'Towering Sea'
9" x 6" x 5/8" oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas by Ellen Rice
Prints available
Prints available
"Towering Sea" was inspired by one winter afternoon I spent facing into buffeting, sandy winds strong enough to push me backward and repeatedly send waves and sea spray towering over the Indian River Inlet (Delaware) south jetty.
I lose track of time watching the ocean and often take hundreds of photos. This day was no exception, but I made myself stop and put the camera away to fully take in the feeling of the action before me.
"Towering Sea" is the outcome of one of many excursions. The south jetty borders and attempts to harness the powerful inlet tide between it and the north jetty on the other side of the inlet. On this particular day, the north jetty was partially covered in surging water and at the end covered in seagulls who chose to stay low on the rocks rather than fight the winds.
The current through the inlet was forming larger and larger waves in its entrance. I've watched US Coast Guard vessels soar over and crash through waves like that. It's a breathtaking wonder to see, committed to memory and digitally for a larger painting.
The inlet's current is one of the most powerful in the world, hard to imagine for little Delaware, yet true. It's been studied and measured, and it's true even without high winds.
A proposal to harness the current to produce electricity, though, could not get past the loud, adamant outcries of local residents, fishermen and charter boat captains opposing the project when it was preesented. They boo'ed the German scientist presenter off the stage, saying the giant underwater tunnel and blades that would capture the power of the current would ruin the area's fishing. The inlet beaches and two rock jetties are among Delaware's most popular fishing areas.
There have been many controversies about the inlet, jetties and beach replenishment over the years. Some are still brewing. Man keeps trying to control Mother Nature and while she may appear to be controlled temporarily, history shows the efforts won't last forever.
Before the jetties were created, the inlet is recorded as having changed locations 10 times. Who knows before records kept. When strong storms brew, you can still see the ocean trying to cut another inlet path through one of its former locations near the old Indian River Life Saving Station, but that's another story.
I hope you enjoy this painting and that it perhaps gives you feel the same feeling of exhilaration I feel when witnessing such power.
I lose track of time watching the ocean and often take hundreds of photos. This day was no exception, but I made myself stop and put the camera away to fully take in the feeling of the action before me.
"Towering Sea" is the outcome of one of many excursions. The south jetty borders and attempts to harness the powerful inlet tide between it and the north jetty on the other side of the inlet. On this particular day, the north jetty was partially covered in surging water and at the end covered in seagulls who chose to stay low on the rocks rather than fight the winds.
The current through the inlet was forming larger and larger waves in its entrance. I've watched US Coast Guard vessels soar over and crash through waves like that. It's a breathtaking wonder to see, committed to memory and digitally for a larger painting.
The inlet's current is one of the most powerful in the world, hard to imagine for little Delaware, yet true. It's been studied and measured, and it's true even without high winds.
A proposal to harness the current to produce electricity, though, could not get past the loud, adamant outcries of local residents, fishermen and charter boat captains opposing the project when it was preesented. They boo'ed the German scientist presenter off the stage, saying the giant underwater tunnel and blades that would capture the power of the current would ruin the area's fishing. The inlet beaches and two rock jetties are among Delaware's most popular fishing areas.
There have been many controversies about the inlet, jetties and beach replenishment over the years. Some are still brewing. Man keeps trying to control Mother Nature and while she may appear to be controlled temporarily, history shows the efforts won't last forever.
Before the jetties were created, the inlet is recorded as having changed locations 10 times. Who knows before records kept. When strong storms brew, you can still see the ocean trying to cut another inlet path through one of its former locations near the old Indian River Life Saving Station, but that's another story.
I hope you enjoy this painting and that it perhaps gives you feel the same feeling of exhilaration I feel when witnessing such power.
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