cargo carrying ships, revenue
cutters, pilot boats and most famously as commercial fishing vessels.
The schooner fishing fleet of Gloucester Massachusetts in particular
was a thriving fishing fleet in the late 1800’s. The men
who sailed these long and lean beauties were proud of their vessels.
They were a hardworking and competitive lot. They were into their
boats for more then the livelihood they provided. They constantly
tried to improve their vessels to be the first one to the fishing
grounds and the first one home. This of course assured the highest
price for their catch. Many of the paintings of the Marine Artist
Thomas Hoyne depicted the hard work and dangerous life of the Grand
Banks fisherman.