Happy Adventure
Status of Original Painting – Private Collection
Size: 20 x 15 inches
Medium: Watercolour on 300 lb Arches
Description:
This is another special request painting. My wife Lisa asked me to do a painting for her friend Arlene. She told Arlene that I was simply looking for something to paint and did Arlene have any photos of scenes that might be suitable to paint from? Arlene’s husband Tom then helped select which image would be extra special to Arlene for the memories she has about the place. Because this is intended as a surprise gift, I’m having to wait to post this until the painting has been framed and Arlene has been surprised with it.
I’ve called the painting “Happy Adventure” because that’s the name of the small outport village where this home is located. Originally this area was where Tom’s sister-in-law’s father grew up. It became Arlene and Tom’s Happy place too, that they visit as often as possible. They spent so much time at this location that their kids also developed a great fondness for the house and coastline.
Happy Adventure is located at the end of the Eastport Peninsula in Newfoundland. As to its unusual name, the most popular theory is that it was named for a pirate ship!
In the 17th century, Peter Easton was originally commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I as a privateer to protect the Newfoundland fishing fleet from Spanish raiders. His flagship was Happy Adventure and carried St. George’s Cross on the masthead. When James I became King, cancelled the commissions, and sued for peace with Spain, Easton decided to carry on with his activities and in so doing, he became a pirate. In 1612 he had a fleet of ten pirate ships and headquarters at Harbour Grace in Newfoundland. He raided and plundered English, Spanish, and other foreign vessels on many successful raids. He hid and sheltered during storms in various coves as needed, and perhaps a cove in what became the village of Happy Adventure. In one famous incident, Easton plundered thirty ships in St. John’s, captured Sir Richard Whitbourne, and released him with the condition that Whitbourne get him pardoned by the king. Despite the successful pardon, Easton moved on to harass Spanish vessels more exclusively, later reappearing with treasure and four Spanish ships that he’d captured. In 1613, the Duke of Savoy offering asylum and safe conducts to all pirates, and that prompted Peter Easton to retire and enjoy his wealth.
There were a lot of aspects that made this a fun painting to do, especially capturing the aged aspects of the bench, the textures on the stones in the frame of the fire table, and the bright cheerful colours. Happy Adventure, indeed.
