Ernie's Paintings, Offered For Sale
Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson
This painting is featured in Ernie's Book
'My Thoughts On Canvas, Book 2'.
It is pictured in situ during an exhibition at Great Yarmouth Minster,
(hence the fishing net drapery).
Truly a Local Hero, Nelson was born in the village of Burnham Thorpe in the King's Lynn District of North Norfolk, and is celebrated throughout the county. Even the road signs which herald your entry proclaim that you are entering "Norfolk - Nelson's County".
Ernie painted this 170 x 145 cm (approximately) framed portrait
in oils on canvas in 2004/5, taking almost a year to complete. It was painted initially to provide the image for the Limited Edition Tankard he carved in 2005 and other commemorative wares that were made by Great Yarmouth Potteries to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of The Battle of Trafalgar.
The range of commemorative items sold worldwide.
Since that time it has been in constant demand, in its ornate Italian gilt frame, for many public exhibitions and displays. Examples of which are the Annual Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival; The Town Hall and The Minster Church of St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth.
Having served the public's interest faithfully over several years since its creation, the framed portrait is now offered for outright sale at £5,000.
The Last Catch Before Christmas
This oils on board, measuring approximately 180 x 137 cm was one of Ernie's all-time favourites. He loved to feature The Jetty at Great Yarmouth, and this study is no exception. The frame is timber and rope.
Perhaps because he began the painting on a cold, windy November morning, when the wind was whistling around him through the gaps in the Old Smokehouse workshops where he did most of his work, the dark grey day inspired him to begin with the sky, and his thoughts roamed to Marc, their eldest son, who was working on an oil boat in the North Sea. Ernie was musing on whether their son would be home for Christmas.
He connected that thought with the many Christmases in his boyhood days where he witnessed many a stalwart crew attempting to beach and anchor their vessel in pretty rough seas, working hard to be home with their loved ones for the festive season.
This wonderfully evocative painting is offered for sale at £4,000.
Lavender Girl
Ernie's subject is in North Norfolk and has gathered a basket of lavender blooms in a basket.
Ernie has painted this study in oils on canvas and the size is approximately 64 x 54 cm. The frame is dark wood and gilt.
The delightful Lavender Girl is offered for sale at £300.
Paddling By The Sea - Great Yarmouth
Ernie's study of children playing along the shoreline is painted in oils on canvas. It measures approximately 73 x 54 cm and is finished with a gilt frame 7 cm wide.
The painting is offered for sale at £300.
A Hug For Mum
Mother and daughter share a hug during a mardle with the menfolk, discussing the day's catch on Yarmouth beach.
This oils on board, surrounded by a gilt frame, measures approximately 195 x 140 cm.
This was the first painting Ernie created after having a 'eureka moment' at his workshop in the Old Smokehouse. He was considering the many visitors who walked through the doors, and of the range of disabilities amongst them. He was thinking how marvellous it would be if he could create a 'braille painting' so that sighted-impaired guests might experience his work more completely. They could explore the sculptures with their hands, but not so much the paintings.
He decided that he could make this happen by incorporating bulking agents into his oil paints such as beach sand and eggs, allowing him to vary the depth of material on the canvas.
To the delight of his visually impaired visitors and himself, it worked! And some elements of the painting gained an extra dimension.