The Sailor's Eye ways of seeing a head. He treated all subjects like this .... He never claimed he was trying to teach art. He taught a craft-painting pictures. If you were going to be an artist, you were going to develop into an artist by yourself." After completing art school , Bob wanted to paint aviation scenes, but there was no interest in that subject. So he began to paint scenes of New York Harbor and then whaling scenes. One of these was sold by Grand Central Galleries within a week, and he knew his course was set. Bob Sticker creates about twelve hi storical marine paintings a year, each one carefully researched, largely through hi s extensive files built up over the years. Lately, he has chosen subjects which show men at work in their daily livesan officer wri ting in hi s journal, a sai lmaker, men repairing a gun-bringing the ships' people to life in these most ordinary activities. Does he regret giv ing up his business career for art? Hardly. "All I have to do is deliver a picture to the gallery··· and I can't wait to get back home again and start another. " ;t,
"Fresh Vegetables for the Privateer George Washington ," watercolor, 21x27 inches.
"Trafalgar," oil sketch, 5 x 8 inches.
SEA HISTORY 69, SPRING 1994
29